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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} |