As we stress over cataclysms, apocalyptic omens, and signs of the end of times in the news headlines, it's strangely comforting to imagine a far more unpleasant reality. A parallel universe that's somehow worse off than our own. That's where our favorite post-apocalyptic movies, video games, TV shows, and books start to gain popularity again.
As fans escape into the fictional worlds of fallen empires and unraveling threads of humanity we simultaneously heave a sigh of relief that we don't have ravenous zombies breaking down our door and we don't have annual "reapings" bringing our youths into the Hunger Games. Our world isn't that far gone… yet. While secretly preparing for the worst-case scenario in the real world, audiences are suddenly grateful for their own reality. In that preparedness and comparison, we find solace.
It’s the End of the World as We Know It…
It’s an uncertain world out there these days. Climates are changing, politics are tumultuous, the U.S. stock market is rigged, and our bodies are full of mysterious microplastics. However, whatever future is in store for us in our own lifetime, it’s probably not as horrific and terrifying as the zombie-infested, deserted steam-punk, post-cataclysm apocalyptic worlds of our favorite books and shows.
While these post-apocalyptic narratives still feel entirely plausible, due to the historically foolish tendencies of mankind, it’s still somehow comforting to immerse ourselves in a fictional world that’s more lost than our own reality. “Apocalyptic narratives in the media have always been a reflection of the times, going all the way back to ancient religious texts.” Chris Begley, an archaeologist and social historian, says, “One thing is clear: Apocalyptic narratives are more popular than ever." In his novel, The Next Apocalypse: The Art and Science of Survival, Begley speculates that apocalyptic stories in the entertainment world stem from cultural uncertainties, both politically and economically.
Lo and behold, the obsession with the end of the world has exponentially bloomed in recent years, captivating all of us with each heroic survival tale from an imaginary future scenario.
Jay Baruchel, writer of the comedic end-of-times documentary series, We’re All Gonna Die, says, "I think we are all understandably anxious and constantly at odds with the world and civilization. So when we get to, like, have a moment where we can go, 'Yeah, it's a garbage fire,' I think there is a strange relief." Despite secretly taking mental notes on niche survival skills, we’re fairly certain the characters in those stories are worse off than we’ll ever be—and that’s reassuring.
… And I Feel Fine
The news fans the flames of fear, framing each story as a potentially life-threatening or world-shattering headline. But not every story is as devastatingly enormous as it seems. Cordyceps haven’t rotted or zombified the minds of our neighbors and an underworld of ancient monsters hasn’t surfaced in the town square, so perhaps things aren’t so bad, right? While watching shows like The Last of Us, where a young girl is forced to wield a two-shot rifle while reckoning with terrifyingly fast zombies only to get hunted by semi-feral human factions, we start to reevaluate our own scenario. The U.S. stock market may be rigged, the world might seem to be on the brink of war, and the future is undoubtedly uncertain, but at least we’re not clutching our last weapon-worthy brick to hunker down in an abandoned museum and wait out the nighttime zombie hoards.
Instead, we’re watching fictional horrors unfold on our screen.
Angela Becerra Vidergar, a Stanford scholar, researches humanity’s fascination with the apocalypse. According to Vidergar, "We use fictional narratives not only to emotionally cope with the possibility of impending doom, but even more importantly perhaps to work through the ethical and philosophical frameworks that were in many ways left shattered in the wake of WWII." Unlike our grandparents’ generation, who viewed society’s growth after the Industrial Revolution as an upward arc, most people nowadays aren’t so encouraged by the world’s trajectory. Vidergar continues, claiming that we no longer “imagine the type of positive future that was more prevalent in centuries past.” And this doubt in our own future leaves us “with this cultural fixation on fictionalizing our own death, very specifically mass-scale destruction.”
Feeling as if we’re on the precipice of a downward spiral, there’s something foreboding but also anticipatory about the doom of mankind. The survivalist in all of us seeks to be prepared for the unraveling of mankind, thus positioning ourselves to fixate on the fictional narratives of a gross over-estimation of ‘what could be’ instead of our present reality.
Just in Case
When it comes to post-apocalyptic fictional stories, will life mimic art? Dr. Donna Roberts, an author and psychologist, says “[post-apocalyptic stories] share a future orientation that is just real enough, and just surreal enough, to leave the audience wondering if life will, in fact, imitate art.” Roberts continues, “[through this] we learn to think ahead and anticipate possible consequences. We come to understand that there are some things that happen that you can’t anticipate. Sometimes disasters happen. Sometimes the world runs amok and all you can do is deal with the aftermath.”
Watching a show or a movie about the apocalypse feels satisfying in many ways. The survivalist in us speculates our own endurance in an extreme scenario, while also reveling in the realization that our own reality isn’t similarly hideous or disturbing. Escapism through entertainment is the ultimate way to cope in this case. Despite growing uncertainty in our own futures—and from the comfort of our cozy couch—we can study the follies of fictional characters and subconsciously account for our own shortcomings in an apocalyptic world.
Escaping to a Far Worse Reality
As doom looms on the horizon and goofy 80s action movies like Terminator are starting to feel more plausible, there’s not much the common man can do. Wallowing in fear never gets you far, but turning your woes into tactical obsession with zombies, robots, and nuclear fallout might just be a healthy way to cope. Fighting the feeling of helplessness, post-apocalyptic stories empower us to be a better example of humanity, even in the end-of-times where nobody’s held accountable for their actions.
So while it’s a longshot that the world will fall apart at the seams, tuck those notions of survivalism in the back of your mind. Should you need a few tips on how to start a fire with nothing but twigs, partaking in a healthy dose of post-apocalyptic entertainment may come in handy.