MMLA Special Session: Earth's "Human Layer" --April 5 Deadline!
As both science and the arts engage in conversations about the proposed new geological epoch, the Anthropocene, this interdisciplinary panel seeks papers addressing the "human layer" in turn of the century and early twentieth century literatures. Currently, scientists measure the human layer quantitatively, defining the human in terms of geological impact. But how is the human layer conceived before such sophisticated scientific measurement was possible? Where does the human species—proven to be a geological agent —fit into the division of the Earth into spheres—the lithosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere? How does the identification of these spheres affect the concept of the human, or does it?