The Afterlives of Stories: Exploring the Long-term Impact of Environmental Narratives
Navn på bevillingshaver
Nicolai Skiveren
Titel
Postdoctoral Fellow
Institution
Aarhus University
Beløb
DKK 1,945,091
År
2025
Bevillingstype
Reintegration Fellowships
Hvad?
This project explores the afterlives of environmental narratives by asking what happens once we’ve put a novel back on the shelf, turned off the television, or scrolled past a climate change video on our phone. By examining how films, television, and social media stories linger, change, or fade, the project seeks to understand media’s role in shaping public engagement with the climate crisis.
Hvorfor?
Stories can shift how we see the world and ourselves, making them powerful tools for addressing the climate crisis. While past research has shown that storytelling can spark emotions, awareness, and short-term behaviour change, we know very little about its long-term effects. This project fills that gap, offering insights into how narratives can affect citizens navigating multiple global crises.
Hvordan?
Two studies will track narrative reception over time. The first will document how a single story can unfold across six months, using interviews and surveys with Danish citizens. The second study will map how young adults experience the wider flow of environmental stories in their daily digital lives. Together, they will provide the first in-depth look at the afterlives of environmental narratives.