New Books Network Jon L. Pitt, "Botanical Imagination: Rethinking Plants in Modern Japan" (Cornell UP, 2025)
May 31, 2025
Jon L. Pitt, a scholar of Japanese literature and critical plant studies, delves into the fascinating intersection of plants and modern Japanese culture. He discusses how writers and filmmakers use botanical themes to express resistance against state violence and craft new identities. Pitt shares intriguing insights about the deep connections between humans and plants, revealing their role in cultural narratives and ecological understanding. His exploration also touches on the legacy of colonialism and the transformative power of nature in literature.
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Academic Turning Point in Architecture
- Jon L. Pitt's academic journey to critical plant studies began with a fieldwork trip focused on the use of wood in Japanese religious architecture.
- A key moment was interviewing architect Kuma Kengo, who connected wooden architecture to spiritual beliefs, sparking Pitt's deep interest in the natural world.
Humans Becoming Botanical Trope
- The question "what would it mean for humans to be more like plants?" is a central, enduring trope in Japanese literature and media.
- This question explores the limits of human identity and the possibility of resistance or endurance through botanical forms during crises.
Plants Portrayed as Ambivalent Actors
- Japanese cultural clichés about harmonious nature relationships are oversimplified and sometimes misleading.
- Modern works often portray plants as violent, messy, and ambivalent rather than purely harmonious symbols.
