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The Revolution of the Apocalyptic MythPresented by Ashley Marie Ryan

Abstract This paper critically examines J.J. Abrams post-apocalyptic television show Revolution from a mythic perspective. The television shows plot displays a contrast between the traditional Christian apocalyptic myth and the new myth of the human centered apocalypse. The human centered apocalypse is a catastrophe that is manmade rather than God sent. This shift is seen in hegemonic struggle between those who believe in God and that He caused the apocalypse because humans created an electronic Tower of Babel and those who think that man created the apocalypse through his own devices. This power struggle between religious and non-religious views is a reflection of the increase in Humanism in popular culture and the evolution of apocalyptic myth.

What is hegemony?HegemonyThe process by which a social order remains stable by generating consent to its parameters through the production and distribution of ideological texts that define social reality for the majority of the people (Cloud, 117).

VocabularyRhetoric- Rhetorical theoryoriginates constructs and argument using ethos, logos, and pathos (credibility, logic, and emotion).Mythic criticism is the study of narratives in a culture or society, narratives that report the struggles and heroic exploits of a societys past to explain the world. Such criticism opens many avenues for discussion of how current religious trends (esp., Judeo-Christian) are played out in television; more specifically, how the show, Revolution, recreates the apocalyptic myth for contemporary audiences. Vocabulary for Mythic CriticismMyth- A myth according to Joseph Campbell (1991) is a story that plays a role to vitalize a personal journey and help one make sense of the world around them.

Sign - A sign is something that induces you to think of something other than itself, and everything has the potential to be a sign. Cosmological- This is the study of the origins and eventual fate of the universe, (Ratzinger). Mythological cosmology deals with the world as the totality of space, time and all phenomena (Raztinger).

Many questions in this field are asked in a philosophical manner such as: Why we are here? Where did we come from? What our ancestors were like? Vocabulary cont.Apocalypse- The traditional Christian definition coming from apoclypsis, meaning 'un-covering', translated literally from Greek, is a disclosure to certain privileged persons of something hidden from the mass of humankind (Lostpedia, 2013).

Eschatological- This word is Greek for last and study of (Wikipedia). Literally eschatology is the study of the end. Those who study is are concerned with the final events in humanities history or the apocalypse.

Secularization- This word means that traditional religious institutions no longer exercise the power they once did (Martin & Oswalt, 67, 1997). J.J. Abrams Lost and RevolutionBoth Lost and Revolution are big epic adventure dramas with a strong central mystery, executive produced byJ.J. Abrams (Berkshire, 2012). Both shows fit into the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it theme (Stanley, 2012). Revolution, debuted in 2012, is NBCs attempt at creating a drama to take Losts place. Revolution is similar to Lost in several ways:J.J. Abrams is one of the creators, a similar cast and characters (i.e. Elizabeth Mitchell and the comparison between Hurley and Aaron Pittman), the plot focuses around an apocalyptic event and mysterious circumstances regarding the even, and Christian overtones.

Genre DescriptionApocalyptic fictionis asub-genreofscience fictionthat is concerned with theend of human civilization.

This apocalypse is typically portrayed as being due to a potentiallyexistential catastrophesuch asnuclear warfare,pandemic,extraterrestrial attack,impact event,cybernetic revolt,technological singularity,dysgenics,supernatural phenomena,divine judgment, runaway climate change,resource depletion,or ecological collapse (Leigh, 2008).

Historical and Contemporary ContextY2K The Y2K bug was a computer programming issue; most programs saved the last two decimals of a date (i.e. 1990 would be saved as 90). In the year 2000 the fear was the date would roll over to 1900 rather than 2000 causing crashing stock markets, financial system, Internet and recorded keeping programs (Wikipedia). 06/06/06 Rev. Tim Lahye co-author of Left Behind series, are calling this age the end of times. The evangelical Raptureready.com Web site puts its rapture index at 156, calling that fasten your seatbelts time. Rev. Lahye used 6/6/06 as a marketing date for the release of his new book The Rapture with the tagline 06.06.06 Will You Be Ready? (Associated Press). Harold Campings RaptureWhen righteous men and women would be taken up to Heaven (about 3% of the worlds population) and the rest of the Earth would suffer endlessly for five months before ending on October 21st. (eBible Fellowship).The End of the Mayan CalendarDecember 21st 2012 is the European date for the Mayan apocalypse, because the calendar ended on 13th baktun (ONeill, 2008). Types of Apocalyptic Myth Traditional Christian Apocalyptic Myth/ProphecyBiblical literature that emphasizes the lifting of the veil between heaven and earth and the revelation of God and his plan for the world. Apocalyptic writings are marked by distinctive literary features, particularly prediction of future events and accounts of visionary experiences or journeys to heaven, often involving vivid symbolism (Walter, 1997). Human Centered ApocalypseThe end times have been created by humans rather than God sent. The emphasis is not on the end itself but on avoiding the end and on renewal without the necessity of cataclysmic destruction (Martin, & Ostwalt, 61, 1995). The goal is no longer to accept the second coming of God but rather to avoid the end all together.

The Role of the Human-Centered Apocalyptic MythThe apocalyptic model allows us to make sense of our lives by providing as means by which to order time (Martin & Ostwalt, 61, 1995).

The apocalyptic myth in the modern culture is changing; humans are gaining control of time and history rather than God.

The modern apocalypse has replaced a sovereign God with sovereign humanity, and instead of providing hope for an eschatological kingdom, the cinematic apocalypse attempts to provide hope for this world (Martin & Ostwalt, 61, 1995). How does Revolution fit in apocalypse?

When the story is in your mind, then you see its relevance to something happening in your own life (Campbell, 3, 1991).

Revolution portrays its apocalypse as manmade, giving man the power to humankinds fate.

Where is this shift taking place?

The emphasis is not on the end itself but on avoiding the end and on renewal without the necessity of cataclysmic destruction (Martin, & Ostwalt, 61, 1995).

The goal is no longer to accept the second coming of God, but rather to avoid the end all together. Revolution accurately showcases this change in mythic structure.Christian vs. Secular Humanism What is Secular Humanism? The philosophy orlife stanceofsecular humanism(alternatively known asHumanism) embraces humanreason,ethics,social justiceandphilosophical naturalism, while specifically rejecting religiousdogma,supernaturalism,pseudoscienceorsuperstitionas the basis ofmoralityand decision making (Wikipedia).

Christian vs. Secular Humanism in Revolution translates to Militia vs. Rebels.Those in power still have faith compared to the counter culture of those who dont have faith in a supernatural deity do not have power.

Religious Tones & Hegemonic struggleEpisode Two Chained Heat5:00- A man preaches, That is why God caused the black out, friend. Why he wiped away our cars, planes, batteries and spark plugs, computers and phones, because we built ourselves an electric tower of Babel. We had power but not truth, followers, but no family. The story of Tower of Babel is found in Genesis chapter 11. The story is about humanity, united by one language after the Great Flood, working to build a tower to reach Heaven. God came down from Heaven angry with them, scattering people around Earth and confounded their language. 20:00- Talks about the afterlife or Heaven.26:15- Militia funeral is Christian based prayers.Monroe republic, which is Christian, is holding order the only order we have left.Foil Episode 5- 3:14 When Maggie dies there is not formal funeral just saying goodbyes Changing of Apocalyptic MythI argue that because of the increase in Secular Humanism (or non-practicing religious persons) and decrease in Christianity that it is affecting the apocalyptic myths/prophecies. Rather than God coming to save the world in His second coming, humans will create a catastrophe but will attempt to correct it avoiding the end times all together.From the Huffington Post, August of 2012,The poll, called "The Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism," found that the number of Americans who say they are "religious" dropped from 73 percent in 2005 (the last time the poll was conducted) to 60 percent. At the same time, the number of Americans who say they are atheists rose, from 1 percent to 5 percent."For a very long time, religiosity has been a central characteristic of the American identity," he said. "But what this suggests is that is changing and people are feeling less inclined to identify as religious to comply with what it means to be a good person in the U.S. Ryan Cragun, a University of Tampa sociologist of religion.

Reflection of Change in Pop CultureThis hegemonic struggle between those with power and those who are without power in Revolution is a reflection of the changing belief system in modern America.

The battle between Church and State (i.e. abortion, gay marriage, etc.)

Revolution is a change in myth, placing the power into the hands of the humans rather than a deity.Back Up Linkshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4YMAXSo4Lg

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/lost-religion-christianity-faith-played-big-role-abc-series-article-1.204340