Nuclear Ecologies: making violent atmospheres in Cormac McCarthy’s “Blood Meridian”

Kieran M. Cremin

Nuclear Ecologies: making violent atmospheres in Cormac McCarthy’s “Blood Meridian”

Kieran M. Cremin

School of Engineering and Architecture

University of Edinburgh

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedings › Conference proceeding › peer-review

Abstract

This paper will examine the characterisation of atmosphere in Cormac
McCarthy's 1985 novel Blood Meridian through an on-going doctoral study in
Architecture by Design. Set against an anthology of troublesome desert clouds, the
paper aims to illuminate the complexities in making at a particular extreme – the
construction of contaminated atmospheres – through interdisciplinary making. In
doing so, it moves between a literary work and the American landscape through the
design methodology of an architect and foregrounds the problematics of a work-in-
progress: the speculative design of a “Bath House” from the novel. The project aims
to situate the novel’s desert space as a collection of research objects and explores its
atmospheric environments, how they interact, exchange, and are made material.

Original language	English (Ireland)
Title of host publication	What Got Us Here, Won't Get Us There
Subtitle of host publication	Extreme Making
Publisher	Blucher Proceedings
Volume	11
Edition	4
ISBN (Electronic)	2318-6968
Publication status	Published - Oct 2023

Access to Document

https://www.proceedings.blucher.com.br/article-details/nuclear-ecologies-making-violent-atmospheres-in-cormac-mccarthys-blood-meridian-38860

1 Doctoral thesis

Tracking Blood Meridian: Violence, Landscape + Material Poiesis
Cremin, K. M., 2025, (Accepted/In press)
Research output: Types of thesis › Doctoral thesis

1 Participating in a conference, workshop, ...
1 Visiting an external academic institution

15th International Conference of the European Academy of Design
Cremin, K. (Participant)
20 Oct 2023
Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participating in a conference, workshop, ...
National Sculpture Factory
Cremin, K. (Visiting Researcher)
13 Sept 2022 → 1 May 2024
Activity: Visiting an external institution › Visiting an external academic institution

Cite this

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title = "Nuclear Ecologies: making violent atmospheres in Cormac McCarthy{\textquoteright}s “Blood Meridian”",

abstract = "This paper will examine the characterisation of atmosphere in Cormac McCarthy's 1985 novel Blood Meridian through an on-going doctoral study in Architecture by Design. Set against an anthology of troublesome desert clouds, the paper aims to illuminate the complexities in making at a particular extreme – the construction of contaminated atmospheres – through interdisciplinary making. In doing so, it moves between a literary work and the American landscape through the design methodology of an architect and foregrounds the problematics of a work-in- progress: the speculative design of a “Bath House” from the novel. The project aims to situate the novel{\textquoteright}s desert space as a collection of research objects and explores its atmospheric environments, how they interact, exchange, and are made material.",

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year = "2023",

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booktitle = "What Got Us Here, Won't Get Us There",

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T2 - making violent atmospheres in Cormac McCarthy’s “Blood Meridian”

AU - Cremin, Kieran M.

PY - 2023/10

Y1 - 2023/10

N2 - This paper will examine the characterisation of atmosphere in Cormac McCarthy's 1985 novel Blood Meridian through an on-going doctoral study in Architecture by Design. Set against an anthology of troublesome desert clouds, the paper aims to illuminate the complexities in making at a particular extreme – the construction of contaminated atmospheres – through interdisciplinary making. In doing so, it moves between a literary work and the American landscape through the design methodology of an architect and foregrounds the problematics of a work-in- progress: the speculative design of a “Bath House” from the novel. The project aims to situate the novel’s desert space as a collection of research objects and explores its atmospheric environments, how they interact, exchange, and are made material.

AB - This paper will examine the characterisation of atmosphere in Cormac McCarthy's 1985 novel Blood Meridian through an on-going doctoral study in Architecture by Design. Set against an anthology of troublesome desert clouds, the paper aims to illuminate the complexities in making at a particular extreme – the construction of contaminated atmospheres – through interdisciplinary making. In doing so, it moves between a literary work and the American landscape through the design methodology of an architect and foregrounds the problematics of a work-in- progress: the speculative design of a “Bath House” from the novel. The project aims to situate the novel’s desert space as a collection of research objects and explores its atmospheric environments, how they interact, exchange, and are made material.

M3 - Conference proceeding

VL - 11

BT - What Got Us Here, Won't Get Us There

PB - Blucher Proceedings

ER -

Nuclear Ecologies: making violent atmospheres in Cormac McCarthy’s “Blood Meridian”

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Tracking Blood Meridian: Violence, Landscape + Material Poiesis

Activities

15th International Conference of the European Academy of Design

National Sculpture Factory

Cite this