New Books in Science, Technology, and Society Bénédicte Meillon, "Ecopoetics of Reenchantment: Liminal Realism and Poetic Echoes of the Earth" (Bloomsbury, 2022)
Sep 5, 2025
Bénédicte Meillon, a professor at Université d'Angers and president of ESLSE, shares her insights on ecopoetics in her book. She explains 'reenchantment' as a way to reconnect with nature through poetry, emphasizing the power of soundscapes and the transformative impact of literature during the pandemic. Meillon introduces 'liminal realism,' blending human and non-human perspectives to foster empathy and awareness. She also discusses her multimedia project 'Dancing Bodies of Water,' highlighting art's role in environmental engagement.
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Lockdown Revealed Multispecies Soundscapes
- The COVID lockdown revealed how urban soundscapes reopened acoustic niches for non-human species like birds.
- Bénédicte Meillon argues this renewed listening prompted temporary re-enchantment and awareness of multispecies interdependence.
Bridge Francophone And Anglophone Ecopoetics
- Read across Anglophone and Francophone traditions to avoid blind spots and enrich ecopoetic theory.
- Meillon recommends translating and dialoguing between traditions to recover missing theoretical resources.
Ron Rash Reading Genet At A Conference
- At a 2016 conference Ron Rash read an excerpt from Jean Genet's The Song of the World that features a blind character 'reading' spring through scent.
- Meillon uses this story to show how ecopoetics foregrounds sound, smell, and sensual engagement with the earth.
