Donna Haraway's Chthulucene: A Survival Guide for an Infected Planet

Donna Haraway's essay, translated into Italian by Claudia Durastanti and Clara Ciccioni for Nero/Not, is titled "Chthulucene: sopravvivere su un pianeta infetto." The work critiques the Anthropocene, a term popularized by Dutch chemist Paul J. Crutzen to define the current geological epoch. Haraway agrees that humanity has become the most dangerous influence on Earth's environment but argues that the Anthropocene concept is cold and passive, maintaining an anthropocentric perspective that she blames for our problematic relationship with nature. She proposes the Chthulucene as a tentacular, non-hierarchical way of thinking that invites complex, alternative action. The essay calls for "staying with the trouble" and fostering kinship among all living and non-living beings to overcome the present, which she describes as sick and obtuse. Haraway draws on philosophy, art, and science, using examples like watercolors of microscopic entities, cartoons about orchid biology, crocheted coral reefs, and computer games exploring Anthropocene effects. The book is a collection of reflections from conferences and articles, dedicated to "all those who generate kinship in the unpredictability of kinship." Published by Nero Editions in Rome in 2019, it spans 284 pages and costs €17.