Apocalypse Dictionary
This page is for those curious about all the apocalyptic and dystopian terms and references used by our brand. Feel free to expand your horizons!
Definitions
Aliens: A hypothetical or fictional being, or beings from another world. For example, the literal alien (The Xenomorph) from the movie, Alien. An alien does not have to be a humanoid figure, but often is depicted that way in media. Our personal favorite alien is the one featured at the end of the movie Annihilation.
Alternate Realities: In fiction, an alternate reality is another name for a parallel universe. A hypothetical universe that may exist alongside our own universe but is different from it in some ways. The general idea is that a version of everything in our universe, including the people in it, are copied into a second or more universes. Alternate realities play on the concepts of who we are, and who we might have been if one choice had gone differently. The movie, "Another Earth" explores this idea.
Apocalypse: An event involving destruction or damage on an awesome or catastrophic scale. The inspiration for our entire brand! We love the apocalypse, and all things science fiction. The apocalypse is ultimately the end of something. Whether that is on a large scale, such as ending the world, or a small scale, (which we refer to as a personal apocalypse), which changes the world of a group or individual in a cataclysmic way.
Apocalyptic: Themes that evoke or portray the end of the world; momentous or catastrophic events.
Armageddon: The end of everything, and also, the name of a very popular 90s movie that explores the end of the world with an all-star cast. Highly recommend it if you haven’t seen it.
Asteroid: Rocky structure that is found in space and is smaller than a planet. Often a “character” in apocalyptic movies where an asteroid is heading towards earth.
Black Hole: A dark circle in space that is real according to modern science, but often features in science fiction with special rules. A black hole has a gravitational pull that is so large that not even light escapes, hence the visual of a black circle.
Black Mirror: A black mirror is a representation of the darker version of ourselves reflected back. In the show Black Mirror, the term refers to the dark side of technology and the dark mirror that reflects back when you look down at your phone.
Catastrophic Event: A significant and devastating occurrence that can cause widespread destruction, distress, and loss of life
Citizen Detective: A person or group that uses their time and skills to help solve crimes without expecting a reward or compensation. Often an “armchair” detective person or group that solves cold case crimes online or in small groups. They are almost never trained professionally to be a detective. Also the name of the online group that Misty Quigley is involved in on the show Yellow Jackets.
Climate Change: In real life, this is an issue, and this often reflects in media. Climate change in fiction is usually represented as a negative.
Climate Disaster: A climate change disaster is a disaster caused by long-term shifts in climate patterns, such as temperature and weather events. There are lots of representations of climate disasters causing apocalypses in modern media. Our personal favorite climate disaster is Snowpiercer.
Cordyceps: A mushroom with strange properties (even for a mushroom). This is the mushroom that causes the zombies in the video game and show, “The Last of Us”, and the book and movie, “The Girl with all the Gifts”. This mushroom will definitely feature among our releases in the not-so-distant future!
Cosmic Horror: A subgenre of horror fiction that explores the fear of the unknown and the insignificance of humanity in the universe. Cosmic horror is a term that is often used interchangeably with the term “Lovecraftian”. Cosmic horror usually involves existentialism, but can also involve Lovecraftian elements such as tentacles, and huge beings with psychic and kinesthetic powers.
Cthulhu: Cthulhu is a fictional cosmic entity created by writer H. P. Lovecraft. The character of Cthulhu has been expanded to encompass a character type. Cthulhu has been represented in many forms and mediums, but ultimately is a multidimensional being that inspires horror in mankind when encountering it. The Flayer of Minds shade is heavily influenced by Cthulhu imagery.
Dimensions: Dimensions are the place where we live, a physical location in space. Another dimension would be the same place where we are, layered over top of this dimension, but we can’t see it. Think of our dimension this way. Lets say you record a video showing a blue sky. This video takes place in our reality, and is dimension 1. Then, put a red filter over the video of the blue sky, making it red/purple. The purple sky is dimension 2. If you look up at the sky with your eyes, you can see that it is blue, in our dimension. But in the video with the filter, dimension 2, it is purple. You can’t see it, but it’s there.
