In conjunction with the contemporary artists featured in White Flag Project’s current show, PRETHUNDERDOME, a Delicious account was created to catalog all of the websites we could find that address end-of-world subjects (delicious.com/whiteflagprojects). The result is a database ranging from science-based theories to apocalyptic predictions to straight-up crazy websites that verge on inadvertent satire. For example, one page actually cites Elizabeth Taylor’s eight divorces as proof that the end is near (http://www.raptureready.com/time/marriage.html). Others, such as a website titled “10 Disasters That Could End It All At Any Given Second” (http://botw.org/articles/endworld.html), are a bit more seriously alarming.
As we rapidly approach December 22, 2012 – the date that marks the last day of the ancient Mayan’s cyclical calendar — you can assume that this genre of website will increase exponentially in number and popularity. On White Flag’s account, there are 54 tagged websites spanning the vast gamut of 2012 prophesies. These predictions include a shift in the earth’s magnetic poles, alien invasions and a positive spiritual awakening of the masses. Cynics who dismiss the prophesy as another empty threat a la y2k can at least look forward to some killer parties come December 21 of 2012. Even Stephen Hawking has succombed to end-of-world fever, and threw a party himself the day the Large Hadron Collider was switched on (http://scienceray.com/physics/is-it-the-end-of-the-world/).
So long as our Delicious account isn’t terminated due to suspicious activity, you’re welcome to browse the bookmarked sites at delicious.com/whiteflagprojects. Select highlights include: the choose your own apocalypse game (http://sdn.slate.com/features/endofamerica/default.htm), a photo series of personal bomb shelters (http://www.good.is/post/picture-show-waiting-for-the-end-of-the-world/), and an article about a seed vault in Norway created in advance of global crisis (http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1882288,00.html).
PRETHUNDERDOME will be on view until December 19th. You can find more information on White Flag Projects exhibitions and events at whiteflagprojects.org.