CU Boulder Professor's ‘Butterfly Persona’ Raises Eyebrows Amid Climate Anxiety Concerns
A University of Colorado Boulder theatre professor is drawing attention for her unconventional approach to combatting "climate anxiety" by dressing and performing as a butterfly.
Professor Beth Osnes, who also teaches environmental studies classes, reportedly became increasingly disheartened by the state of the planet, leading her to adopt the alternative persona of a butterfly.
Osnes revealed that while conducting research for her course on Creative Climate Communication, she was overcome by a sense of “despair and helplessness.” She described it as a sickness that made her feel as though she “was swallowing crude oil.” The weight of the knowledge about the climate crisis left her feeling incapacitated and unable to address the issue effectively.
The emotions Osnes experienced, known as ‘climate anxiety,’ have become a recognized phenomenon.
She channels her anxieties into her performances, particularly her "Butterfly Affect Experience," which aims to inspire collective action towards creating a sustainable and equitable world. The event description also mentions the involvement of Florida State University Professor Sarah Fahmy, who studied at CU Boulder.
In addition to her performances, Osnes has created a climate musical for young people and founded a group focused on vocal empowerment for female and non-binary youth.
Her work in the field of creative arts and climate change has resulted in published papers exploring topics such as making climate meaningful through student-produced videos and confronting climate change through humor.
A Gallup poll from 2018 revealed that 70% of Americans aged 18 to 34, primarily comprising Generation Z, express concern about global warming. With climate anxiety disproportionately affecting mostly white upper-class individuals.
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Professor Sarah Ray from California State Polytechnic University Humboldt has voiced concerns about the predominance of white individuals in discussions surrounding climate anxiety.
She has questioned whether climate anxiety is a manifestation of white fragility or racial anxiety, noting the need to address the racial implications of this phenomenon.
Critics argue that climate anxiety is frequently peddled by the Left, leading young people to believe that the world is on the verge of ending and that the only solution lies in aligning with the Left's climate agenda.