Enraptured by nature’s fury in The Day After Tomorrow: Deleuze’s movement-image and the George W. Bush era of global warming denial | Intellect Skip to content
1981
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Journal of Visual Political Communication
  4. Volume 8, Issue 1
  5. Article
Volume 8, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 2633-3732
  • E-ISSN: 2633-3740

Abstract

As global warming was questioned and de-prioritized during the George W. Bush presidency, the 2004 film functioned as a reactionary and visceral cinematic discourse, enlivening environmental efforts to address humanity’s influence on global warming. Demonstrated through analysis using Gilles Deleuze’s three-part movement-images as an analytic approach, the film uses familiar settings such as Los Angeles and New York City as perception-images. The action-image demonstrations of nature’s wrath and violence in those settings are accompanied with scientists being pardoned by nature and as they are able to walk unscathed into and through natural disasters. Finally, the affection-images display humanity’s terrifyingly enraptured facial expressions when confronting global warming-caused natural disasters. As the film leaves a bleak outcome for humanity under the context of global warming denial, it simultaneously employs an ecotheological discourse in the early twenty-first century to empower global warming prediction, demonstrative of the growth of the theological shift in visual display of global warming rhetoric.

© (2020) 2022 Intellect Ltd
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1386/jvpc_00012_1
2020-05-01
2024-04-30
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. ABC News ( 2021;), ‘ Biden says climate change is biggest threat to national security at campaign rally. ’, 10 June, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/biden-climate-change-biggest-threat-national-security-campaign-58698610. Accessed 23 October 2021.
  2. Acts 1:10 ( 1985), King James Bible, International ed., Oxford:: Oxford University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Acts 7:55 ( 1985), King James Bible, International ed., Oxford:: Oxford University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Adorno, T.. ( 1972), The Culture Industry, New York:: Routledge;.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Amiel, J.. ( 2003), The Core, USA:: Paramount Pictures;.
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Aronofsky, D.. ( 2014), Noah, USA:: Paramount Pictures;.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Balmford, A.,, Manica, A.,, Airey, L.,, Birkin, L.,, Oliver, A., and Schleicher, J.. ( 2004;), ‘ Hollywood, climate change, and the public. ’, Science, 305:5691, p. 1713.
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Borger, J.. ( 2001;), ‘ Bush kills global warming treaty. ’, The Guardian, 29 March, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2001/mar/29/globalwarming.usnews. Accessed 3 May 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Brackett, R.. ( 2019;), ‘ America leads western nations in denying climate change, according to poll. ’, University of Chicago Energy Poll, 9 May, https://epic.uchicago.edu/news/america-leads-western-nations-in-denying-climate-change-according-to-poll/. Accessed 4 May 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Brereton, P., and Furze, R.. ( 2014;), ‘ Transcendence and the Tree of Life: Beyond the face of the screen with Terrence Malick, Emmauel Levinas, and Roland Barthes. ’, Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature & Culture, 8:3, pp. 329–51.
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Briggs, W.. ( 2018;), ‘ Idols and land grabs, ancient and modern: Creation and ecotheology in Ezekiel 8; 35:1–36:15. ’, Horizons in Biblical Theology, 40:1, pp. 41–64.
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Brummett, B.. ( 1991), Contemporary Apocalyptic Rhetoric, New York:: Praeger;.
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Carey, J. W.. ( 1988), Communication as Culture: Essays on Media and Society, Boston:: Unwin Hyman;.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Celeste, R.. ( 2007;), ‘ The frozen screen: Levinas and the action film. ’, Film-Philosophy, 11:2, pp. 15–36.
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Deleuze, G.. ( 1986), Cinema 1: The Movement-Image (trans. T. Tomlinson and B. Habberjam), Minneapolis, MN:: University of Minnesota Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Devlin, D.. ( 2017), Geostorm, USA:: Warner Brothers;.
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Donaldson, R.. ( 1997), Dante’s Peak, USA:: Universal Pictures;.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Donnelly, M.. ( 2019;), ‘ Roland Emmerich sounds off on Hollywood’s avoidance of climate change and its movies. ’, Variety, 31 October, https://variety.com/2019/film/features/roland-emmerich-climate-change-1203387590/. Accessed 4 May 2021.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Emmerich, R.. ( 2004), The Day After Tomorrow, USA:: Twentieth-Century Fox;.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Emmerich, R.. ( 2009), 2012, USA:: Columbia Pictures;.
