Hyperobjects and Affect Theory: Understanding the End of Nature in Juliana Spahr’s “Gentle Now, Don’t Add to Heartache”

Abstract

This article studies the use of Affect theory in relation to the notion of hyperobjects to explore if the latter can help transform complex environmental processes into culturally comprehensible concepts. Taking the notion of hyperobjects as a starting point, the cognitive effects of narrative are examined as a source of empathy, for the display of emotional content is one of the qualities of fiction. The article inquires if it can inform audiences’ responses and decision-making processes. Furthermore, the essay explores the affective connection between human and non-human entities by applying the aforementioned theoretical concepts to a close reading of work by the contemporary American poet and critic Juliana Spahr, in particular her poem “Gentle Now, Don’t Add to Heartache” (2005/2011).