225 - Madison Myers

College of Liberal Arts, English Department, Master's of Literature Program.Includes bibliographical references.Jeff VanderMeer’s work of fiction and recent film, Annihilation, uniquely suggests reworlding by reimagining human interconnectedness to other species as part of multispecies communities. VanderMeer breaks down the boundaries between human and nature by problematizing the human/nature dichotomy, VanderMeer subsequently demonstrating the possibility toward humanity seeing itself as part of a larger multispecies community through relationship building that encompasses empathy, imagination, uncertainty and mutuality. Ultimately, VanderMeer—and literature that problematizes humanity amongst non-human species—makes possible a reimagining of how making kin and kind with multispecies communities allows for transformative change toward experiencing nature and rebuilding relationships with nature