Climate Fiction Origins: J.G. Ballard’s Visionary Worlds

We delve into the world of Climate Fiction, a genre that has been gaining traction in recent years as the urgency of climate change becomes more apparent. Our focus today is on the works of J.G. Ballard, a pioneering author whose dystopian visions have left an indelible mark on literature and our understanding of environmental crises.

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Unveiling the Dark World of Climate Fiction

In this episode, We explore the fascinating world of J.G. Ballard’s provocative works, what might later be known as Climate Fiction, written mostly last century. From his early novel “The Drowned World” to the controversial “Crash,” we delve into how Ballard’s dystopian visions have shaped the genre. We feature insights from a PBS show Hot Mess, a short BBC film Ballard appeared in 1973 exploring his experimental novel of linked short stories called “The Atrocity Exhibition,” and a 2006 South Bank Show interview. We discuss the psychological and societal impacts of Climate Fiction, and how it might inspire change in an era of environmental urgency.

The episode kicks off with a 2019 clip from PBS’s Hot Mess, featuring Lindsay Ellis, of It’s Lit, and Amy Brady, the editor-in-chief of The Chicago Review of Books, who discuss the evolving definition of climate fiction. They highlight how this genre, often referred to as “cli-fi,” has grown in response to the increasing public awareness and anxiety surrounding climate change. Authors are using their narratives not just to process their own climate anxieties but also to inspire readers to take action.

Hot Mess | The Rise of Climate Fiction feat. Lindsay Ellis & Amy Brady | Episode 35 | PBS
https://www.pbs.org/video/the-rise-of-climate-fiction-feat-lindsay-ellis-amy-brady-2s2sxh/

JG Ballard and His Future/Present Dystopian World

We then turn our attention to J.G. Ballard, an English novelist whose works like “The Drowned World” and “Crash” have explored the psychological and societal impacts of technological and environmental changes. Ballard’s 1962 novel, “The Drowned World,” is considered one of the earliest examples of climate fiction, depicting a post-apocalyptic world where global warming has caused polar ice caps to melt, submerging cities under water. This novel, along with his later works, has cemented Ballard’s reputation as a visionary who foresaw many of the issues we face today.

The Atrocity Exhibition is J.G. Ballard’s instruction manual on how to disrupt mass media and recontextualize technology in a dystopian landscape overrun with industrial waste and technological white noise.

The excerpt is from a 1973 BBC film directed by Harely Cokliss and features Ballard talking about car crash fetishism and the response to the bleak modern landscapes dominated by industrial monotony and the irrational violence of the technology-infused world which would coalesce into his controversial novel Crash, published in 1973.

Ballard’s influence extends beyond literature into popular culture. Crash was adapted into a controversial film by David Cronenberg. Ballard’s ability to blend dystopian themes with psychological depth has given rise to the term “Ballardian,” used to describe situations reminiscent of his bleak, man-made landscapes and the psychological effects of technological and social developments.

The Car As Emblematic of the 20th Century

The episode also features clips from a 2006 South Bank Show interview by Melvyn Bragg with Ballard, where he discusses his fascination with the automobile as a symbol of 20th-century life and his belief in the power of the imagination to reshape reality. These interviews provide a deeper understanding of Ballard’s unique perspective on the intersection of technology, media, and the environment.

The interview also features prominent British authors Will Self, Iain Sinclair, and Martin Amis.

Climate Cautionary Tales

As we navigate through Ballard’s literary landscape, we see how his works serve as cautionary tales, warning us of the potential consequences of unchecked technological advancement and environmental neglect. His stories challenge us to rethink our relationship with the world around us and to consider the long-term impacts of our actions.

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In conclusion, this episode of Eco Justice Radio offers a thought-provoking exploration of climate fiction through the works of J.G. Ballard. By examining his dystopian narratives, we gain insight into the complex interplay between human psychology, technology, and environmental change. Tune in to discover how literature can not only reflect our current climate crisis but also inspire us to imagine and work towards a more sustainable future.

Resources/Articles:

J. G. Ballard: Atrocity Exhibition and the Modernist Motorcar Dystopia

James Graham Ballard who lived between 1930 and 2009 was an English novelist and short-story writer known for psychologically provocative works that explore relations between human psychology, technology, sex and mass media. Ballard’s original climate fiction work from 1962 was the post-apocalyptic New Wave science fiction novel The Drowned World. He followed with the controversial 1970 short-story collection The Atrocity Exhibition, which includes the 1968 story “Why I Want to F- Ronald Reagan”, and later the 1973 novel Crash (1973), a story about car-crash fetishists.

In 1984, Ballard won broad critical recognition for the war novel Empire of the Sun, a semi-autobiographical story of the experiences of a British boy during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai;[4] three years later, the American film director Steven Spielberg adapted the novel into a film of the same name. From the distinct nature of the literary fiction of J. G. Ballard arose the adjective Ballardian, defined as: “resembling or suggestive of dystopian modernity, bleak man-made landscapes, and the psychological effects of technological, social or environmental developments.”

Jack Eidt is an urban planner, environmental journalist, and climate organizer, as well as award-winning fiction writer. He is Co-Founder of SoCal 350 Climate Action and Executive Producer of EcoJustice Radio. He writes a column on PBS SoCal called High & Dry. He is also Founder and Publisher of WilderUtopia, a website dedicated to the question of Earth sustainability, finding society-level solutions to environmental, community, economic, transportation and energy needs.

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Executive Producer and Host: Jack Eidt
Engineer and Original Music: Blake Quake Beats

Episode 233

Updated 11 September 2024