Paper Short Abstract:

Why does modern (‘developed’) society not only fail to strategically respond to the now glaringly obvious and existential global environmental crisis we face, but instead continues to rush headlong down a trajectory of ecological destruction? This paper proposes that a key reason for this dire situation is that globalised capitalist consumer culture (GCCC) creates forms of individual and collective becoming that are termed 'toxic dwelling'. Humans, as other related non-human animals, are evolved to dwell in lifeworlds which are rich in material, emotional, affective and, (in human terms) narrativised experiences. Toxic dwelling is formed of becomings-in-the-world through practices of narrativised consumption created by GCCC. This modern life is, in many ways, experientially rich, absorbing, exciting and fulfilling to many people. That is the problem. At the same time, it is also pathological and destructive of individual well-being and the ecological webs of life. The scale and impact of GCCC, in how it is produced, sold, consumed, and disposed of, is driving the ecocide of the ‘three ecologies’ - the interconnected physical, cultural, and psychic realms of ecological-social becoming (Guattari, 2000).

Paper Abstract:

Abstract. Why does modern (‘developed’) society not only fail to strategically respond to the now glaringly obvious and existential global environmental crisis we face, but instead continues to rush headlong down a trajectory of ecological destruction? This paper proposes that a key reason for this dire situation is that globalised capitalist consumer culture (GCCC) creates forms of individual and collective becoming that are termed 'toxic dwelling'. Humans, as other related non-human animals, are evolved to dwell in lifeworlds which are rich in material, emotional, affective and, (in human terms) narrativised experiences. Toxic dwelling is formed of becomings-in-the-world through practices of narrativised consumption created by GCCC. This modern life is, in many ways, experientially rich, absorbing, exciting and fulfilling to many people. That is the problem. At the same time, it is also pathological and destructive of individual well-being and the ecological webs of life. The scale and impact of GCCC, in how it is produced, sold, consumed, and disposed of, is driving the ecocide of the ‘three ecologies’ - the interconnected physical, cultural, and psychic realms of ecological-social becoming (Guattari, 2000). There are many forms of opposition to the forces that are causing ecocide across the earth, but at present, due the power and momentum of GCCC and related forces, they are fighting a losing battle. That battle is with what I am calling toxic dwelling, how modern society is in thrall to the colonising narratives, passions and textures that GCCC pumps through modern cultures in such vast, addictive, quantities.