Seeking Peace Before the Apocalypse
“Seeking Peace Before the Apocalypse,” Hispanic Heritage Month Book Talk: The Resilient Apocalypse. Narrating the End from Early Spanish Visualizations to Twenty-First Century Latin American Articulations, 2024. Julia Kushigian, Connecticut College, New London Rotary Club.
When you hear the word Apocalypse, what comes to mind? Is it zombies, societies clashing, plagues, disease, political and social chaos, monsters, trauma, AI, climate change, and violent, negative peace? Could this be happening now? How have communities faced the End throughout time to work toward positive peace? From gilded images in the 12th century to a 19th century anti-slavery novel and a 21st century documentary, Hispanic communities provide vibrant examples of surviving the End. By pushing toward New Beginnings in positive peace, societies recreate themselves. They transform chaos and societal attitudes for better economies, greater levels of inclusiveness, and confident emotional strength needed for peace.