To learn more about the science behind our known dimensions, there is a fantastic video on it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Gotl9vRGs&ab_channel=EastCoastFlipper
Dystopia: An imagined state or society in which there is great suffering or injustice, typically one that is totalitarian or post-apocalyptic. In dystopian fiction, there is typically an oppressive group, such as a totalitarian government, and an uprising group, working to restore order. The most famous example of this is George Orwell's novel, "1984".
Eldrich Horror: Eldritch Horror, also called cosmic horror or Lovecraftian horror, is a subgenre of horror, fantasy fiction and weird fiction that emphasizes the horror of the unknowable and incomprehensible more than gore or other elements of shock. Named after the father of cosmic horror, H.P. Lovecraft.
Entropy: The scientific definition (the second law of thermodynamics) has entropy defined as lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder. This is a complicated way of saying breaking inertia, or not staying the same. Entropy in science fiction is often represented as the use of energy, a creation of heat, or the flow of time moving forward. Think a nuclear bomb, or a spaceship taking off into outer space.
Environmental Disaster: This is a genre of apocalyptic fiction where a small or large scale natural disaster threatens a population. This genres is synonymous with natural disaster. This can be anything from the wave tipping over Poseidon in “The Poseidon Adventure”, to the flash freezing in the movie “The Day After Tomorrow”. This genre also captures other elements, such as an asteroid hitting the earth, or the Earth’s core no longer spinning, as takes place in, “The Core”.
Factions/Factionalism: A condition in which a group, organization, government, etc., is split into two or more smaller groups with differing and often opposing opinions or interests. When seen in dystopias, this concept usually involves a group divide that leads to anarchy.
Fallout: Typically used in reference to nuclear fallout in our collections, this term also refers to the result of an incident or apocalyptic event that causes social changes. This is also the name of the video game and television franchise, Fallout, which is set in a post-nuclear wasteland.
Fantasy: Different from science fiction, but it is sometimes grouped together. Fantasy is a genre of literature that features magical and supernatural elements in imaginary worlds that are not bound by reality or scientific fact. The most commonly referenced piece of fantasy is Lord of the Rings.
Inception: As a concept, inception is the beginning of something. More relevantly, Inception is the name of the revolutionary science fiction movie where characters go into the mind of another person to “plant the seed” of an idea. Within that persons mind, they go a layer and a layer deeper. At each deeper level, time moves progressively more slowly, and really fucks with your mind (as the viewer or the character in the movie!). This movie is the source of our genre, “Space Time Fuckery”, because it really brought to mind -- how do you categorize all the strange types of dimensional travel like we see in this movie.
Intergalactic: In science fiction, this refers to space travel, and often involves “jumping” from one galaxy to another via lightspeed travel, or worm holes, to show stories taking place very far away from earth.
Interstellar: The movie that really captures the space opera genre in all its’ glory.
Invasion: In science fiction, this is almost always an alien invasion. This usually means an unwanted alien invasion on earth. This is also the name of an apple tv show using this concept.
Lovecraftian: Lovecraftian horror, also called cosmic horror or eldritch horror, is a subgenre of horror, fantasy fiction and weird fiction that emphasizes the horror of the unknowable and incomprehensible more than gore or other elements of shock. Named after the father of cosmic horror, H.P. Lovecraft.
Martian: An alien that is specifically a resident of the planet Mars. This is especially relevant in the series, “The Martian Chronicles” by Ray Bradbury. Also of note is the human who finds himself as a permanent resident of the planet Mars in, “The Martian” by Andy Weir.
Microverse: The name for the pocket universe in the show Rick and Morty that exists in our universe, and is super tiny scale. Also refers to a tiny dimension in the Marvel Universe.
Multidimensional Being: A creature that can view or travel between multiple dimensions. Cthulhu is a classic example of a being of this type. The Demogorgon is a modern example of this.
