Symone Williams- Chapter 9

Davis transitions from the analysis of cults and conspiracies to apocalyptic theories in chapter 9. Davis dives into multiple instances where groups of people thought their last days were coming sooner rather than later.On page 270, he discusses Y2K and the paranoia that stemmed from switching centuries. One event that I was reminded of while reading this chapter was the paranoia around the world ending in December of 2012. There was a lot of paranoia that because the Mayan  Calendar seemed to end at this date, and had predicted events before. This interpretation gained mainstream attention, which isn't rare for apocalyptic theories . However, this case is especially interesting because our Christian-normative American society wouldn't suggest that the masses believe in the Mayan calendar. It makes me wonder if there is just a draw to societal hysteria or if it is that easy and profitable to play with people's fear of death. I would love to see Davis' links to this matter. But, I think this somewhat relates to the "illusory sense that world on it always has" (270).
   For my cut-up, I chose various lyrics about the end of time from Genius.com and generated this:
"World serves its own needs, listen Well, that would be enough until  the Rapture and the reverent in the end of time So rest your weary fire."" feel fine See the sunlight, let it happen Keep on dancing till the world ends If you feel it, heart and relax you mind ."These lyrics came from songs that were mostly about loving someone or dancing until the world ends. I found this interesting because the cut-up suggests that there is serenity in the end of the world. Pop culture often influences or reacts to Apocalyptic theories in many ways. For example the movie 2012 was a reaction to the Mayan calendar theory. The end of time or end of the world were common uses in these songs, which correlates with Davis' writing about the end of the world being a transcendence into into the infocalyse describes by Stephenson.Meme:
time running out the door

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