Tracing Waves

John Melillo

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-72167-0_5

Tracing Waves

John Melillo

English

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

This chapter brings together the “naïve” realism of object-oriented ontology and the vibrational affective field opened up by the figure of “breaking” ocean waves—waves that gather up, fall, and burst against the seashore. This combination invites speculation and writing—in short, “tracing” widely imagined—as observers move between anthropomorphic identification with and the resistance of these special objects. Building on Stefan Helmreich’s insight that waves are combinations of human/nonhuman relations as well as Katherine Hayles’ theorization of a speculative aesthetics, the chapter tracks breaking waves through philosophical exempla (Leibniz, Deleuze), poetic representation (Whitman, Michelet), nature writing (Rachel Carson), and body surfing. In conversation with this work, this chapter shows how waves produce speculative affects through conceptual and experiential engagements with the withdrawal of objects from presence.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Palgrave Studies in Affect Theory and Literary Criticism
Publisher	Springer
Pages	127-138
Number of pages	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-72167-0_5
State	Published - 2025

Publication series

Name	Palgrave Studies in Affect Theory and Literary Criticism
Volume	Part F157
ISSN (Print)	2634-6311
ISSN (Electronic)	2634-632X

Keywords

Anthropomorphism
Jules Michelet
Poetry
Representation
Surfing
Walt Whitman
Waves

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Language and Linguistics
Linguistics and Language
Literature and Literary Theory

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-72167-0_5

Cite this

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title = "Tracing Waves",

abstract = "This chapter brings together the “na{\"i}ve” realism of object-oriented ontology and the vibrational affective field opened up by the figure of “breaking” ocean waves—waves that gather up, fall, and burst against the seashore. This combination invites speculation and writing—in short, “tracing” widely imagined—as observers move between anthropomorphic identification with and the resistance of these special objects. Building on Stefan Helmreich{\textquoteright}s insight that waves are combinations of human/nonhuman relations as well as Katherine Hayles{\textquoteright} theorization of a speculative aesthetics, the chapter tracks breaking waves through philosophical exempla (Leibniz, Deleuze), poetic representation (Whitman, Michelet), nature writing (Rachel Carson), and body surfing. In conversation with this work, this chapter shows how waves produce speculative affects through conceptual and experiential engagements with the withdrawal of objects from presence.",

keywords = "Anthropomorphism, Jules Michelet, Poetry, Representation, Surfing, Walt Whitman, Waves",

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Tracing Waves

Abstract

Publication series

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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