The Romanticism in Doomsday
Why are we always obsessing with the end of the world?
By Dez
Are we prepared for the end of the world? Semantically, doomsday preppers believe they are, those close to spirituality understand that everyone’s time comes to an end eventually. But, why do some of us care so much? There are countless songs, movies, and books about the different end of the world scenarios, focusing on how humanity would prepare, brace, survive, or perish.
There are numerous things to love about humanity and its relation to the world; however, for each reason, one could argue that there are myriad more reasons to hate it. Perhaps an indulgence in pessimism is the reason we romanticize the end of the world so much.
I feel as though we imagine and write about the end of the world because we are entranced by the idea of it; it’s something almost out of our reach that doesn’t quite feel real but is still realistic enough that no one can claim it as impossible. Think of fantasies containing witches, dragons, magic, and mermaids; all this fiction pulls thousands of people in because the art of imagination is limitless; thinking of things better than the world we live in is easy and natural, perhaps to the point of instinct. So, in reality, if the world is to actually end, the questions of "how" and "when" can be unnecessary stressors.
Another hallmark of the romanticism of doomsday is the end of the world is always approaching blisteringly fast. The meteor is always striking unexpectedly, killing entire populations on impact; war consumes the nations, and bombs are dropped endlessly, destroying everything immediately; a zombie outbreak spreads infection instantaneously—it’s either eat or be eaten, even if they’re slow walkers. Perhaps, if the world is to end, the faster it occurs, the less painful it will be. But why can’t we imagine a slow, gradual end? The lack of control within a gradual ending has the potential to be more painful. With a gradual end, the more the unseen clock above the Earth ticks down and people fervently scramble to change the course of fate. Whether they try to strike down a meteor or continue life after the sun goes out, perhaps even the total effects of climate change catch up with us: the sense of a gradual ending provides hope for change. So if we envision the end of the world, we’re making it rapid, fueling the romanticism of pessimism.
With rapid endings, adrenaline kicks in and everyone does what they were too scared to or never got a chance to do. Whether it’s confessing love to a best friend, finding your long lost relative, quitting the job you hate, or going on an adventure around the world, the end of the world provides people with their main character moment as their movie of life comes to an end. And at the end of the day, doesn’t everyone want to have that feeling at least once?
Romanticism slowly consumes different parts of humanity, making the end of our existence no different. Also, each of us may have our own reasons for intrigue when it comes to the end of the world, how it pulls us in and makes us think. As Earth’s clock continues to tick and we’re unsure of humanity's official last day, apocalyptic themed media will continue to provoke society’s imagination.