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A Collective Trembling: Apocalyptic Affective Practice

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A Collective Trembling: Apocalyptic Affective Practice

Boyer, Sarah (2022) A Collective Trembling: Apocalyptic Affective Practice. Masters thesis, Concordia University.

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Abstract

Apocalyptic discourse, established as an emotional norm situated within the environment of belief of the late-modern era, is an affective expression of embodied anxiety. This thesis contends that the affective practice of apocalypticism motivates people to seek security in explanatory models, in attempt to make meaning, speculate on the future, and rationalize the present. Chapter one outlines the historical trajectory of Christian and secular apocalypticism and situates it within the American Protestant evangelical movement. Chapter two establishes that embodied anxiety is reinforced by turbulent social conditions which distinguish the current world order. Chapter three demonstrates that predictive misattributions, or errors in judgement, are valuable to emotional and ideological formation, exemplified through the case study of Pastor Jeremiah Johnson’s “I Was Wrong” video series. An appendix suggests future directions of study and advocates for applications based in embodied and expressive therapies in order to regulate affect.

Divisions:Concordia University > Faculty of Arts and Science > Religions and Cultures
Item Type:Thesis (Masters)
Authors:Boyer, Sarah
Institution:Concordia University
Degree Name:M.A.
Program:Religion
Date:28 August 2022
Thesis Supervisor(s):DiTommaso, Lorenzo
Keywords:apocalypse, affect, affect theory, affective practice, anxiety, emotion, protestant, evangelical, Jeremiah Johnson, Donald Trump
ID Code:990935
Deposited By: SARAH BOYER
Deposited On:27 Oct 2022 14:08
Last Modified:27 Oct 2022 14:08

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