I find the quote fascinating 2 for its implications about irony's potential to reinforce beliefs it tries to lampoon. However, British physicist Stephen Hawking found this dark matter amusing, telling Time magazine, "I thought I'd host an end of the world party, but the media might take it seriously" (Stephy). Even National Geographic ran an article with the headline "Worst Case: Collider Spawns Planet-Devouring Black Hole." Doomsday predictions were especially prevalent in India, where a 16-year-old girl committed suicide to avoid the apocalypse ("Girl Suicide Over…"). Doomsday scenarios captivated media outlets, including the British newspapers The Sun and The Guardian. The LHC fired hysteria about the creation of black holes that could swallow the planet. The world also could have ended on September 10, 2008, when researchers first activated the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Rapture Relief is not the only recent dilemma that reveals the dangers of apocalyptic irony. I use these ironies to elucidate a framework to evaluate potentially risky rhetorical moves. ![]() Unintentionally, some ironies offer dwellings that can provide rhetorical aid and comfort to the enemy. Because ironic texts deliberately establish multiple dwellings, they raise provocative questions about the consequences and responsibilities of rhetoric. This article explores this danger through the concept of rhetorical dwelling. If misinterpreted, Rapture Relief could cause audience members to stake their claim with the Harold Camping camp. Meant to satirize hysterical prognostications about the world's end, these events could end up fueling sensationalism, prompting hysteria, and convincing unwitting victims of the prophesy's legitimacy. Ironic apocalyptic rhetoric raises a serious rhetorical conundrum. The event proves fruitful for analysis because it offers several textual artifacts and a coherent satirical strategy while also posing a risk of being misconstrued. Though several of these ironic skeptic events prove ripe for analysis, this article focuses on the event "Rapture Relief," a satirical fundraiser for Apocalypse survivors hosted by the group Seattle Atheists. 1 But some of the events were more blatantly satirical, as skeptic and atheist groups organized ironic "Rapture Ready" parties, conferences, and fundraisers. Many of these events provided little more than a good time at the End Times. Minutes before the scheduled Rapture, a man drowned trying to cross a lake, believing that God was waiting on the other side ("California Drowning…").Ĭonversely, some found the prophecy amusing and planned "end of the world" parties. Tragically, a 14-year-old Russian girl committed suicide on the eve of May 21 to avoid Armageddon. Most coverage showed either mild skepticism or outright mockery of the prediction-for instance, a Time magazine article headlined "Judgment Day? No Way!" ended by declaring "We'll see you right here on these pages on May 22." Still, thousands of people embraced Camping's message, abandoning families, jobs, and fortunes in hopes of a one-way Rapture ticket. ![]() The doomsday prediction received heavy media coverage in the days leading to May 21. What is the Point of View where Bradbury's narrator speaks directly to the reader? Write a quote with this POV.Figure 1: A Family Radio billboard guarantees the apocalypse.įamily Radio sent "Project Caravan" teams on road trips to spread the good news of the impending apocalypse. Where does the police car take Leonard? To the Psychiatric Center for Research on Regressive Tendencies. Why is it so strange that Leonard is just walking without a destination? It is strange since walking alone & talking to houses is 'weird' by todays' society, as a result of the less human interaction with each other. Mead writes since they have 'other responsibilities to look out for'. This says about the society that everyone just follows each other & that nobody cares about what Mr. Why does the police car say "No profession" when Leonard states that he is a writer? What does this say about the society? The person doesn't think that being a writer is a real problem. If anyone really does go outside, it seems it is more of a crime than staying inside, again, since technology is taking over. Why do you think there is only one police car (reduced from 3 years prior)? What does this say about the people/society? There is probably only one police car for the fact that nobody goes outside anymore, and they got used to it.
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