Photo by Jonathan Ramos
Stephanie Feldman/Staff Writer
The environment has always served as an important thematic element in literature; its mysticism, inexplicable beauty, and strength have influenced writers for centuries.
It is this strong connection that led the School of Environment, Arts, and Society to offer Professor Darrel Elmore a grant to further explore the relationship between literature and the environment, by creating the class “Writing about the Environment.”
Elmore wants to not only teach literature, but also to develop and raise student awareness of the importance of the environment. He hopes that in taking his class, students will learn how to analyze different environmental issues through the means of writing, reading, and conducting their own research.
His goal is for students to “gain an opportunity to develop their writing and research skills” as well as to form “a sense of community among South Floridians in studying the environment, and a chance to express their views with others on these all-too-important issues.”
His class focuses on local environmental issues, such as those that affect the Everglades, Biscayne Bay, and other natural landmarks and habitats around Florida. He also focuses on environmental issues outside of Florida such as the Southwest area of the United States.
To engage his students further about the various environmental issues, he created websites and YouTube videos. One such video was a skit featuring a former student of his dressed up as a mermaid speaking about the dangers of mercury pollution in Biscayne Bay.
He also assigns his students readings by important figures in environmental science such as Henry David Thoreau and Charles Darwin. In addition, Elmore alludes to the works of contemporary thinkers such as Rachel Carson, whose groundbreaking book Silent Spring warned of the dangers of pesticides and Al Gore, whose primary focus was the dangers of global warming and climate change.
Elmore credits his time at Arizona State University for allowing him to appreciate the natural world around him.
“Camping in the desert or mountains and waking up to find deer, coyotes, or tarantulas milling about really allow a person to get in touch with nature and the environment,” he said.
Carlos Forero is pleased with the direction of the course.
“My interest in taking this class is because as a literature major, the art of writing can be applied to any topic or interest. Because we live in the environment and such attention is paid to it, writing in order to call attention to a certain environmental cause is important,” said Forero, a senior and English literature major. “I think that it will help me sharpen my focus and make my writing much more effective.”
For Professor Elmore the knowledge he hopes to impart on his students taking this class is invaluable, he firmly believes that “if these student are ‘our future,’ then we are in good hands.”
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