First Advisor

Kathi Inman Berens

Date of Award

5-22-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Arts and Letters and University Honors

Department

Arts & Letters

Language

English

Subjects

Apocalyptic films, Apocalyptic television programs, Pregnancy in motion pictures, Reproductive rights, Nationalism, Biopolitics, COVID-19 (Disease)

DOI

10.15760/honors.942

Abstract

While America has long held a fascination for the end of the world, the apocalypse has enjoyed a surge in popularity over the past twenty years, rising the ranks from cult classic to mainstream media - many examples of which include representations of pregnancy. Reproductive futurism is exemplified in such varied recent sources as A Quiet Place, Bird Box, Train to Busan, The Walking Dead, and more through their representations of pregnant women in apocalyptic settings. The prevalence of this trope, in addition to specific messages found within the contexts of each example, coincide with recent political increases in discussion around reproductive rights and bodily autonomy, especially for women. I argue that reproductive futurism, even when presented from the perspective of ecological protection, is a political tool used in service of nationalistic ideals, and that the ubiquitous nature of reproductive futurism as found in apocalyptic media points to the genre as itself largely a proponent of and encouragement towards nationalism. Additionally, disability representation serves as a reversal of the productivity valued within the pregnant body or the body capable of pregnancy, only valued when the specificity of disability actually proves useful for the able-bodied characters. In recent news, nationalism has increased within the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic in which we currently find ourselves, as certain lives are prioritized over others. Disability and re-productivity exist on opposite sides of the same nationalistic ideal which values the human being as an "abilities machine."

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/33472

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