An Ecotopian Lexicon ed. by Matthew Schneider-Mayerson and Brent Ryan Bellamy (review)

It is particularly timely to write a review for this book as the worldwide fight against the COVID-19 pandemic continues. As academics, we are again reminded of the importance of human ecology to the humanities and of our longing for an ecotopian future. An Ecotopian Lexicon presents thirty loanwords to jump-start the critical process of imagining and eventually realizing better futures. Penned by a transnational group of scholars and writers, these thirty engaging essays provide defamiliarizing ideas from science fiction, subcultures of resistance, and non-Western cultures, the possibilities of imagining and appreciating new ways of living, and alternative conceptual tools for the construction of a better future. What makes this book even more exciting is that fourteen artists from eleven countries were invited to respond to these thirty chapters by contributing original artwork that reflects their understandings and worldviews. With these fourteen dazzling images included in the middle, An Ecotopian Lexicon proves to be an endeavor both revolutionary and futuristic.

The editors have arranged the essays in alphabetical order of the loanwords. At the same time, they offer another path of reading by grouping the loanwords according to their meaning. In that way, the book consists of seven parts. Part one is dedicated to greetings. For instance, In Lak'ech—A la k'in is a common greeting in Mayan culture. When two Mayans meet, they exchange in lak'ech—a la k'in, rendered into English as "I'm another you," and "You are another me." Unlike salutations in the English language such as "hello" that function as a formulaic means of attracting attention, in lak'ech—a la k'in "affirms an irrefutable bond between interlocutors that is at once psychological and spiritual" (132). The introduction of this Mayan phase into the English language will help instill a stronger sense of interdependence when we address each other. It also has the potential to counter the dualistic assumption that stands at the core of the mainstream Western tradition.

Part 2 discusses the loanwords of resistance. The Norwegian word Ildsjel has been loosely translated into English as "enthusiast," someone with a passionate commitment to a cause. An ildsjel is literally a "fire soul," an image that connotes both energy and spirit. Ildsjeler (the plural of ildsjel) "are innovators who often take risks and do things that others consider impossible. More than mere dreamers, ildsjeler tend to be visionaries driven by possibilities and potentials for transformation" (123). In the English language, the concepts of agent and agency often refer to the capacity of individuals and groups to shape social movements and transformations. But are the concepts of agent and agency adequate for inspiring people to transform? As Karen O'Brien and Ann Kristin argue convincingly, the word ildsjel does a much better job because an ildsjel is vital, fiery, vibrant, and connected to community.

Part 3 introduces five loanwords related to disposition, among which a Japanese-language phrase shikata ga nai denotes "the delicate balance between pragmatism and idealism" (245). The phrase translates roughly as "it cannot be helped." It was a popular phrase among first-generation Japanese American and Japanese Canadian immigrants during and after World War II, when they were facing racial profiling and internment. While signaling an acceptance of injustice, shikata ga nai indicates to expectation of a better future. The phrase was recontextualized by Kim Stanley Robinson in his Mars trilogy (comprising Red Mars [1993], Green Mars [1994], and Blue Mars [1996]), one of the most significant works of Western science fiction in the last three decades. In this context, shikata ga nai reflects a need to persevere in seemingly impossible undertakings as humans are building new communities on Mars. As a loanword, shikata ga nai reminds us to be resolute, determinate, and willing to redefine the inevitable.

Part 4's four loanwords pertain to...