Anna North on the Genre You Didn’t Know You Needed: Bogcore

Bogs, swamps, and marshes are increasingly appearing in popular culture, including fashion, social media, and literature. This trend reflects a growing fascination with these landscapes, which are often seen as mysterious, untamed, and inaccessible. The article suggests this appeal is heightened in times of political instability and digital overload, as bogs symbolize a retreat into wild, unmonitored spaces. For example, fashion designers have incorporated peat into couture designs, and Instagram users share memes about choosing 'bog witch names.' The term bogcore refers to this emerging cultural genre that romanticizes or mythologizes bogs and related wetlands.

Bogs and peatlands play a critical role in combating climate change and supporting biodiversity. They act as carbon sinks, storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise contribute to global warming. Additionally, these ecosystems are home to unique plant and animal species adapted to waterlogged conditions. The article highlights the work of Annie Proulx, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, who critiques human mismanagement of these environments in her book Fen, Bog, and Swamp: A Short History of Peatland Destruction and Its Role in the Climate Crisis. This book explains the differences between fens, bogs, and swamps while emphasizing their ecological importance.

Several authors have explored bogs and wetlands in their works, contributing to the bogcore genre. Seamus Heaney’s collection North includes four poems inspired by Iron Age bog bodies preserved in Irish peat, such as the famous 'Bog Queen' and 'The Grauballe Man.' These poems use vivid imagery to evoke the eerie and ancient nature of bogs. Kay Chronister’s The Bog Wife is described as a modern fable set in West Virginia, blending elements of Gothic horror and humor. Rachel Cusk’s Second Place features a marsh setting where a woman invites an artist to stay, leading to unsettling events. These works demonstrate the diverse ways bogs are interpreted in literature.

Indigenous communities, such as the Lumbee people of North Carolina, have deep cultural and historical ties to wetlands. Ryan Emanuel, a Lumbee hydrologist and professor at Duke University, examines these connections in On the Swamp: Fighting for Indigenous Environmental Justice. The book discusses how wetlands in Robeson County are integral to Lumbee identity but face threats from industrial activities like factory farming and petroleum extraction. Emanuel also critiques the unethical practices of settler researchers who have disturbed Indigenous burial sites under the guise of scientific advancement, highlighting ongoing environmental and cultural injustices.

Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian’s Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature broadens the discussion of wetlands by exploring the gender and sexual diversity found in plant, fungal, and animal worlds. The book also offers practical advice on engaging with nature mindfully. Kaishian’s work suggests that wetlands are not just ecological but also cultural and social spaces where queerness and biodiversity intersect. This perspective challenges traditional views of nature as purely utilitarian or hierarchical.

Sid Sharp’s Bog Myrtle is a picture book that introduces younger readers to bog themes through a story about two sisters. One sister knits a magical sweater from spider silk, leading to an adventure that teaches lessons about conservation and labor relations. The book’s illustrations feature whimsical elements like spiders on strike and supernatural forest creatures, all set against the backdrop of a watchful bog. This work combines fantasy with environmental themes, making it accessible and engaging for all ages.