Protean geographies: Plants, politics and postcolonialism in South Africa

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• Professor Cheryl McEwan, Geography Department, Durham University
• Thursday 08 February 2018, 16:15-18:00
• Small Lecture Theatre, Department of Geography, Downing Site.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact jb2012.

The significance of plants to the processes that form and reform human societies and politics has rarely been recognised by historians, historians of science or postcolonial theorists (Schiebinger 2004). Plants rarely feature in narratives of nation-building, transformation and everyday life. Drawing inspiration from research over several years in the Cape Floral Region of South Africa, I focus on the Protea flower, and the wider fynbos biome, to suggest that plants are not only important natural and cultural artefacts, but are embroiled in high-stake politics, social transformation and everyday lives. I explore how the Protea, as a symbol of change and promise, might also help navigate the apparent incommensurability of the politics of decolonisation and postcolonial theory.

This talk is part of the Department of Geography - main Departmental seminar series series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• AUB_Cambridge Seminars
• Department of Geography
• Department of Geography - main Departmental seminar series
• Small Lecture Theatre, Department of Geography, Downing Site

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