Written by: Rashawn Khamari Merchant

As an avid enjoyer of entertainment, I’ve often found myself venturing across multiple genres and mediums. I always find in commonality that humans will find ways to insert their present experiences into their art forms.

The other day, I was watching a movie called Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. On the surface, the film is about a journalist who joins his business partner on a drug-filled trip to Las Vegas. Along with their immense doses of intake, they deal with all the consequences of their actions. On a deeper level, the movie takes place in the early 70s, and the audience gets an inside look into all the turmoils of that time. There are steady images of the Vietnam War and social politics; all the while, the protagonists are surrounded by the outcasts and strongmen of the era.

Moreover, climate change has steadily been at the forefront of creative expression. The Hollywood industry may be preparing to produce more films and TV shows with mention of climate change in the future. A non-profit consulting firm called Good Energy aims to get 50% of television and film scripts to include observations of the crisis by 2027.

One of my favorite works, Extrapolations, examines creator Scott Burns’s portrayal of a climate future across a linear timescale. What intrigues me is how Extrapolations considers the advancement of human society, along with the growing threat of wildfires, animal population decrease, and health hazards combined with a community capable of driving electric vehicles. We will undoubtedly have a future with cleaner energy and better societal efficiency, but because humanity has already released additional carbon into the atmosphere, adverse side effects will still catch up to us.

While climate fiction emphasizes the stressors we face during this time, it will serve as an optimistic coping mechanism. For those not as well versed in complex data and academic research, a story or art installation can be the medium necessary to make sense of the world.

Many people like me gravitate towards visual subjects as they can be easier to digest. As change in the environment continues, individuals will look to artists for help explaining events that may be difficult to grasp.

Please get in touch with us if you have any ideas or would like your work featured in The Earth Shiners Magazine.