Multidimensional Cable: Specifically, an aspect of the show, “Rick and Morty”, where they have a tv with cable that shows you tv shows that play in other dimensions/parallel universes.
Multiple Dimensions: In fiction, this concept explores the idea of visiting a dimension other than your own. This can be a parallel universe, a wholly separate place (whether in space, or time), a pocket universe, or a true alternate dimension, which is located physically in time and space at the same site as the story, but is simultaneously a wholly other place. An example of this is the Upside Down in the show, Stranger Things.
Multiple Realities: This refers to the idea that people experience multiple realities, each with its own logic and style, or to the concept of a multiverse, which is the hypothetical set of all universes. A true multiple reality uses the “many worlds” theory, in which all possible realities exist, and an individual visits one or more of them. A fantastic representation of the multiple realities that could exist and what happens when you end up in the wrong one is the apple tv show, "Constellation".
Multiverse: A theoretical reality that includes a possibly infinite number of parallel universes. Our favorite movie featuring this concept is "Coherence". If you've never seen this concept explored, this is a fun way to dip your toe into the multiple universes.
Natural Disaster: This is a genre of apocalyptic fiction where a small or large scale natural disaster threatens a population. This genre is synonymous with environmental disaster. This can be anything from the wave tipping over Poseidon in “The Poseidon Adventure”, to the flash freezing in the movie “The Day After Tomorrow”. This genre also captures other elements, such as an asteroid hitting the earth, or the Earth’s core no longer spinning, as takes place in, “The Core”.
Nuclear Fallout: Nuclear fallout is radioactive dust and ash that falls back to Earth after a nuclear explosion.
Parallel Universe: Sometimes called an alternate reality. A hypothetical universe that may exist alongside our own universe, but is different from it in some ways. The general idea is that a version of everything in our universe, including the people in it, are copied into a second universe. Our favorite movie featuring this concept is "Coherence". If you've never seen this concept explored, this is a fun way to dip your toe into the multiple universes.
Personal Apocalypse: Our term for an apocalyptic event that affects a small scale population. For example, the characters affected in the book, The Dome by Stephen King. Or Tom Hanks in he movie "Cast Away".
Pocket Universe: A small, mini-universe that exists within the larger universe. They are often used to hide large objects like planets or solar systems. In science fiction, pocket universes can be oppressive realms, shared hallucinations, or labyrinth-like edifices. Our favorite pocket universe is featured in the book, "Mister Magic" by Kiersten White.
Post Apocalyptic: The time period following a nuclear war or other catastrophic event. Usually a narrative story following a cast of survivors.
Predestination: The concept that we will end up at a set location regardless of our own designs. This is also the name of the book by Robert A. Heinlein.
Reverse Entropy: A concept captured in the movie, “Tenet”. Reverse entropy is normal entropy reversed. If regular entropy is time moving forward, reverse entropy is time moving backwards. Now think about reverse entropy happening simultaneously as regular entropy. Tenet represents this by showing a character intending to drop an object. In regular entropy, the object would be dropped and fall to the ground. Reverse entropy would have the object lift from the ground up to the person’s hand. That is exactly what happens in the movie.
Robot: An artificial being/machine, typically composed of metal, that has a CPU or other computerized intelligence that controls the output of tasks. This can range from a Roomba programmed to vacuum the floor every 6 hours, to artificial intelligence, which can think for itself and decide whether or not to vacuum the floor.
Robot Uprising: Typically an artificial intelligence that has decided to fight back against their perceived overlords (almost always humanity). This commonly results in a negative outcome for the humans involved. Isaac Asimov is attributed as the father of this concept.
Science Fiction, “Sci – Fi”: Fiction based on imagined future scientific or technological advances and major social or environmental changes, frequently portraying space or time travel and life on other planets.
Space Time Continuum: Einstein showed that time and space are inextricably mixed. Each event requires three space dimensions and a time for its description, so time and space taken together are said to form the space-time continuum. In pop culture, this is often represented by characters “breaking” the universe by messing with either space, or time in some extreme way.
Space/Time Fuckery: Our name for the category of genres that includes: time travel, time loops, multiverses, multiple dimensions, parallel universes, pocket universes, black holes, worm holes, and anything else that could feasibly involve manipulating time and space (looking at you inception!).
Spiderverse: A Multiverse that exists in the Spiderman universe, as portrayed in the Spiderverse movie franchise.
Survivors: In post-apocalyptic fiction, this term refers to group of people that survive an apocalyptic event.
Tech Dystopia: A society where technology, instead of improving human life, leads to negative consequences, such as oppression, environmental degradation, and loss of individual freedom. Black Mirror is a perfect example of this subgenre.
Time Loop: First made extremely popular by the movie “Groundhog Day”, this concept revolves around a character being stuck in a loop of time (often a single day), where they relive that same time period over and over again, with seemingly no escape. The Apocalypse Polish family highly recommends the movie, "The Endless" as the pinnacle of this concept. If you haven't seen it, seriously consider giving it a watch.
Time Travel: In science fiction, the action of traveling through time into the past or the future. Our favorite time travel movie is "Time Crimes". It is flawless.
The Matrix: A movie franchise built around the idea that our whole world is a hyper-realistic computer simulation. In real life, when weird things happen that make it seem too odd for reality, people often joke that there was a glitch in the matrix, ie. the computer code had an error and we see the ripple effect.
Totalitarian: Relating to a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state.
Vault: Refers specifically to the video game and television franchise Fallout. Vaults are specially built bunkers in that universe where characters lived during the nuclear attacks.
Viral Outbreak: Typically the stage after a viral infection that quickly escalates into a zombie like infection.
Welcome to the Apocalypse Series: Our series of duo or trios of shades influenced by apocalyptic content. This series creates the space for us to create shades outside the constraints of a traditional collection.
Wilderness: In the show, YellowJackets, the wilderness is a god-like being that provides for the group as long as they follow cult-like rituals.
Worm Hole: A hypothetical black hole that connects to another black hole far away from the current location. Going “through” a worm hole would theoretically take you from your current location instantly to a new location across the universe. In some science fiction, a worm hole can also take you through time to another point in time.
YellowJackets: On YellowJackets, a girls’ soccer team (called, “The Yellow Jackets”) crash lands in the Canadian wilderness on their way to a competition. What ensues is dark, and then darker. A favorite of the Apocalypse Polish household.
Zombie: An undead creature (typically human) that has become “brain dead”. By default, a zombie is a human that dies and is brought back to life, only to have lost all humanity. The other type, commonly distinguished as “the infected” are zombie-like humans who have not actually died yet, but have begun to act like a traditional zombie. Zombies usually crave human flesh and become violent trying to get it. The Apocalypse Polish family particularly recommends the movies Zombieland, Shaun of the Dead, Train to Busan, I am Legend, and the classic Dawn of the Dead. For video games, our favorites are The Last of Us and Resident Evil.
Last Updated on 02/19/2025
References:
Sources (some definitions):
https://www.merriam-webster.com/
Content and Authors Mentioned:
1984
Albert Einstein
Alien; Aliens
Andy Weir
Another Earth
Armageddon
Black Mirror
Cast Away
Coherence
Constellation
Dawn of the Dead
Fallout
George Orwell
Ground Hog Day
H.P. Lovecraft
I am Legend
Inception
Interstellar
Invasion
Irobot
Isaac Asimov
Kiersten White
Lord of the Rings
Mister Magic
Predestination
Ray Bradbury
Resident Evil
Rick and Morty
Robert Heinlen
Shaun of the Dead
Snowpiercer
Spiderverse
Stephen King
Stranger Things
Tenet
The Core
The Day After Tomorrow
The Endless
The Girl with all the Gifts
The Last of Us
The Martian
The Martian Chronicles
The Matrix
The Poseidon Adventure
Time Crimes
Train to Busan
YellowJackets
Zombieland
