‘What Happens Next?’: Can Art Help Our Climate Anxiety?

In the late 17th century, British poet William Congreve penned a line that still resonates today: “Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast. To soften rocks, or bend the knotted oak.”

Art in any form – music, poetry, prose, etc – has a profound effect on human emotions. We use it to express our feelings, to soothe ourselves when they seem overwhelming, and to process complicated situations.

And climate anxiety can be extremely overwhelming. It’s difficult to express the paralysing feeling of helplessness we experience when confronted with the complex and often dire implications of climate change. The unrelenting stream of distressing climate news and the complexities of the issue often leave us feeling emotionally knotted and even desensitised.

Through art, however, we can externalise our emotions and give voice to our concerns and fears. Creative expression can provide a means of emotional release, offering solace and validation to our climate-related distress.

In the third episode of What Happens Next? podcast’s exploration of climate anxiety, host Dr Susan Carland explores the shared experience of climate anxiety and how art can be used to reach the core of human emotions. Our expert guests create and study music and fiction that can evoke empathy and foster a sense of community among audiences who may be grappling with climate anxiety.

Listen: How Can We Conquer Climate Anxiety?

In today’s episode, Dr Anna McMichael and Dr Louise Devenish from Monash University's Sir Zelman Cowan School of Music and Performing Arts introduce “Climate Notes”. This unique project combines letters from climate scientists and ordinary people, which discuss how climate change makes them feel, with original musical compositions. These “musical letters” provide a moving outlet for expressing the emotional and psychological impacts of climate change.

The podcast also features literary scholar Professor Adeline Johns-Putra, head of the School of Arts and Social Sciences at Monash University Malaysia, who specialises in climate fiction, or “cli-fi.”

Climate fiction includes novels, stories, and films that grapple with the impact of climate change on our world. These narratives can serve as a powerful tool for processing the emotional toll of climate anxiety, offering readers a chance to explore various perspectives on climate change and its consequences, fostering empathy and awareness.

“... They'll read someone else's letters and they have those feelings as well. And it's not a scientist, and it's not sort of an expert on the area talking about it. It's just another person and their thoughts. And actually, the science letters come across in a similar way. They're not about the data. They're really, really deep feelings. So I think it allows people to feel they're not alone with that.”  – Dr Anna McMichael

While no single work of art or fiction can change the world on its own, these creative outlets provide a vital space for reflection and discussion. They allow people to share their feelings, fears and hopes in the face of climate change. This shared experience can lead to increased awareness and motivate individuals to take action.

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