Next Nature
 | |
| Author | Koert Van Mensvoort and Hendrik Jan Grievink |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Culture, Nature, Technology, Philosophy |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Actar |
Publication date | 2011 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 472 |
| ISBN | 8492861533 Search this book on  . |
Next Nature is a 2011 nonfiction book by Koert Van Mensvoort and Hendrik-Jan Grievink. The book explores “next nature”, a philosophical concept that describes how our technological environment becomes so complex, omnipresent and uncontrollable that we start to perceive it as a nature of its own.[1]
Summary[edit]
Next Nature is structured as seven “magazines” bound together, each dealing with a different aspect of the next nature concept. The book has essays from Koert Van Mensvoort, Bruce Sterling, Kevin Kelly, Rachel Armstrong, Tracy Metz, Bas Haring, Peter Lunenfeld, and Jos de Mul.
The book introduces the traditional concepts of nature as "everything born" and culture as "everything made". It then redefines nature as everything "beyond control" and culture as everything "controlled". Therefore, according to the authors, something such as a polder landscape is less natural than a computer virus.
Chapters[edit]
1. Next Nature introduces the concept of next nature.
2. Recreation explores how society arrives at its definition of nature. Examples taken from advertising, landscape planning and theme parks are used to argue that much of what is perceived as "natural" is in fact planned and intentional.
3. Wild Systems discusses "wild systems", human-made phenomena that have assumed a degree of autonomy. Examples include pollution and weather control.
4. Office Garden discusses how technologies such as clocks and farming have "domesticated" humans.
5. Supermarket relates to technologies and habits that alter the way we gather food and eat.
6. Anthropomorphobia describes the uncanny valley effect, how humans are altering themselves to be more like consumer products, and how people can imbue consumer products with human traits such as personality or consciousness.
7. Back to the Tribe argues that new technologies such as Twitter are returning people to more "tribal" form of existence. This section is inspired by Marshall McLuhan.
Reception[edit]
Reception to the book was mostly positive. Several critics praised the book’s graphics,[2] format [3] and central concept.[4] Others criticized the book’s central concept.[5] .
References[edit]
- ↑ http://www.nextnature.net/book/
- ↑ http://www.treehugger.com/culture/next-nature-nature-changes-along-us-book-review.html
- ↑ http://www.designboom.com/technology/next-nature/
- ↑ http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/oscillator/2011/12/29/nurturing-next-nature/
- ↑ http://www.domusweb.it/en/book-review/nature-in-the-future/
External links[edit]
- [1] Next Nature book page
- [2] Video introduction to the next nature concept from Koert van Mensvoort
Next Nature book[edit]
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