Apocalyptic Bodies: The Biblical End of the World in Text and Image

by Tina Pippin

Apocalyptic Bodies traces the biblical notions of the end of the world as represented in ancient and modern texts, art, music and popular culture, for example the paintings of Bosch. Tina Pippin addresses the question of how far we, in the late twentieth century, are capable of reading and responding to the 'signs of the times'. It will appeal not only to those studying religion, but also to those fascinated with interpretations of the end of the world.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 1999

About the author

Tina Pippin, Agnes Scott College

Reviews

[Len · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nicely written book made up of previously published essays but, given the author's intention of producing a study of "favorite scary parts of the Bible" and the effect of apocalyptic imagery on modern horror fiction and movies, is 127 pages of text and illustration enough to do the subject justice? True, the author points out in her "Prequel, or Preface", "the scary parts of the Bible I seek out in this study involve body parts", which does narrow the field when it comes to scariness; however, she is also "committed to a feminist reading that remembers and reveals the destruction of the human body, particularly women's bodies", which expands the scope again. I am not convinced she gives herself sufficient space to look into things fully. A good subject with potential for a popular market let down by its brevity.

After an introduction the chapters look at: Mark, chapter 13 - Jesus' apocalyptic vision seen from the author's autobiographical point of view; the story of Jezebel and her savage end; the destruction of the Tower of Babel; the Bottomless Pit and the fate of sinners in all manner of lakes of fire and brimstone and yawning abysses; the varieties of apocalyptic horrors; the fear of an apocalypse; and the apocalypse in the Book of Revelation as a misogynistic fantasy.

If you like your horror with torture, dismemberments, prejudice against women, and much gnashing of teeth this could be the book for you. All dressed up with academic insights to show that scary tales can be taken seriously.

[Ella]

This started quite good and ended really quite badly, and I’m really quite peeved that for all her talk about ‘revealing/re-veiling’ there’s no real nuanced discussion about how, at its heart, apocalypse just means ‘revelation’ and refers to a genre of text supposedly revealed by the divine. I’m not rating this because I have a sneaking suspicion I’ll wind up referencing it in my PhD and PhD funding proposals. Yeah. That’s how disappointed in it I was.

[Poupeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting theoretical book which combines theory with personal.
Loved the chapters on Abyss and Horror. Amazing.