ABSTRACT

The Apocalypse or end times are a recurrent theme within contemporary popular culture. 'The End All Around Us' presents a wide-ranging exploration of the influence of the apocalypse within art, literature, music and film. The essays draw on representations of the apocalypse in heavy metal music, science fiction, disaster movies and anime. The book examines key apocalyptic texts, focusing on their relevance to today. It will be invaluable to all those interested in the religious and cultural impact of apocalyptic thought.

chapter |21 pages

End of the World Music

Is Extreme Metal the Sound of the Apocalypse?

chapter |28 pages

Babylon's Burning

Reggae, Rastafari and Millenarianism

chapter |23 pages

“The Days are Numbered”

The Romance of Death, Doom, and Deferral in Contemporary Apocalypse Films

chapter |28 pages

Making Things New

Regeneration and Transcendence in Anime

chapter |25 pages

Selling Faith Without Selling Out

Reading the Left Behind Novels in the Context of Popular Culture

chapter |25 pages

“The Shadow of the End”

The Appeal of Apocalypse in Literary Science Fiction

chapter |21 pages

An End Times Virtual “Ekklesia”

Ritual Deliberation in Participatory Media