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Forerunners: Ideas First
The End of Man: A Feminist Counterapocalypse
Debugging the Anthropocene’s insistence on apocalyptic tropes
Where the Anthropocene has become linked to an apocalyptic narrative, and where this narrative carries a widespread escapist belief that salvation will come from a supernatural elsewhere, Joanna Zylinska has a different take. The End of Man rethinks the prophecy of the end of humans, interrogating the rise in populism around the world and offering an ethical vision of a “feminist counterapocalypse,” which challenges many of the masculinist and technicist solutions to our planetary crises. The book is accompanied by a short photo-film, Exit Man, which ultimately asks: If unbridled progress is no longer an option, what kinds of coexistences and collaborations do we create in its aftermath?
Forerunners: Ideas First is a thought-in-process series of breakthrough digital publications. Written between fresh ideas and finished books, Forerunners draws on scholarly work initiated in notable blogs, social media, conference plenaries, journal articles, and the synergy of academic exchange. This is gray literature publishing: where intense thinking, change, and speculation take place in scholarship.
Where the Anthropocene has become linked to an apocalyptic narrative, and where this narrative carries a widespread escapist belief that salvation will come from a supernatural elsewhere, Joanna Zylinska has a different take. The End of Man rethinks the prophecy of the end of humans, interrogating the rise in populism around the world and offering an ethical vision of a “feminist counterapocalypse,” which challenges many of the masculinist and technicist solutions to our planetary crises. The book is accompanied by a short photo-film, Exit Man, which ultimately asks: If unbridled progress is no longer an option, what kinds of coexistences and collaborations do we create in its aftermath?
Forerunners: Ideas First is a thought-in-process series of breakthrough digital publications. Written between fresh ideas and finished books, Forerunners draws on scholarly work initiated in notable blogs, social media, conference plenaries, journal articles, and the synergy of academic exchange. This is gray literature publishing: where intense thinking, change, and speculation take place in scholarship.
78 pages, Paperback
First published March 20, 2018
6 people are currently reading
317 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Zylinska
20 books27 followersJoanna Zylinska is Professor of New Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, University of London. She is the author of Bioethics in the Age of New Media and the coauthor (with Sarah Kember) of Life After New Media: Mediation as a Vital Process, both published by the MIT Press.
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December 4, 2025Πάλι καλά που οι εκδόσεις ΤΟΠΟΒΟΡΟΣ καλύπτουν τέτοια κενά! Μια σταλιά, όπως όλα όσα μεταφράζουν, αλλά πολύτιμη εξίσου.
April 8, 2020
One of the most provocative philosophical thoughts I have read in a while which opened my eyes to many topics of which I would not make any correlation before. Definitely very well supported, referenced and written that makes it even more interesting.
The expression "space colonizers " still echoes in my head.
I would like to point out 2 paragraphs which made the biggest impression on me (spoiler alert):
1) "Acknowledging that “the people” yearn for a world before globalization and
before neoliberal capitalism would have to involve a confrontation with the fact that this
seemingly naturalized state of events is subject to change, and that it may need to change. This is
why few politicians who wants to be seen as “electable” are promising, let alone successfully
delivering, the reduction of the income gap, more accessible housing policies, or better access to health, as any of these would require a serious rethinking of the neoliberal economic model that
the globalized world now depends on—and that is both a product of and a motor for the
Anthropocene."
2)""As should have become clear by now, the “end of man” as I have analyzed it in this book
is not meant to be yet another example of “men-bashing.” On the contrary, my argument arises
out of a deep concern for the lives of humans of different, and diverse, gender identifications, in
all their nonhuman entanglements, under the finalist, apocalyptic conditions and narratives of the
present day. So, even though the “end of man” may indeed signal the possible withering of a
particular form of white, Christian, masculine subjectivity as the dominant orientation of our
cultural and political discourses, it is meant to read as a diagnosis of a political condition and a
positing of a political opportunity, rather than as a psychological or biological diagnosis of a
particular species’ extinction.
