Apocalypse in American Entertainment

Starting up my blog, I have many ideas on how I plan to structure my research paper and literature review. With my topic being the effect of apocalyptic fiction on the American society, I decided to look into how this theme has influence the nation's entertainment industry. While doing some research and looking around, I decided to search for different movies and I found many films featuring this theme. One particular movie that I found interesting and also one of my personal favorites is the popular film "I am Legend" directed by Francis Lawrence.

This movie features actor and academy award winner Will Smith, who plays Dr. Robert Neville, a lone survivor of a man-made virus originally created to cure cancer. Living in the middle of New York City, Dr. Neville desperately searches for other survivors in the city while cleverly evading the millions of infected civilians that were transformed into living mutant zombies. Ultimately, the doctor dies in the end to save the human race and help those still healthy from being exterminated.

 This is an ideal movie for my topic because, in many people's eyes, a hero is an idol or icon in their lives. The fact that this movie is influenced by apocalyptic fiction makes Dr. Neville that much more of a hero for saving the entire race in exchange for his life. This film was highly rated in society considering its very fictional theme. This leads to an interesting topic of how the American society has been accustomed to thee apocalyptic theme.


I Am Legend. Perf. Will Smith, Alice Braga. Warner Bros, 2007. Film.