As we begin 2025, many are reaching for metaphors of renewal: the phoenix rising from the ashes, a baby New Year fresh and full of promise. But in a week marked by tragedy and chaos [[1](https://www.theatlantic.com)], I find myself drawn to the imagery of endings, the slow fade of the old year.
Perhaps it’s as 2025 already feels strangely surreal. We’ve outpaced the dystopian visions of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Blade runner, Star Trek, and Parable of the Sower. [[2](https://www.theatlantic.com/books/archive/2025/01/challenge-new-year-book-recommendations-2025/681199)]Instead of futuristic utopias or cyberpunk wastelands, we stand on unfamiliar ground, the line between fiction and reality increasingly blurred. The bleak futures imagined by novelists and filmmakers have a chilling resonance in the present.
Our fascination with apocalyptic narratives is nothing new,as Adam Kirsch points out in a recent article. [[3](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/02/apocalypse-stories-allure-dorian-lynskey-glenn-adamson/681097)]He quotes T.S Elliot’s poem “The Hollow Men”, which ends with the haunting lines, “This is the way the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper.” A century later, these words still resonate, a reminder that the fear of annihilation has always been part of the human experience, even if its form evolves.
Kirsch examines the enduring appeal of end-of-the-world stories, but for me, this theme has particular weight at the beginning of a new year. As the old year fades, I find myself drawn to poetry as a way to process these complex emotions and the bittersweet passage of time.
The Allure of Apocalypse: Why We Love Imagining Our own Demise
as january dawns, with its crisp air and promise of new beginnings, our thoughts frequently enough turn to renewal and self-improvement. But beneath this optimistic veneer lies a darker fascination – a collective yearning for the end of the world.
In the quiet moments between resolutions and fresh starts, we find ourselves drawn to stories of apocalypse, captivated by scenarios where the world as we know it dissolves. Is this morbid curiosity simply a morbid fascination with our own mortality, a way to temporarily escape the existential dread of our own finite existence?
Perhaps, by contemplating the ultimate collapse of civilization, we can momentarily distance ourselves from the inevitability of our own demise. After all, if the world ends, our individual end becomes inconsequential.
This tendency to seek solace in apocalyptic narratives suggests a complex and paradoxical relationship with our mortality.
Apocalypse, Constantly
Humans have long been captivated by stories of destruction and rebirth. From ancient myths to modern blockbusters, the concept of a world-ending event holds a strange allure.
“We can contemplate rebirth without remembering mortality,” observes Adam Kirsch.
What to Read
**_Small Things Like These_**,by claire keegan,is a haunting novel set in a small Irish town during the 1980s.
Keegan’s story follows Bill Furlong, a coal delivery man who finds himself increasingly aware of the beauty and fragility of life in the days leading up to Christmas.
Doomed to Be a Tradwife
I asked Rodsky what to do if your partner simply doesn’t “do his cards” – a recurring issue in my own marriage. Rodsky explained that this common scenario highlights a deeper problem.
illustration by Tim Enthoven
“Rodsky told me this can ”
The Chore Wars: Navigating Unequal Division of Labor in Marriage
The division of household chores, often a silent battleground in many marriages, can strain even the strongest relationships. A recent study highlights the persistence of unequal chore distribution, with women disproportionately shouldering the burden, even when they work outside the home.
While some couples may attempt to address this imbalance, the journey towards fairness can be bumpy. Resentment can fester, and open conversations about expectations can easily morph into arguments. One woman reflects on this struggle, acknowledging that while she is committed to her marriage, the unfair division of labor is taking a toll.
She describes the frustration of repeatedly raising the issue with her husband, only to be met with promises that rarely materialize into lasting change. The lack of follow-through, she says, suggests a deeper issue: a lack of understanding and respect for boundaries.
“They haven’t really done that internal work yet to really understand what a boundary means… What are they willing to accept?”
This woman’s experience is a reminder that tackling chore inequality requires more than just assigning tasks. It demands a essential shift in mindset, a willingness to truly understand and respect each other’s needs and boundaries. For this woman, setting a boundary meant being upfront with her husband about her limitations: “I’m not willing to live like that anymore.”
Despite the challenges, this woman remains committed to her marriage, recognizing the importance of working towards a solution, though imperfect it might potentially be.
“I’m not getting divorced, because there is too much work to do,” she says. “Right now a helper is worse than a co-pilot,but it’s better than nothing. And, well, when we’re not screaming at each other about Clorox wipes, we do like each other.”