(It also needs to be acknowledged that, structurally, there is nothing about the imaginary reign of, say, women that would guarantee a fullness of society and
a happy ever after.)"
The expression "space colonizers " still echoes in my head.
I would like to point out 2 paragraphs which made the biggest impression on me (spoiler alert):
1) "Acknowledging that “the people” yearn for a world before globalization and
before neoliberal capitalism would have to involve a confrontation with the fact that this
seemingly naturalized state of events is subject to change, and that it may need to change. This is
why few politicians who wants to be seen as “electable” are promising, let alone successfully
delivering, the reduction of the income gap, more accessible housing policies, or better access to health, as any of these would require a serious rethinking of the neoliberal economic model that
the globalized world now depends on—and that is both a product of and a motor for the
Anthropocene."
2)""As should have become clear by now, the “end of man” as I have analyzed it in this book
is not meant to be yet another example of “men-bashing.” On the contrary, my argument arises
out of a deep concern for the lives of humans of different, and diverse, gender identifications, in
all their nonhuman entanglements, under the finalist, apocalyptic conditions and narratives of the
present day. So, even though the “end of man” may indeed signal the possible withering of a
particular form of white, Christian, masculine subjectivity as the dominant orientation of our
cultural and political discourses, it is meant to read as a diagnosis of a political condition and a
positing of a political opportunity, rather than as a psychological or biological diagnosis of a
particular species’ extinction.
(It also needs to be acknowledged that, structurally, there is nothing about the imaginary reign of, say, women that would guarantee a fullness of society and
a happy ever after.)"
September 23, 2019
A really great concise essay that articulates everything off about prevalent masculinist apocalyptic discourses. Builds on work from Catherine Keller, Anna Tsing, and Nicholas Mirzoeff to suggests the adaptation of a feminist counterapocalypse framework that moves away from a white Christian subject position to one of relationality among humans and other non-human beings. It's a free book too as part of a series on climate change text, so huge plus there. Check out 'Exit Man' Zylinska's short film/photomontage, which outlines the ideas of this essay.
September 19, 2022
A very fresh essay in times of despair. She has become one of my favourite thinkers.
November 1, 2022
Recensione per Leggere Distopico & Fantascienza Oggi! :)
https://www.leggeredistopico.com/2022...
https://www.leggeredistopico.com/2022...
April 3, 2020
J'aurais du lire la quatrième de couverture avant de penser que c'était une analyse de récits de science-fiction avec des gynocraties, parce que ce n'est pas ça du tout!
Cet essai s'intéresse plutôt au discours de la fin des hommes/fin de l'Homme en lien avec les discours anthropocènes écologistes qui circulent. Ses deux derniers essais réfléchissent à la fin de l'hégémonie de l'homme dans l'ensemble des sphères sociales (et les Trump de ce monde ne serait qu'une démonstration générationnelle de tenter de sauver ce qui leur reste) et de proposer une réflexion plus féministe sur l'apocalypse écologique pour imaginer un meilleur futur, en dehors des "Tech bros" de Silicon Valley, du capitalisme et du néo-libéralisme qui cause l'ensemble des problèmes (et qui n'offre pas de solution à cette soi-disant crise de la masculinité, autre que des fuites en avant, la mort et le suicide).
J'avoue être très en retard dans les théories de l'anthropocène, je n'ai pas encore lu les essais de Naomi Klein, Donna Haraway, Isabelle Stengers, etc. qu'elle cite amplement pour supporter sa thèse et pour apprécier l'ouvrage, je crois qu'il aurait vraiment fallu que je les lise avant puisqu'il est assumé qu'on sait de quoi elle parle ici. Elle évoque aussi le concept de Gaïa de Stengers avec lequel je ne suis pas plus familier. Des lectures préalables sont donc nécessaires (ça s'en vient bientôt de mon côté, je vais définitivement essayer de lire un livre d'Isabelle Stengers, surtout après celui-ci).
