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Plastic Humanities: Revaluing Humanistic Inquiry in the Plastic Age
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This humanities essay argued for the value of humanistic inquiry in addressing the environmental and cultural consequences of the 'Plastic Age,' proposing the concept of 'plastic humanities' as an interdisciplinary framework. The work makes the case that understanding plastics' social and cultural dimensions is essential alongside scientific approaches.
In the early 21st century, humanity finds itself deeply enmeshed in what many call the “Plastic Age”: a historical epoch defined by the widespread production, consumption, and disposal of synthetic polymer materials known as plastics. Plastics permeate nearly every aspect of daily life — from packaging and consumer goods to architecture, medicine, and art. Simultaneously, the global scale of plastic waste and pollution has become a central environmental, social, and cultural concern. Against this backdrop, there is a growing realization that addressing the challenges of plastics is not only a matter for science, engineering, and policy, but also for the humanities. This article investigates the contours of Plastic Humanities: its conceptual foundations, methodological challenges, domains of inquiry, and potential contributions. Drawing on recent scholarship from cultural theory, archaeology, art, environmental humanities, and social science, the essay makes a case for why the humanities must adapt — and what such adaptation could look like.
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