Untitled Lanternfly Film

Untitled Lanternfly Film

is a short essay film that investigates the consonance of invasive biology with xenophobia, taking the spotted lanternfly as a case study.

The film’s thesis combines ecological and historical research with ecofeminist thought to differentiate ecological nationalism – the synthesis of environmentalism and nationalist politics – from environmental stewardship. By examining the co-evolution of invasive biology and sinophobic nativism, the film complicates the spotted lanternfly’s present socio-ecological position as an invasive pest. Visually, the film is composed of playful stop-motion sequences with anthropomorphic spotted lanternfly characters, archival photographs and footage, direct animation, and contemporary Brooklyn landscapes.