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‘End of the world vibes’: why culture can’t stop thinking about apocalypse | Books | The Guardian

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Are we living through the end times? Dorian Lynskey interrogates our insatiable appetite for doom - and asks why each generation is so drawn to the idea that they will be the last I t is a sunny afternoon in Taormina, Sicily, and two wealthy couples on holiday are drinking Aperol spritz on a balcony overlooking the sea. Harper, who runs on anxiety and guilt, says she has trouble sleeping because of “everything that’s going on in the world”. Daphne, who runs on pleasure and denial, asks what she means. “Oh, I don’t know,” says Harper. “Just, like, the end of the world.” Daphne laughs. “Oh no, Harper! The world’s not ending, it’s not that bad.” She doesn’t follow the news any more. “And even if it was as bad as they say it is, I mean what can you really do, you know?” Harper and Daphne are sitting on the same beautiful hotel balcony, drinking the same expensive drinks, but only one of them is tormented by the sense that we are all doomed. “It’s like we’re all entertaining each other whil

Illustration: Bill Bragg/The Guardian View image in fullscreen Illustration: Bill Bragg/The Guardian Books This article is more than 2 years old ‘End of the world vibes’: why culture can’t stop thinking about apocalypse This article is more than 2 years old Are we living through the end times? Dorian Lynskey interrogates our insatiable appetite for doom - and asks why each generation is so drawn to the idea that they will be the last Dorian Lynskey Sat 23 Mar 2024 05.00 EDT Last modified on Mon 8 Apr 2024 07.17 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google I t is a sunny afternoon in Taormina, Sicil

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