“Has anyone seen this?”: Imaginary Apocalypse in Jeff Nichols’ Take Shelter
This article explores the enduring presence and appeal of apocalyptic narratives in two recent films, Melancholia and in more detail, Take Shelter. After a short discussion on the definition and on the different ways in which apocalyptic discourse is manifested (not only in religious and scholarly discourse, but even more so in secular cultural expressions), the article will analyze the film Take Shelter. I will deal with this film in two different ways: on the one hand, it is a good example of a resilient feature of apocalyptic narratives: its visionary quality, on the other hand it seemingly breaks with the paradigm of unfulfilled apocalyptic endings.