The Flood Myth in the Age of Global Climate Change

Abstract

When released, The Day After Tomorrow was widely described by critics and the movie's creators as a pro-environmentalist film. This essay argues that The Day After Tomorrow articulates a variation of apocalyptic discourse identified as a flood myth. The authors conclude that this version of the flood myth largely undermines contemporary environmental discourse that attempts to generate public activism in addressing ecological problems, by replacing an emphasis on human efficacy with symbolic vindication and exchanging collective effort for individual survivalism. The film thus serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of contemporary mythic discourse presented as supporting environmental activism.

Keywords:

• Environmental Activism
• Rhetoric
• Flood Myth
• Apocalyptic
• Jeremiad
• Culture
• Social Organization

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael Salvador

Michael Salvador is an Associate Professor in the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University

Todd Norton

Todd Norton is an Assistant Professor in the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University