Finding Peace Through Destruction, And Where We are Today

Finding Peace Through Destruction, And Where We are Today

     In her article from 2012, Elaine Pagels writes, "Throughout the ages, Christians have adapted John of Patmos's visions to... their own social, political and religious conflicts... Yet his Book of Revelation appeals not only to fear and desires for vengeance but also to hope." Elaine Pagels makes a number of interesting points about John's Apocalyptic myth in the context of broader apocalyptic literature. Pagels notes that John's myth goes far beyond the norm: while most apocalyptic literature tells of the destruction of the physical and emotional world in mysterious and ambiguous ways, John's myth welcomes the apocalypse as he finds peace and meaning through it. Secondly, Pagels argues that throughout time, apocalyptic myths adopt the themes most relevant to the time they are produced. For example, an American apocalyptic myth produced in the 1960's might reflect total nuclear destruction on account of the Cold War. Why do we keep coming back to these myths despite their seemingly predictable, linear story-lines? Isn't it reasonable that we would get bored?
     A first step towards answering this question begins with an apocalyptic myth told through the video game medium, Destiny. Destiny's premise falls in line with Pagel's point about thematic relevant of apocalyptic myth to the time of its production; at it's core Destiny is about saving earth, and the galaxy, from evil alien invasions, inline with our contemporary fear of the unknown that space has to offer. Furthermore, the hero(s) in the game are, of course, the users of which there are a limited supply who reside on the last safe place on earth. So what is it about a game like Destiny that makes it so popular despite its similarity to other blockbuster games like Call of Duty that also follow the same "you must save the world" premise? Perhaps it goes back to Darwin's Survival of the Fittest principle. No matter what we, as humans, do on this earth, our number one priority is to stay alive and reproduce. In accordance with this principle, whether it be books, movies, and now interactive gaming, apocalyptic myth touches on our innate sensitivity to our struggle for survival, and for as long as we want to survive as a human race, these myths will always intrigue us.