Rising temperatures and melting ice are key components of the Anthropocene era. Humans, now more aware than ever, are witnessing the dramatic effects of melting ice on habitats and global ecosystems. These changes, while measurable, also hold deeper implications that are yet to be fully understood.
In her chapter “Melt in the Future Subjunctive,” Professor Cymene Howe delves into the significance of ice in contemporary society, focusing on glacial-hydrospheric ethnography in Iceland. Through her study, Howe contributes to reshaping the realms of anthropology, geography, and literary studies.
Iceland’s landscape, with its vast glaciers, offers a rich backdrop for Howe’s research. The country’s 400 glaciers, deeply embedded in folklore and scientific records, provide a unique window into the changing climate and its impacts on human and non-human life.
As the impact of melting ice becomes increasingly prominent, discussions in Iceland have shifted to the presence of polar bears in the region. With polar bears swimming over from Greenland due to diminishing ice cover, questions of rights and protections have gained momentum among the population.
Howe’s research also examines Icelandic concepts like jökulhlaup and jökultunga, connecting them to broader narratives of the glacier as a speaking entity. She emphasizes the evolving relationship between human intervention and nature, challenging traditional distinctions between the “hard” and “soft” aspects of ice.
By exploring the complexities of glacial space and time, Howe opens up new avenues for understanding environmental change and shaping innovative responses to the challenges posed by a rapidly transforming world.
Gísli Pálsson is professor emeritus of anthropology at the University of Iceland. His latest book is “The Last of Its Kind: The Search for the Great Auk and the Discovery of Extinction.”
