Search results for: apocalyptic

Authors: Aycan Gurluyer

Abstract:

21st-century theatre has been shaped by lots of world-changing forces devastating human psychology and existence. Accepted as the greatest living English playwright, it is post-war British dramatist Edward Bond who uses a late-21st-century apocalyptic landscape as a weapon to question the human existence in his play 'Have I None?'. In this play, he tries to underline the degenerating and destructive effects of the society and environment on a couple whose lives are changed by an unexpected and annoying stranger. As victim of the society and the cultural corruption, the three vulnerable Bondian characters struggle for their expectations to find a place in this fictional world by sacrificing their own lives. Set in the 2077’s world, the play depicts that rigidly formed rules of the system/authority eliminates the existence of humans. According to Bond, the fascist practices of the governments/systems make people paralyzed in any way, so they choose to deny all realities by becoming biological beings or they gather to commit to suicide as troops. Our main aim is to underscore the questioning of the human existence by drawing the socio-political framework of the era, the capitalist system’s dehumanized individuals and their defence to survive, and what reality is in the 21st century, by focusing on Bond’s hallucinatory and tragic vision of the future in 'Have I None?'.

Keywords: Edward Bond, apocalyptic, existence, Have I None?

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Authors: Sean O'Callaghan

Abstract:

Around 2011/2012, a whole new genre of Christian religious writing began to emerge, focused on the role of advanced technologies, particularly the GRIN technologies (Genetics, Robotics, Information Technology and Nanotechnology), in bringing about a techno-apocalypse, leading to catastrophic events which would usher in the end of the world. This genre, at first niche, has now begun to grow in significance in many quarters of the more fundamentalist and biblically literalist branches of evangelicalism. It approaches science and technology with more than extreme skepticism. It accuses transhumanists of being in league with satanic powers and a satanic agenda and contextualizes transhumanist scientific progress in terms of its service to what it believes to be a soon to come Antichrist figure. The genre has moved beyond literature and videos about its message can be found on YouTube and other forums, where many of the presentations there get well over a quarter of a million views. This paper will examine the genre and its genesis, referring to the key figures involved in spreading the anti-intellectualist and anti-scientific message. It will demonstrate how this genre of writing is similar in many respects to other forms of apocalyptic writing which have emerged in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, all in response to both scientific and political events which are interpreted in the light of biblical prophecy. It will also set the genre in the context of a contemporary pre-occupation with conspiracy theory. The conclusions of the research conducted in this field by the author are that it does a grave disservice to both the scientific and Christian audiences which it targets, by misrepresenting scientific advances and by creating a hermeneutic of suspicion which makes it impossible for Christians to place their trust in scientific claims.

Keywords: antichrist, catastrophic, Christian, techno-apocalypse

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Authors: Tatyana Suvorkina

Abstract:

It is indisputable that the problem of the origin of Manichaeism is very complex. Manichaeism is characterized as a syncretic religion, which was influenced by many teachings, but it is difficult to define one which can be called fundamental. The aim of this paper is an attempt to regard Jewish apocalyptic tradition as one of the most defining source of formation of Manichaean systems. To realize this aim a comparison of the Manichean texts and the Jewish apocryphal literature is made. Consideration is given first to the Coptic Manichaean treatise Kephalaia, The Cologne Mani Codex and to books of Enoch. Under the article it is not denied that Manichaeism was influenced by different doctrines and, passed through centuries, it could adapt and strengthen this influence at an even deeper level. But the fact that the Judeo-Christian environment where Mani grew up and where the first sprouts of his teaching were formed had impact on future prophet seems obvious. Nevertheless, attempts to analyze the system of Mani within the Jewish tradition are quite rare, although such studies were carried out for Gnosticism. But Manichaeism, despite the Gnostic features it contains, is not 'one of the Gnostics' to place it under this term among the rest. Frequently, gnostic currents are pointed out as the main sources for the formation of Mani’s teachings. But it seems possible that Mani's interest in Gnosticism was motivated by the fact that he considered it as something close to that interpretation of Hebrew texts, which he aspired to undertake. The question of understanding the Manichaean system is connected not only with Manichaeism but also with other dualistic teachings, which were recognized by contemporaries as Manichaean. It is seen that polemics between Manicheans and Hellenized Christianity separated from Judaism and continued to separate with every century, were polemics between adherents of initially two different worldviews who had, however, a common source. Therefore an analysis of the controversy in the context of interpretations of this common source by disputing parties is seen very important for further study.

Keywords: dualism, Jewish apocalypticism, Manichaeism, syncretism

Procedia PDF Downloads 155

Authors: Dean Hill

Abstract:

This scholarly exploration delves deep into the burgeoning genre of climate fiction (cli-fi) and elucidates how it serves as a mediator of environmental consciousness in today's literature. The paper first locates cli-fi within a broader spectrum of literary responses to ecological concerns, tracing its development and delimiting its own specific characteristics. It refers to the genre's appropriation of an array of narrative forms -from dystopian visions to post-apocalyptic survival tales- all of which signal deep and far-reaching impacts of climate change on society. These narratives are not meant to be predictive; they often incorporate serious scientific research that gives credence and urgency to their description of climatic disruptions and social turmoil. The study then explores the narrative techniques used by the authors of cli-fi to elicit a visceral response in the reader. These may include the anthropomorphising of nature, the dramatisation of climate impacts, and the detailed construction of disrupted societies. Such techniques allow cli-fi to achieve what other forms of dissemination of traditional sciences often fail to do: making the abstract tangibility of climate change immediate and palpable, transforming the far-off phenomena into a question of pressing, personal concern. Also covered are the emotional dimensions of cli-fi, whereby components of fear, empathy, and hope are used to involve the reader deeply. The fear of dystopian futures, empathy toward characters in such futures, and hope inspired by the stories of adaptation and resilience are powerful motivators. They not only heighten the textual involvement but also encourage a reader to reflect on his or her environmental impact and societal changes. A third theme relates to the ethical dimensions of cli-fi. It often challenges the audience with profound moral ques-tions about the role and responsibility of humankind in relation to either causing or mitigating ecological decline. In that regard, it is possible to say that cli-fi compels readers to consider the moral implications of their actions with regard to an interconnected world. Most stories are often based on a shared fate, complete with an accentuation of global interconnectedness and the necessity of collective action to tackle global challenges. The way cli-fi is used as a form of social commentary is also discussed, criticising current policies and practices while seeking environmental justice. It discusses how such stories reveal the unequal impacts of climate change and often raise the plight of the most vulnerable populations, which shapes public opinion and policy debates. In conclusion, the paper states that the unique mixture of scientific grounding and creative narrative in climate fiction is especially effective in transforming public attitudes and bringing people together around more sustainable practices. This means that this genre is relevant not only to literary scholars and environmental scientists but also to policymakers, educators, and activists who want to mobilise a more significant social shift in environmental consciousness and behaviour. This genre is a critical, culturally salient medium that contributes massively to an important part of solving some of the most relevant issues of our time.

Keywords: climate fiction, narrative strategies, environmental consciousness, global engagement

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