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Thesis Info

Thesis Title: What Goes Around Comes Around - The impact of plastic on the environment, and how artists effectively communicate environmental issues

URL where full thesis can be found: www.hannahscott.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/HannahScott-MAAS-Unit2-ResearchPaper-Jan17-INT.pdf

Keywords: Climate Change, Plastic Pollution, Microplastics, Environmental Art, Hannah Scott

Abstract: 200-500 words: This essay considers the impact of plastic waste on the environment, its relationship to climate change, and some of the ways in which art can effectively communicate environmental issues without being didactic or overly moralistic. Synthetic and non-synthetic plastics are ubiquitous in modern life. It is one of the most versatile materials, which has allowed the development of infinite technological, medical, and manufacturing advances. However, it comes at a high price through the continued extraction and burning of fossil fuels, growing consumerism, and trends in convenience and single use items, which all contribute to the pollution of the land, air, and water, harming marine life, birds, humans and other animals. After a mere two hundred years of industrialisation geologists are heralding the beginning of a new era, the Anthropocene, the dominant, indelible mark of humanity on the Earth’s climate and environment. Despite knowing this, we continue to extract Earth’s resources and to consume and discard the products we manufacture from them. Through critical analysis and some storytelling the essay explores aspects of the science, art and psychology associated with environmental issues, the use of art and aesthetics as a means to encourage self-reflection and discourse amongst audiences, and considers the author’s own creative practice in relation to this.