Narrative

Dan Philippon studies American environmental literature and its relationship to the ideas of nature, culture, and place. He seeks to understand the rhetorical strategies and practical effects of literary texts and their creators, particularly with regard to the historical roots of our contemporary environmental values. His scholarship is grounded most firmly in the area of literary criticism known as "ecocriticism," but it is also strongly influenced by current work in environmental history, environmental ethics, and conservation biology. He is currently writing a book about sustainable food narratives in the U.S. and editing a collection of essays about sense of place in Minnesota. He also teaches a range of courses that concern the human dimensions of environmental issues.