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@@ -4,6 +4,101 @@ title: Reading log
 author: Joe Carstairs
 ---
 
+## 2026-05-01
+
+I had a long think about the argument I want to make in my dissertation. I came
+up with the following idea.
+
+Question: how can apocalyptic literary forms be used well in green rhetoric?
+
+Answer: to use apocalyptic literary forms well, green rhetors should not exhort
+their audiences to avert an impending catastrophe, but rather exhort them to
+adopt a martyrdom ethic in response to an immanent catastrophe. This has certain
+consequences for the sorts of literary features and rhetorical contexts are
+appropriate for apocalyptic green rhetoric, and suggests that some apocalyptic
+literary forms could fruitfully be exploited more than they are at present by
+rhetors.
+
+Structure:
+
+1. Introduction
+2. Avoid exhorting the audience to avert the catastrophe
+  1. The rhetorical strategy is...
+  2. It moved from nuclear issues to green issues in the 1980s
+  3. This rhetorical strategy can use core apocalyptic forms
+  4. Using apocalyptic forms in this way has literary consequences
+    * The catastrophe is final, destroys everything worth living for
+    * The audience is blamed for the problem
+    * The audience is assumed to have power over the problem
+  5. This strategy doesn't work and makes bad things happen
+    * The audience doesn't have power over green catastrophes, thus alienated
+    * Obscures green harms happening now, obstructing appropriate responses
+    * Blames the wrong people for green harms
+    * Justifies 'whatever it takes' -- authoritarianism, violence
+3. Exhort the audience to endure the catastrophe
+  1. The rhetorical strategy is...
+  2. St John (arguably) used core apocalyptic forms to this end
+  3. Using apocalyptic forms in this way had literary consequences for St John
+    * The catastrophe is immanent, not future
+    * Deliverance is final, not the catastrophe (tribulation!)
+    * The audience are assumed to have no power over the outcome
+    * Acknowledges human agency and responsibility
+    * The audience are assumed to be able to resist Evil in some way
+    * Requires a resilient good -- best to use mythological language
+    * Must come from the margins, not the centre
+  4. This strategy has been tried by green rhetors
+  5. This strategy works and makes good things happen
+    * Doesn't ask the impossible
+    * Banishes panic
+    * Encourages local action
+    * Awakens the complacent
+    * Encourages resistance to dominant systems
+  6. This strategy, as currently deployed, under-exploits apocalyptic forms
+    * Ultimate vindication
+    * Mythological language
+    * Subaltern sources of authority
+4. Summary
+
+Now, what do I need in order to write this dissertation?
+
+For chapter 2, I'll need:
+
+* A list of shared forms between nuclear rhetoric and green rhetoric
+* Examples of catastrophic nuclear rhetoric
+* Examples of catastrophic green rhetoric demonstrating the close
+  link with nuclear rhetoric, many of which should be from the same
+  time period as the peak of nuclear catastrophe rhetoric
+* A list of 'core apocalyptic forms'
+* Examples of green rhetoric using 'core apocalyptic forms'
+* Examples of green rhetoric using the features listed in 2.4
+* Evidence that catastrophic green rhetoric causes alienation
+* Evidence that catastrophic green rhetoric obstructs appropriate
+  responses to ongoing green harms
+* Evidence that catastrophic green rhetoric blames the wrong people,
+  i.e. evidence that major green harms are not fairly blamed on the
+  behaviour of ordinary people
+* Evidence that catastrophic green rhetoric justifies violence and
+  authoritarianism
+
+For chapter 3, I'll need:
+
+* Evidence that this is St John's rhetorical strategy
+* A list of 'core apocalyptic forms' -- the same as in chapter 2
+* Examples of St John using the 'core apocalyptic forms'
+* Examples of St John using the features listed in 3.3
+* Examples of apocalyptic green rhetoric meeting these criteria
+* Evidence that such rhetoric banishes panic
+* Evidence that such rhetoric encourages local action
+* Evidence that such rhetoric awakens the complacent
+* Evidence that such rhetoric encourages resistance to dominant systems
+* Examples of ancient apocalypse using the features listed in 3.6
+* Evidence that green rhetoric can use the features listed in 3.6 to make good
+  things happen
+
+In order to achieve this, I've created tasks.md and followed up with David de
+Pomerai in an attempt to get him to pick up the phone and check over my plan of
+action!
+
 ## 2026-04-30
 
 ### @{apocalyptic-complex}