《少雨的土地》中的生物区域主义思想探析

Mary Austin's Bioregionalism in The Land of Little Rain

生物区域主义认为,在由自然特征所决定的区域中,人类和非人类的一切共同组成与自然相和谐的、可持续的大地共同体。生物区域主义者主张生活在地方,提倡基于地方的生产、文化多样性以及适度消费的生活方式。生物区域文学批评关注作家笔下生物区域栖息地的物质空间描绘,也关心其政治、经济和文化维度。美国自然文学作家玛丽·奥斯汀在《少雨的土地》中描绘了美国西南干旱少雨的生物区域。她对该生物区域的自然风景、动植物和人的描绘,反映了不同生物区域和同一生物区域内万物的平等性。她讲述的地域历史文化在地理空间和时间的进程中,展现了人类生活流动性和全球性的特征。

According to bioregionalism, in the region decided by natural characteristics, all human and non-human beings consist of a land community which is sustainable and in harmony with nature. Bioregionalists advocate a regional living style which is based on regional production, cultural diversity and modest consumption. Bioregionalist literary criticism focuses on writers' depiction of material space in bioregional habitats as well as political, economical and cultural dimensions. The Land of Little Rain by Mary Austin,an American woman nature writer, epitomizes a bioregion in American southwestern arid area. Austin's literary narrative of the bioregion represents her perception of decentralization and belief in equality of different bioregions. Her poetic depiction of the biological diversity and adaptability of the flora and fauna in the bioregion embodies her idea of non-anthropocentrism. In Austin's descriptions, the local history and culture are embedded in the geographical space and procession of the time, and meanwhile natural features of the land helps shape human history and culture. Austin also juxtaposes the biodiversity with human cultural pluralism in the bioregion, demonstrating the possibility of people with different cultural background living harmoniously in an ecological community.