Une partie de l'intérêt de ce livre réside aussi dans une création vidéo qui accompagne le livre et qui illustre visuellement ce dont elle parle dans le livre. Je n'ai pas encore vu le film "Exit Man" qui l'accompagne donc je vais essayer de faire ça aussi, peut-être cela va-t-il clarifier quelques questions d'interprétation qui ont émergées durant ma lecture.
Dans l'ensemble, c'est une lecture intéressante, mais il faut définitivement avoir fait des lectures préalables sur l'anthropocène!
Cet essai s'intéresse plutôt au discours de la fin des hommes/fin de l'Homme en lien avec les discours anthropocènes écologistes qui circulent. Ses deux derniers essais réfléchissent à la fin de l'hégémonie de l'homme dans l'ensemble des sphères sociales (et les Trump de ce monde ne serait qu'une démonstration générationnelle de tenter de sauver ce qui leur reste) et de proposer une réflexion plus féministe sur l'apocalypse écologique pour imaginer un meilleur futur, en dehors des "Tech bros" de Silicon Valley, du capitalisme et du néo-libéralisme qui cause l'ensemble des problèmes (et qui n'offre pas de solution à cette soi-disant crise de la masculinité, autre que des fuites en avant, la mort et le suicide).
J'avoue être très en retard dans les théories de l'anthropocène, je n'ai pas encore lu les essais de Naomi Klein, Donna Haraway, Isabelle Stengers, etc. qu'elle cite amplement pour supporter sa thèse et pour apprécier l'ouvrage, je crois qu'il aurait vraiment fallu que je les lise avant puisqu'il est assumé qu'on sait de quoi elle parle ici. Elle évoque aussi le concept de Gaïa de Stengers avec lequel je ne suis pas plus familier. Des lectures préalables sont donc nécessaires (ça s'en vient bientôt de mon côté, je vais définitivement essayer de lire un livre d'Isabelle Stengers, surtout après celui-ci).
Une partie de l'intérêt de ce livre réside aussi dans une création vidéo qui accompagne le livre et qui illustre visuellement ce dont elle parle dans le livre. Je n'ai pas encore vu le film "Exit Man" qui l'accompagne donc je vais essayer de faire ça aussi, peut-être cela va-t-il clarifier quelques questions d'interprétation qui ont émergées durant ma lecture.
Dans l'ensemble, c'est une lecture intéressante, mais il faut définitivement avoir fait des lectures préalables sur l'anthropocène!
June 27, 2025
The title sounded like a trip but this ended up being quite an amazing book. It dives into how apocalyptic narratives and the Anthropocene are seen through masculine lenses, and in many cases through the lens of the “white Christian man.” These lenses see the apocalypse as a rebirth for themselves and yet another opportunity to regain the focus on them, making themselves out to be both the victim and the savior.
Their solution to the apocalypse is to evolve man to endure it through technological means (the question of progress, is progress always good?), to escape to other planets and to ignore it (Elon Musk and his solution of escaping to mars), or to create bubbles in which they can live and ignore the problem at hand (racism, anti immigration, and general hate that differentiates “me” from “you,” “you” are the problem and if I can kick you out of my country then the problem is solved).
The book offers a more “feminine” solution to the apocalyptic narrative, and it is to see all beings human and nonhuman as aspects of the world that MUST work together to live. It is to acknowledge with care and respect the world around us, not trying to escape it or fix it but to realize our problem at hand and mend it by changing our objective ways of thought into subjective ones.
This was an insightful book and it went pretty quickly, enjoyed reading this one a lot.
Their solution to the apocalypse is to evolve man to endure it through technological means (the question of progress, is progress always good?), to escape to other planets and to ignore it (Elon Musk and his solution of escaping to mars), or to create bubbles in which they can live and ignore the problem at hand (racism, anti immigration, and general hate that differentiates “me” from “you,” “you” are the problem and if I can kick you out of my country then the problem is solved).
