Whew! I really enjoy these course readings because they give me the opportunity to look at something I study as a geology student but from a completely different perspective. It is worth saying again– completely different perspective! And the phrase ‘fossil-soaked lifestyles’ is so good. 

From our weekly reading, I chose to dig into the quote from page 32 of “Petro-masculinity” by Cara Dagget. Daggett writes, and I agree that for a long time, American culture has revolved around whiteness and masculinity. From there, she digs into how fossil fuels and car culture are part of this structure. She continues with the claim: “For many, extracting and burning fuel was a practice of white masculinity, and American sovereignty, such that the explosive power of combustion could be crudely equated with virility.” Her citations around this quote are from a book on how American oil companies operated in foreign nations, so I thought we could come up with some arguments to support or contradict the quote. 

To build additional support into the piece, Daggett could cite reviews of relevant studies of ad practices of car companies for the previous century. Advertisements for cars and “fossil-soaked lifestyles are going to give solid support of incorporation of fossil fuels and white masculinity of zeitgeists past. Daggett could also post a fun anecdote about combustion and virility. Something like:

 A quick google search of “Combustion + Virility” will send you to a link to the next book on your summer reading list, Combustion by Denis Agnew. How does it link these two unique ideas? Just read the synopsis: “Former Smoke jumper Autumn MacAllister returns to Montana after tragedy almost takes her life. She doesn’t expect the chubby insecure boy she once knew to have turned into a virile man with a mind-blowing smile.” Former Smoke jumper Autumn MacAllister returns to Montana after tragedy almost takes her life. She doesn’t expect the chubby insecure boy she once knew to have turned into a virile man with a mind-blowing smile.” Virile combustion… 

 How to contradict the idea of linking whiteness and petroleum and co. together? You only need to provide a few contradicting images. I can think of a few: Black migration to work for car manufacturers in northern cities within the US; studies of national petroleum companies in non-European nations like Venezuela, Mexico, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, and Nigeria. Undeniable examples of the power of petroleum in the global south, for the benefit of nations in the global south. 

Daggett writes many strong claims and paints with a broad brush. The benefits of which are that you can find many examples to support your claims, but contradicting evidence can be found just as swiftly.    

Cara Dagget wrote in her article “Petro-masculinity” about fossil fuel. One of her many claims is “Fossil fuels built the modern world. There remains an appreciation for fossil fuels – or, at least, for the high energy consumption they provided – as a catalyst of mass liberal democracy” (29-30). This shows us how she believes that the use of fossil fuels are taking us towards a positive direction. We know this is her claim because she does not use examples or supporting evidence, rather it’s an introductory statement. She supports this claim when she says, “After all, while industrialization wreaks planetary destruction, its spread was coterminous with humanist victories like the abolition of slavery, increased literacy rates, gender equality and poverty reduction” (30). She provides examples of how fossil fuel usage sparked positive changes. This is an example of supporting evidence. Dagget however contradicts herself when she says, “However, in addition to the ecological harms caused by oil and coal, fossil fuels have also done serious political harm” (30). This claims shows a negative effect of fossil fuel usage and it harms the support for her initial claim. 

Daggets Claim

“ In turn, any threat to energy sup- ply appears simultaneously as a threat to the American dream and, in turn, the dominant position of the US in the world.

In passage 32 Dagget brings us (the reader) back in time to the post Great Depression era . “The states” or United States government feared Communism and fascism would effect the American Public. So the state came up with a plan, by capitalizing  on the 1970 oil crisis the state helped to secure an artificial oil scarcity that ensured profits for oil companies. On the demand side, the state helped to cultivate oil desires, making the American public as crack is to a crackhead, “Oil craving Addicts”. Which living a life without, doesn’t  support the popular ideal for living the “American Dream”. Any threat to the energy supply is a threat to this “American dream” because without one, the idea by which equality of opportunity is available to any American, would cease to exist. An American Motto, which morale into the hearts of millions of immigrants to come seek and improve living standards.

Cara Daggett claims that fossil fuels are harming democracy, “However, in addition to the ecological harms caused by oil and coal, fossil fuels have also done serious political harm” (30). Daggett supports her claim by discussing the violent and anti-democratic methods western states have employed to secure oil in the middle east. While Daggett is correct in stating that western states have gone too far in securing oil, securing oil was not the sole reason western states have gone into middle east, which Daggett also discusses, “Likewise, fossil fuel and mineral extraction were secured, both within the US and abroad, by racist regimes of differential pay and access to benefits that were aggressively anti-democratic on the part of corporations and the states that supported them” (30). Daggett fails to mention the fact that some countries have committed acts of war against the United States, which forced the United States into taking action. After all war is not very democratic.