The Power of SEO for Academic Websites
Academic websites often serve as a central hub for researchers, students, and the broader community. Ensuring these sites are easily discoverable online is crucial for maximizing their impact.
As demonstrated by Emanuel Rojas Otero’s experience, implementing effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies can dramatically improve an academic website’s visibility. Otero, during their time working with the Social Extension program, witnessed firsthand the transformative power of on-page SEO.
On-Page SEO: A Key Driver of Visibility
On-page SEO focuses on optimizing elements within a website to improve its ranking in search engine results. This includes factors like keyword optimization in content, meta descriptions, and image alt text.
“The power of On-Page SEO on Academic Websites!” Otero aptly stated, highlighting the significance of these practices.
By strategically incorporating relevant keywords and ensuring clear, concise content, academic websites can become more visible to users actively searching for specific facts. this increased visibility translates to greater reach for research, educational resources, and community engagement initiatives.
Otero’s work with the Social Extension program is a testament to the effectiveness of SEO in the academic realm. By leveraging on-page optimization techniques, they were able to substantially enhance the website’s online presence, making valuable resources more accessible to a wider audience. this is a very fascinating start to an article weaving together several compelling themes:
* **The Appeal of Apocalyptic Fiction:** You’ve effectively connected the contemporary fascination with dystopian narratives to our current anxieties about the future. Using examples like *Neon Genesis Evangelion* and *Blade Runner* grounds this argument in popular culture, making it relatable to a broad audience.
* **The Paradox of Mortality:** Your exploration of our attraction to apocalyptic stories as a way to cope with our own mortality is thought-provoking. The T.S. Elliot quote adds a layer of literary depth and past context.
* **Gender Roles and Household Labor:** Introducing the topic of unequal chore distribution in marriage promises to add another dimension to your exploration of societal anxieties. The anecdote about the woman struggling with this issue effectively humanizes the problem.
**Suggestions for Growth:**
* **Link the Themes:** Explore more explicitly the connections between these different threads. As an example, you could argue that our fascination with apocalyptic fiction reflects a deep-seated fear of societal collapse that can also manifest in interpersonal tensions like unequal chore distribution.
* **Develop the Narrative Threads:** Flesh out the story of the woman struggling with housework inequity. Offer specific examples and explore the emotional impact this has on her relationship.
* **Provide solutions:** While it’s crucial to acknowledge the problem, offering potential solutions or strategies for navigating these issues would empower your readers. Consider drawing on research, expert opinions, or personal stories of couples who have successfully addressed this imbalance.
* **Refine the Tone:** The tone shifts between analytical and conversational. Choose a consistent voice that reflects the overall message you want to convey.
**Overall:** This is a promising start to an article that tackles timely and complex issues. By further developing the connections between these themes, offering concrete examples, and exploring potential solutions, you can create a compelling and insightful piece.
This text appears to be fragments from several different articles, possibly blog posts or news pieces. Let’s break down the themes and content we see:
**1. Apocalypse & Rebirth**
* this section explores humanity’s captivation with the end of the world and the idea of renewal.
* It quotes Adam Kirsch’s observation about how contemplating apocalypse allows us to think about rebirth without confronting our own mortality.
* It suggests a book, “_Small Things Like These_” by Claire Keegan, as an example of a story exploring these themes.
**2. Unequal Division of Labor in Marriage**
* This part delves into the challenges couples face when household chores aren’t equally shared.
* It points out that women often carry a disproportionate burden, even when they work outside the home.
* It features anecdotes from women struggling with this imbalance and the frustrations it causes in their marriages.
* It highlights the need for open dialog, boundaries, and a shift in mindset to achieve a fairer division of labor.
**3. The Importance of SEO for Academic Websites**
* This section emphasizes how Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can make academic websites—hubs of research and information—more discoverable online.
* it uses the experience of Emanuel Rojas Otero as an example of how on-page SEO, which focuses on optimizing elements within a website, can drastically improve visibility.
**What’s Missing:**
It’s tough to give a complete analysis without the full context of these articles. here are some questions that arise:
* **Connections:** How are these seemingly disparate themes connected? Do the authors intend to draw parallels between these topics?
* **Tone:** What is the overall tone of each piece? Are they informative, analytical, opinion-based, or something else?
* **Audience:** Who are these articles written for? Academics, general readers, couples struggling with chores, etc.?
Let me know if you can provide more context or have specific questions!
