Discussion Board: Reflect And Write Approximately 2 Paragrap

Discussion Boardreflect And Write Approximately 2 Paragraphs About At

Reflect and write approximately 2 paragraphs about at least 3 of the following prompts. Respond to at least one other post. READ: De la Cadena, Marisol, “Uncommoning Nature. Stories from the Anthropo-Not-Seen,” Todd, Zoe. “Indigenizing the Anthropocene” in Davis and Turpin, Art in the Anthropocene ( pages) - YOU ALREADY DOWNLOADED THIS BOOK IN WEEK 2 PROMPT: De la Cadena speaks of the “Anthropo-not-seen” as a double challenge that affects 1. environmental justice movements claims on the state to stop extractivism, 2. The possibility of alliances among Quechua water protectors and non-indigenous environmental movements. These challenges have to do with the different ways in which western and indigenous cultures perceive the relation and the “being” (ontology) of humans and what we, westerners, call “nature”. Can you express that difficulty in your own words and what is your opinion about this? How does the documentary Daughter of the Lake “animate” the landscape? How are both the human and the non-human given agency in this film? How is “animation” and “agency” filmically represented? Open-pit mining causes irreversible damage to the land. The excavations leave not only a “ruined land” as Rob Nixon might say, but no land at all. In the long run, the effects of this destruction contribute to micro-climate changes. What are the challenges of scale and time that the filmmaker faces and how does he solve them? How impactful are these scenes for you? How does Daughter of the Lake present the connection between racism, extractivism, and capitalism? Is this link represented convincingly, in your view? Reflection paper # 2 Write approximately 4 paragraphs responding to the following prompts: De la Cadena speaks of the “Anthropo-not-seen” as a double challenge that affects 1. environmental justice movements claims on the state to stop extractivism, 2. The possibility of alliances among Quechua water protectors and non-indigenous environmental movements. These challenges have to do with the different ways in which western and indigenous cultures perceive the relation and the “being” (ontology) of humans and what we, westerners, call “nature”. Summarize this difficulty in your own words and discuss De la Cadena’s concept of “not only” as a possible grounds for an environmental justice alliance and the future of life. Compare in how far the films 500 Years and Daughter of the Lake invite viewers to reflect on the growing realization that the conceptual (western, scientific, epistemological) separation between human and non-human life may not only be partially responsible for ecological catastrophe but also linked to colonial racism, capitalism, and dispossession. Where do they fall short/what do they - in your opinion fail to address? Explain your opinion. LINKS TO FILM: daughter of the lake (part1): daughter of the lake (part 2): 500 years:

Paper For Above instruction

The concepts introduced by Marisol de la Cadena, particularly the idea of the “Anthropo-not-seen,” challenge conventional Western perceptions of human-nature relationships. Traditional Western ontology often emphasizes a dichotomy between humans and non-human nature, leading to an exploitation of natural resources rooted in anthropocentric worldviews. De la Cadena argues that this split obscures the recognition of interconnectedness and mutual agency among all beings, which is crucial for environmental justice and sustainable alliances. This double challenge complicates efforts to mobilize diverse groups—such as Quechua water protectors and non-indigenous environmental movements—since their ontological frameworks differ. Quechua cosmovision perceives humans as integral to a web of life with non-human entities, while Western models often regard nature as an object to be managed or exploited. Recognizing the “not only” aspect, as de la Cadena suggests, offers a way to forge alliances beyond cultural and ontological differences, fostering a shared commitment to the future of life amid environmental crises.

The film “Daughter of the Lake” vividly animates landscapes, transforming them from static backgrounds into active agents within the narrative. Through visual storytelling, the documentary presents both human and non-human entities as imbued with agency, challenging the notion that only humans have voices. The filmmaker employs cinematic techniques—such as intimate close-ups, time-lapse sequences, and anthropomorphic portrayals—that suggest the landscape itself possesses an inner life and capacity to respond or suffer. This artistic approach addresses the challenges of representing long-term environmental destruction caused by open-pit mining, which often spans decades and has profound ecological impacts. To communicate these vast scales of time and space, the filmmaker employs powerful imagery of land destruction juxtaposed with intimate acts of care, emphasizing the urgency and interconnectedness of environmental and social justice issues.

“Daughter of the Lake” powerfully links racism, capitalism, and extractivism by exposing their interconnected roots. The film illustrates how racialized indigenous communities bear the brunt of environmental degradation driven by capitalist interests seeking profits through resource extraction. These scenes evoke emotional responses and highlight systemic inequalities, making a compelling case that ecological destruction is inseparable from social injustices rooted in colonial histories. This connection, convincingly portrayed through personal stories and stark visuals, underscores the urgent need for solidarity across diverse groups. It reveals that environmental harm is not merely an ecological issue but also a matter of racialized dispossession and economic exploitation, necessitating collective action rooted in a shared understanding of justice and ecological stewardship.

Reflection

De la Cadena’s concept of the “Anthropo-not-seen” emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the unseen and often overlooked ways in which humans are entangled with other-than-human entities. This perspective underscores the ontological differences between Western and indigenous worldviews, highlighting how these differences impact environmental justice initiatives. Indigenous notions of being, which see humans as part of a larger web of life, challenge Western extractivist paradigms that treat nature as a resource. Recognizing the “not only” challenges the epistemological separation between human and non-human life, offering a potential foundation for building alliances rooted in shared ecological responsibilities. Films like “500 Years” and “Daughter of the Lake” extend this reflection by illustrating the intertwined histories of colonialism, capitalism, and ecological destruction. Both films critique the Western scientific-epistemological separation from nature, illustrating how this divide perpetuates environmental degradation and social injustice.

However, these films may fall short when addressing the systemic and structural roots of ecological crisis. While they effectively depict the damage and advocate for Indigenous and environmental voices, they sometimes lack a detailed analysis of the global economic systems that sustain extractivism—such as neoliberal capitalism and colonial dispossession. Additionally, the films could deepen their exploration of political strategy and practical pathways for alliances, moving beyond cinematic representation to tangible activism. Nonetheless, their visual and narrative strategies successfully evoke empathy and critical reflection, inspiring viewers to reconsider the human-non-human boundary and the colonial legacies that underpin ecological crisis. Their strength lies in their capacity to inspire awareness and foster solidarity, yet they could do more to incorporate explicit calls to action addressing the structural barriers to genuine ecological justice.

References

• De la Cadena, M. (2015). Uncommoning Nature: Stories from the Anthropo-Not-Seen. In Davis, D. & Turpin, E. (Eds.), Art in the Anthropocene. University of California Press.
• Todd, Zoe. (2019). Indigenizing the Anthropocene. In Davis, D. & Turpin, E. (Eds.), Art in the Anthropocene. University of California Press.
• Nixon, R. (2011). Slow Violence and the Environmentalism of the Possible. Harvard University Press.
• Haraway, D. (2016). Staying with the Trouble: Making Kin in the Chthulucene. Duke University Press.
• Latour, B. (2018). Facing Gaia: Eight Lectures on the New Climate Regime. Polity Press.
• Krech, M. (2013). The Ecological Indian: Myth and History. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Harvey, D. (2014). Seventeen Contradictions and the End of Capitalism. Profile Books.
• Klein, N. (2014). This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate. Simon & Schuster.
• Mol, A. (2002). The Body Multiple: Ontology in Medical Practice. Duke University Press.
• Tsing, A. (2015). The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruins. Princeton University Press.