An interdisciplinary study of the zombie apocalypse and other doomsday beliefs in popular culture which will bring together various methodologies and conceptual tools to create a complex analysis. Topics covered will include: the concept of apocalyptic beliefs in popular culture; how apocalyptic beliefs are created and circulated in popular culture; how elements of apocalyptic beliefs in popular culture connect to historical and contemporary political, social, psychological, and intellectual issues; how different groups and individuals in history and contemporary society relate to apocalyptic beliefs.
Course Outcomes
- Identify significant themes in representations of doomsday beliefs in popular culture (e.g., social contract, communitarianism, tribalism, realism, liberalism, neo-conservatism, fascism, barbarism, morality).
- Analyze doomsday beliefs in popular culture using historical, religious, political, philosophical, psychological, social, &/or intellectual frameworks.
- Evaluate how doomsday beliefs in popular culture serve as metaphor to current issues and events, and provides social commentary on the historical context it was produced in.