End of the World in 20th Century American Pop Culture: Film, Radio, and Books

James Heiner

Planet of the Apes is a case study in how 20^th Century American Pop Culture uses the theme of “end of the world” either in film, radio, and books. Post fact is an annotated bibliographic plan is produced to help point future researchers in researching this topic. These points are demonstrated the in the case study and bib plan, in the genres of radio, books, and film. By looking at the theme from two different time periods and advantage points - such as the 60s and modern times - one can see how the “end of the world” theme is still alive in American Pop Culture - even though it follows a circular pattern of around, not around, and then around. The methodology used was to find material produced, by whom, and critiques in such as databases via EBSCO, CSA, or public databases. Film (Matrix Trilogy, and Terminator Trilogy), books (Ghost In the Shell manga), and radio material (1930s War of the World radio show) is also part of the methodology. The hit results are produced in easy to follow charts, so those who want to follow can. These fears/stories of the "end of the world" relates to how cultures, in all shapes and sizes, look and plan for the future. This can be seen in the movie Day After Tomorrow, in how man sees printed material Fahrenheit 451, or the destruction of civilization via electronic means, at the turn of the second millennium.