Paper short abstract:

Focusing in particular on the relationship between the recalcitrance of the oil sands and the bodily experience of oil sands workers, this paper will examine moments of human and non-human resistance that challenge the profitability of this extractive industry.

Paper long abstract:

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the allure of oil and riches has tantalised settlers in Northern Alberta. Yet for many years the extraction and profitable processing of the oil sands proved elusive. This is in part the result of their physical properties - in particular the ways in which the oil sands are resistant to extraction. While crude oil can flow with ease through pipelines, oil sands are viscous and stuck in place. This presents a barrier for those seeking the liquid profitability often promised by the oil industry. In order to overcome this material challenge, any friction within the oil sands assemblage must be minimised. In this context, the recalcitrance or resistance of oil workers and oily particles of sand threatens the profitability of the oil sands industry.

Focusing in particular on the relationship between the recalcitrance of the oil sands and the bodily experience of oil sands workers, this paper will examine moments of human and non-human resistance that challenge the profitability of this extractive industry. More specifically, I will explore the visceral sense of vulnerability that many oil sands workers develop when brought into intimate bodily contact with oily materiality and large and dangerous machines. By searching for moments of both human and non-human resistance, one can provide a glimpse into the divergent futures possible in an era of global heating.