Surfing the Anthropocene

Surfing the Anthropocene, published in 2020 by Peter Lang AG, serves as a critical academic examination of the intersection between human influence on the planet and modern visual culture. Eric S. Jenkins, a scholar of architecture and visual studies, crafted this work to explore how the concept of the Anthropocene—the geological epoch defined by humanity's profound impact on Earth's climate and ecosystems—manifests in our everyday aesthetic and cultural environments. The book contextualizes these environmental shifts within the realm of media and design, challenging readers to consider how visual communication shapes our perception of global ecological crises.

The volume is designed as an interdisciplinary study, drawing on architectural theory, media studies, and contemporary philosophy. Jenkins focuses on how digital surfaces, urban structures, and visual media act as intermediaries between people and the precarious nature of our warming world. Upon its release, it was noted for its ability to bridge the gap between abstract climate science and the lived experience of the built environment, positioning the Anthropocene not merely as a scientific debate but as a condition that fundamentally alters the nature of our visual and structural surroundings.