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Foust, C. R., and Murphey, W. O.. ( 2009;), ‘ Revealing and reframing apocalyptic tragedy in global warming discourse. ’, Environmental Communication, 3:2, pp. 151–67.
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Grady, R. E.. ( 2001;), ‘ Searching for the “son of Kyoto”. ’, Time, 157:25, June, p. 33.
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Handley, G.. ( 2018;), ‘ Anthropocentrism and the post secularity of the environmental humanities in Aronofsky’s Noah. ’, Modern Fiction Studies, 64:4, pp. 617–38.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Heinegg, P.. ( 2014;), ‘ Aronofsky’s Noah: The water and the fire next time. ’, CrossCurrents, 64:2, pp. 287–94.
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Hitchcock, A.. ( 1963), The Birds, USA:: Universal Pictures;.
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Hobbs-Morgan, C.. ( 2017;), ‘ Climate change, violence, and film. ’, Political Theory, 45:1, pp. 76–96.
     [Google Scholar]
  27. Horrell, D. G.. ( 2010;), ‘ A new perspective on Paul? Rereading Paul in a time of ecological crisis. ’, Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 33:1, pp. 3–30.
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Hurley, G.. ( 2018;), ‘ Eschatology, pluralism, and communication in Tom Perrotta’s The Leftovers. ’, Journal of Communication and Religion, 41:2, pp. 75–92.
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Isaiah 40:26 ( 1985), King James Bible, International ed., Oxford:: Oxford University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  30. Kahn, G.. ( 2003;), ‘ The fate of the Kyoto Protocol under the Bush administration. ’, Berkeley Journal of International Law, 21:3, pp. 548–71.
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Kaplan, E. A.. ( 2016), Climate Trauma: Foreseeing the Future in Dystopian Film and Fiction, New Brunswick:: Rutgers University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  32. Lahaye, T., and Jenkins, J. B.. ( 1995), Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth’s Last Days, Carol Stream:: Tyndale House Publishers;.
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Leder, M.. ( 1998), Deep Impact, USA:: Paramount Pictures;.
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Leiserowitz, A. A.. ( 2004;), ‘ Before and after The Day After Tomorrow. ’, Environment, 46:9, pp. 22–37.
     [Google Scholar]
  35. Lessl, T. M.. ( 1989;), ‘ The priestly voice. ’, Quarterly Journal of Speech, 75:2, pp. 193–97.
     [Google Scholar]
  36. Lyons, M.. ( 2021;), ‘ The Book of Ezekiel: A help or a hindrance for environmental ethics?. ’, Horizons in Biblical Theology, 43:1, pp. 1–22.
     [Google Scholar]
  37. Milinovich, T.. ( 2020;), ‘ Christ, creation, and the cosmic goal of redemption: A study of Pauline creation theology as read by Irenaeus and applied to ecotheology. ’, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 82:1, pp. 139–40.
     [Google Scholar]
  38. Monahan, T.. ( 2008;), ‘ Marketing the beast: Left Behind and the apocalypse industry. ’, Media, Culture & Society, 30:6, pp. 813–30.
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Munteanu, D.. ( 2010;), ‘ Cosmic liturgy: The theological dignity of creation as a basis of an orthodox theology. ’, International Journal of Public Theology, 4:3, pp. 332–44.
     [Google Scholar]
  40. Negrov, A., and Malov, A.. ( 2021;), ‘ Eco-theology and environmental leadership in orthodox and Evangelical perspectives in Russia and Ukraine. ’, Religions, 12:5, p. 305.
     [Google Scholar]
  41. Paterson, M.. ( 2009;), ‘ Post-hegemonic climate politics?. ’, British Journal of Politics & International Relations, 11:1, pp. 140–48.
     [Google Scholar]
  42. Patz, J. A.. ( 2004;), ‘ Global warming. ’, BMJ: British Medical Journal, 328:7451, pp. 1269–70.
     [Google Scholar]
  43. Psalms 34:5 ( 1985), King James Bible, International ed., Oxford:: Oxford University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  44. PBS ( 2001;), ‘ President Bush’s response to global warming. ’, 11 June, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/president-bushs-response-to-global-warming. Accessed 3 May 2021.
  45. Pirro, R.. ( 2013;), ‘ Aesthetic legacies and dashed political hopes: Caspar David Friedrich motifs in Roland Emmerich’s post-9/11 popcorn message films. ’, Germanic Review, 88:4, pp. 400–17.
