Analysis Of Waste Aesthetics: Form As Restitution By Susan Signe Morrison

Susan Signe Morrison’s essay titled “Waste Aesthetics: Form as Restitution” is an example filled article that argues that literature plays a huge impact on the way in which we see waste. Morrison begins with explaining that in society, waste is seen as the “Other” therefore suggesting that waste has become something that humans don’t associate with, creating the idea that there is no connection. But, Morrison introduces the concept that no matter how hard we try, there will always be a connection between “us” and the Other. She determines that literature will help us in seeing this connection; “Literature enables culture to acknowledge what it has to deny” (Morrison, 464), through both a material sense and a metaphorical sense. The materiality
of it then, is the way in which literature explicitly points out the connection; through physically throwing out objects. Morrison then takes this materiality to discuss the metaphorical sense in which waste is represented in literature. She states there are two metaphoric representations. The first being “the transfer from the materiality of waste to the metaphoric as witnessed psychologically and spiritually.” (Morrison, 466). It’s the metaphoric idea that we can not live without waste, that waste can not live without us, that by understanding this concept,we are forced to internalize waste, therefore suggesting that by just “being”, we become waste.The second metaphoric representation of waste in literature is that of a sociological and ethical standpoint “where certain classes of humans are seen as trash due to their status (Morrison, 467). It’s the idea that “the rhetoric of Othering those of a different race, religion [...] class, constructs them as unclean or inhuman” (Morrison, 469) meaning that waste is “sent” to them, to continue the Othering, transforming these classes of people as waste. Morrison then concludes that “Literature can help us see ourselves in our depravity and can offer us ways to emerge from this baseness to see others and ourselves in a generous and ethical way.” (Morrison, 475) meaning that literature will helps us to understand the connections that are evidently present between us and waste and how we can use that connection for the better.
As part of Morrison’s conclusion, the following quote can be observed as the perfect explanation for the importance towards waste literature: