Future Remains A Cabinet of Curiosities for the Anthropocene

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Synopsis

What can a pesticide pump, a jar full of sand, or an old calico print tell us about the Anthropocene—the age of humans? Just as paleontologists look to fossil remains to infer past conditions of life on earth, so might past and present-day objects offer clues to intertwined human and natural histories that shape our planetary futures. In this era of aggressive hydrocarbon extraction, extreme weather, and severe economic disparity, how might certain objects make visible the uneven interplay of economic, material, and social forces that shape relationships among human and nonhuman beings?

Future Remains is a thoughtful and creative meditation on these questions. The fifteen objects gathered in this book resemble more the tarots of a fortuneteller than the archaeological finds of an expedition—they speak of planetary futures. Marco Armiero, Robert S. Emmett, and Gregg Mitman have assembled a cabinet of curiosities for the Anthropocene, bringing together a mix of lively essays, creatively chosen objects, and stunning photographs by acclaimed photographer Tim Flach. The result is a book that interrogates the origins, implications, and potential dangers of the Anthropocene and makes us wonder anew about what exactly human history is made of.

Book details

Author:
Gregg Mitman, Marco Armiero, Robert S. Emmett
ISBN:
9780226508825
Related ISBNs:
9780226508658, 9780226508795
Publisher:
University of Chicago Press
Pages:
224
Reading age:
Not specified
Includes images:
Yes
Date of addition:
2021-02-10
Usage restrictions:
Copyright
Copyright date:
2018
Copyright by:
The University of Chicago Press 
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Categories:
Earth Sciences, History, Nonfiction, Outdoors and Nature, Science, Technology