Reframing the Non-Human Gaze: Art, Literature, and AI’s Challenge to Anthropocentrism

Abstract

This article examines how the “non-human gaze”, a conscious decision to depict reality from the perspectives of various non-human entities, is used in contemporary literature and art to subvert anthropocentric worldviews. In the past, human experiences have been given priority in artistic expression, frequently ignoring the non-human realm. Non-humans have often been confined to a supporting role, from classical literature to landscape painting. However, this analysis shows how the non-human gaze forces a fundamental rethinking of human relations with the other-than-human by looking at works that portray the viewpoints of animals, plants, landscapes, and artificial intelligences. The idea that only people are worthy of ethical treatment is questioned, as it first increases moral consideration and empathy. Second, it rejects the notion that nature exists only for human use and acknowledges intrinsic value, dismantling hierarchical conceptions of existence. Lastly, it emphasizes the interdependence of all life and the consequences of human behavior, encouraging ecological awareness and responsibility. This article makes the case for the need for this change to foster a more sustainable and inclusive relationship with the planet through analyses of a variety of artistic mediums, such as visual art that rethinks human scale concerning nature and literary narratives that give voice to non-human beings.