The book offers a more “feminine” solution to the apocalyptic narrative, and it is to see all beings human and nonhuman as aspects of the world that MUST work together to live. It is to acknowledge with care and respect the world around us, not trying to escape it or fix it but to realize our problem at hand and mend it by changing our objective ways of thought into subjective ones.
This was an insightful book and it went pretty quickly, enjoyed reading this one a lot.
January 16, 2024
I picked this up over the summer because the title made me laugh and it looked like a quick read. While nowhere near as excellent as SCUM Manifesto , and written for those with some fluency in art-speak and academese, "The End of Man" succeeds. The first half holds the anthropocene discourse, planetary escape and posthuman redemption stories up to a harsh light. These popular world's end narratives mainly repeat xtian apocalypse texts, and why not, they are overrepresented among the men who got us into this death trap. Plus the early xtians were all looking forward to the apocalypse so, it's fitting. The Feminist Counterapocalypse suggested here has us all recognizing our interconnectedness with the cosmos. It sounds much more pleasant than a totally dead planet with some computer programs in orbit that claim to be some white man's immortal consciousness. Props to U of Minnesota Press for this "Forerunners: Ideas First" series.
August 31, 2021
While I don’t disagree that the persecutionary ideation inherent to religion is harmful to race relations and sex relations, I think it’s fair to ask what’s the real reason why the loudest women feel silenced and women, especially when at their most petty and fickle, are convinced that their struggles are existential. Again, it needs to be said that a certain age of woman doesn’t know what they want out of life and would do anything to project it. Why else, when and if you give them ten years more of your time, they beg for what they used to condemn- the thought that kindness implies feelings being had and the thought that attention is a basic human need?
July 20, 2023
La a me fino a ieri sconosciuta casa editrice Rogas ci propone un'edizione italiana che riesce nel non banale intente di sbagliare il nome dell'autrice in copertina (quella acca non ci vuole). Ma è tutta la traduzione ad essere così dozzinale da far accapponare la pelle, con quest'apice: "...quella che chiamo qui, con un cenno alla fantascienza scrittore Stanisław Lem, incistamento".
Sì, c'è veramente scritto "alla fantascienza scrittore".
Per il resto, il saggio è un po' sbrigativo ma contiene spunti interessanti. Meriterebbe una stellina in più, ma sono un traduttore, sono già buono così.
Sì, c'è veramente scritto "alla fantascienza scrittore".
Per il resto, il saggio è un po' sbrigativo ma contiene spunti interessanti. Meriterebbe una stellina in più, ma sono un traduttore, sono già buono così.
January 14, 2023
I very much love the title chapter. It's quite engaging. The other chapters--and the book as a whole--feel a bit scattered. There's an accompanying video, which is quite artsy. Given that the book is only 67 pages long, it's well worth reading. Like a good painting, The End of Man will have your mind free-associating, feeling inspired, and probing for more answers.
April 30, 2024
This was very interesting, but a harder read than it needed to be. A lot of $10 words that coulda been $2 words. However, a thoughtful exploration of the apocolyptic narrative and how it came to be, and the counter narrative presented. Excellent accompanying film as well.
December 14, 2025
« Και αυτό γιατί στην εποχή της οικονομικής συναίνεσης δεν υπάρχει πια χώρος για πολιτικό αγώνα: υπάρχει μόνο χώρος για δυσαρέσκεια, οργή, μανία καταδίωξης - και το πιο ανησυχητικό, γι�� κατάθλιψη και αυτοκτονία.»
May 25, 2020
Definitely over my head, but I liked the analysis of the Silicon Valley solutions to current planetary crises.
June 24, 2019
I don't want to give this a rating because it's really more of a long essay then a book and so is hard to compare. I quite enjoyed this; it's expansive, concise, and (in spite of the title's ominous ring) quite level-headed. Oh, fuck it, this was very well written and valuable, it gets four stars.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews