Anastasia Vlasova (BA ’25) (she/her)
Silent Eruptions: Meditations on Icelandic Sublimity, the Human Psyche, and Ecological Harmony
Discussions about the sublime often focus on humans’ insignificance in the face of sublime natural landscapes. Fascinated by how this discourse challenges human-centric perspectives and presents an alternative narrative rooted in humility and environmental respect, Anastasia sought to understand the effects of the sublime on environmental attitudes. She ventured to Iceland – a place exemplary of natural sublimity and environmental responsibility – to speak with an environmental anthropologist, solo hike volcanoes, and practice “slow looking.” Her research culminated in an academic paper combining philosophy, literary cultural analysis, and environmental psychology, as well as an online guide to the sublime.