Aesthetic Trappings: Environmentalism's Struggle to Propel Real Change

I was invited to give a keynote to a group of students. One of the reasons I was invited was because — as the organizer said — I am one of the few people who try to live and practice what I research. I couldn’t wait to share my insights with the students, all typically beautiful, hip twenty-somethings. As I love creating visually appealing slides — not the typical text on white slides and references found in academia — I thought the students would be as excited about my practices as I was.

But. The truth was, they weren’t.

I noticed how they were curious and open, but I also felt really “uncool.” I felt like my old granny who would tell my teen self how great it is to grow your own peas. For a moment, I had an out-of-body experience in which I saw myself as the weird lady who talks about “Ökozeug” (ecological stuff).

The whole experience confirmed a sense about the field of sustainability: It’s aesthetically unappealing.

Deep sustainability  

Before delving further, let's address the outdated stereotype of the typical environmental hippie in Birkenstocks and dreadlocks. Contemporary sustainability has evolved; it's embraced tiny houses, minimalism, zero-waste products, and sustainable fashion, creating an aesthetically pleasing facet. However, these expressions of environmentalism often remain tethered to capitalist structures, predominantly centered around our consumption habits. Even minimalist lifestyles tend to endorse specific minimalist products, like the "ideal travel dress," and so forth.

The sustainability I am interested in is about changing deep structures, about different ways of knowing, being, and acting that change how I relate to myself, others (human and non-human), the Universe, and everything in between.

In pursuit of these transformations, I often come across concepts like "Mother Nature," "GAIA," "kinship," "kindness," and "compassion.” These ideas resonate with me; they hold value.

However, they lack an inherent passion or allure.

They have an eros-less quality.

Mother Nature is not a concept that attracts anyone looking for a mate. Environmentalism as a concept, sustainability, or even regeneration are not exactly magnetic. They promise a life "in harmony" with nature, yet hasn't couples therapist Esther Perel convinced us that too much harmony—void of friction and distance—kills eroticism? Perhaps if environmentalism was infused with some eros, more people would be drawn to embracing it.

Moreover, qualities often associated with environmentalism, such as morality, prudence, responsibility, and rationality, tend to lack the allure of excitement. They require a certain level of maturity and a deep sense of self-awareness. Renowned German neurobiologist Gerald Hüther posits that individuals who live in dignity, possessing a strong sense of self and purpose, are far less susceptible to being seduced by superficial indulgences—they know their values and aspirations. While these characteristics are undoubtedly admirable and crucial for a sustainable and ethical lifestyle, they often lack the immediate appeal or seductive quality that more flashy or indulgent pursuits may possess.

The two Stereotypes of an Environmentalist

When I ask ChatGTP about the stereotype of an environmentalist, here's the response I received:

“Stereotypes of environmentalists include depicting them as hippies or tree-huggers disconnected from mainstream society, being anti-development and anti-technology, pessimistic alarmists, strict vegans or vegetarians, wealthy elitists, radical activists, and having a “NIMBY” attitude.”

However, I'd argue that this perception belongs more to the '90s. Presently, the stereotype has evolved into what we might term a new-age environmentalist, and ChatGTP describes them as follows:

“The stereotype of a new age environmentalist involves a combination of environmental advocacy and spiritual or holistic beliefs. They are perceived as having spiritual connections to nature, embracing practices like meditation and yoga, and prioritizing energetic harmony and balance. New-age environmentalists may be interested in alternative medicine, eco-spirituality, and mindful living, integrating environmentalism with spiritual beliefs. This stereotype also associates them with esoteric and new age literature exploring metaphysical concepts and interconnectedness.”

I am somewhat of a new-age environmentalist.

Sustainability and Desire 

When I read those descriptions, neither of them says, “This is me! This is who I want to be or what I desire.” If anything, the second portrayal feels somewhat virginal and innocent. It’s as if desires and sensuality are bracketed out. It's like there's a moral expectation to suppress wants, desires, cravings, and yearnings, thirst and hunger, or lust in the face of social and ecological crises.

The saying “sex sells” holds some truth. And beyond that, when I envision the life I want, it involves being captivated by the world, by people, by living. I've always believed that the most joyous way to live is to approach life as if I had a crush on everyone and everything I encounter. When I have a crush, I am full of energy, I am kind, I am generous, I am patient and laugh about challenges, I can’t wait to get up in the morning, I try to be the best version of myself that I can think of. What if sustainability, environmentalism, or regeneration made life that captivating?

Some movements present “nature as a lover instead of a mother,” often linked with queer ecology. This field delves into the intersection of queer theory and environmentalism, examining the connections between sexuality, gender, identity, and nature. It challenges traditional views of heteronormativity and human-centered perspectives that have shaped environmental thinking. Queer ecology seeks to deconstruct binary and normative societal views, aiming for more inclusive environmental narratives.

Although this movement closes a very important gap prevalent in the environmental movement, I don’t find that it closes the aesthetic gap.

Another perspective comes from eco-philosopher Andreas Weber who relates both love and the erotic to ecology. He suggests that “love is a practice of enlivenment. The erotic is the genuine principle of life that permeates the world of bodies and lifeforms”. His understanding is that our drive to connect is fundamentally an erotic drive — a desire — for life. 

However, his premise revolves around our existing erotic connection with the more-than-human world, rather than focusing on how to make concepts like sustainability, environmentalism, or regeneration alluring.

A third movement I see emerging intertwines ecological principles with events like Burning Man, which showcases a fusion of environmental consciousness with artistic expression, physical embodiment, and altered states of consciousness. It brings together individuals seeking a blend of environmental awareness, self-expression, and spiritual exploration.

I find that despite its commendable aspirations, this fusion sometimes teeters toward what seems like empty hedonism.

Living the Question

Unfortunately, I have no clear answer of what an aestethic environmentalism might look like. Therefore, instead of answering how we might make environmentalism desirable, I leave it as an open question. Not only because I don’t have an answer but also because we need to learn to — as Daniel Wahl says  — live the questions. And maybe through living this question, eventually, we will not only be environmentalists because it’s our ethical obligation but also because it becomes our innate desire.

🐒 Something fascinating about other beings

Turritopsis dohrnii, often called the "immortal jellyfish," can revert back to its juvenile form after reaching maturity. This process can occur repeatedly, potentially allowing the jellyfish to live indefinitely.

📚 A book I recommend

“Being Salmon, Being Human” by Martin Lee Mueller because it beautifully captures the interconnectedness between humans and the environment through the life of salmon. From the book: “We inhabitants of industrial civilization still live inside a human - centered story. The story articulates itself in the ways we speak, what we think, how we listen, what we hear. It expresses itself in the physical forms of our lifeworlds, in our legal, political, and economic institutions. It gives structure to the way we conceive of and inhabit both space and time. It shapes our encounters with other - than - human living creatures, as well as with the larger planetary presence. This is the story of the human as a separate self.”

💌 A quote

"The way we see the world shapes the way we treat it. If a mountain is a deity, not a pile of ore; if a river is one of the veins of the land, not potential irrigation water; if a forest is a sacred grove, not timber; if other species are biological kin, not resources; or if the planet is our mother, not an opportunity -- then we will treat each other with greater respect. Thus is the challenge, to look at the world from a different perspective." David Suzuki

✍️ A journal prompt

Imagine an ideal future where environmentalism and aesthetics are perfectly integrated. What would this world look and feels like. How does it differ from the present?