     [Google Scholar]
  46. Plate, S. B.. ( 2012;), ‘ Visualizing the cosmos: Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life and other visions of life in the universe. ’, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 80:2, pp. 527–36.
     [Google Scholar]
  47. Salmose, N.. ( 2018;), ‘ The apocalyptic sublime: Anthropocene representation and environmental agency in Hollywood action-adventure cli-fi films. ’, Journal of Popular Culture, 51:6, pp. 1415–33.
     [Google Scholar]
  48. Salvador, M., and Norton, T.. ( 2011;), ‘ The flood myth in the age of global climate change. ’, Environmental Communication, 5:1, pp. 45–61.
     [Google Scholar]
  49. Sarin, V.. ( 2000), Left Behind, USA:: Cloud Ten Pictures;.
     [Google Scholar]
  50. Sarris, A.. ( 1978), Politics and Cinema, New York:: Columbia University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  51. Schiermeier, Q.. ( 2004;), ‘ Disaster movie highlights transatlantic divide. ’, Nature, 431:4, p. 1.
     [Google Scholar]
  52. Scranton, R.. ( 2015), Learning to Die in the Anthropocene: Reflections on the End of Civilization, San Francisco:: City Lights;.
     [Google Scholar]
  53. Shaviro, S.. ( 1993), The Cinematic Body, Minneapolis, MN:: University of Minnesota Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  54. Sobchack, V.. ( 2008;), ‘ Embodying transcendence: On the literal, the material, and the cinematic sublime. ’, Material Religion, 4:2, pp. 194–203.
     [Google Scholar]
  55. Tatar, M.. ( 1992), Off with Their Heads! Fairy Tales and the Culture of Childhood, Princeton, NJ:: Princeton University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  56. Toles-Patkin, T.. ( 2009;), ‘ The day after the end of the world: Media coverage of a nonevent. ’, in K. P. R. Hart, and A. M. Holba. (eds), Media and the Apocalypse, New York:: Peter Lang;, pp. 1–13.
     [Google Scholar]
  57. Union of Concerned Scientists ( 2005;), ‘ Climate change research distorted and suppressed. ’, 30 June, https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/climate-change-research-distorted-and-suppressed. Accessed 3 May 2021.
  58. Von Burg, R.. ( 2012;), ‘ Decades away or The Day After Tomorrow? Rhetoric, film, and the global warming debate. ’, Critical Studies in Media Communication, 29:1, pp. 7–26.
     [Google Scholar]
  59. Weaver, A. J., and Hillaire-Marcel, C.. ( 2004;), ‘ Global warming and the next ice age. ’, Science, 304:5669, pp. 400–02.
     [Google Scholar]
  60. Werness, H. B.. ( 1728), The Symbolism of Mirrors in Art from Ancient Times to the Present, Lewiston, NY:: Edwin Mellen Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  61. Woods, R. H., and Skarritt-Williams, K.. ( 2016;), ‘ Motivations for reading the Left Behind book series: A uses and gratifications analysis. ’, Journal of Media and Religion, 15:2, pp. 63–77.
     [Google Scholar]
  62. Yergensen, B.. ( 2009;), ‘ Exploring science as salvation in apocalypse films. ’, in K. P. R. Hart, and A. M. Holba. (eds), Media and the Apocalypse, New York:: Peter Lang;, pp. 153–65.
     [Google Scholar]
  63. Zoccoli Carneiro, C. M.. ( 2010;), ‘ Sensational narrative and speculative fiction about global warming: Catharsis, warning, reality, and fiction in The Day After Tomorrow. ’, Ciberlegenda, 22:1, pp. 25–39.
     [Google Scholar]
  64. Yergensen, Brent. ( [2020] 2022;), ‘ Enraptured by nature’s fury in The Day After Tomorrow: Deleuze’s movement-image and the George W. Bush era of global warming denial. ’, Journal of Visual Political Communication, 8:1, pp. 67–86, https://doi.org/10.1386/jvpc_00012_1
     [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1386/jvpc_00012_1
Loading
Enraptured by nature’s fury in The Day After Tomorrow: Deleuze’s movement-image and the George W. Bush era of global warming denial
Journal of Visual Political Communication 8, 67 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1386/jvpc_00012_1
/content/journals/10.1386/jvpc_00012_1
/content/journals/10.1386/jvpc_00012_1
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Article
Keyword(s): apocalypse; Deleuze; ecotheology; enraptured; film; global warming; rhetoric

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a success
Invalid data
An error occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error