Cultural Artifacts and Climate Change Attitudes

Colette Shade uses cultural artifacts from the Y2K era to illustrate differing attitudes towards climate change, notably contrasting the H2 Hummer with the Prius. The Hummer symbolizes a blatant disregard for environmental concerns, portraying a culture that celebrated excess and consumer choice without accountability. Conversely, the Prius represented a more conscientious approach to climate issues but became emblematic of a cultural divide rather than a unified response to a global problem. This dichotomy underscores how consumer behavior became a reflection of one's stance on societal issues, ultimately framing climate change as a personal rather than a collective challenge.