Catastrophe
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
Here, the situation is catastrophic but not serious "[Excess energy] must be spent, willingly or not, gloriously or catastrophically. This is the logic of sacrifice." --The Accursed Share, Georges Bataille, tr. Zone Books "MODERN HISTORY is separated from ancient by two great and unparalleled catastrophes; and from the changes occasioned by these catastrophes in the materials and conditions of society in Europe modern history took its beginnings. One was the destruction of the Jewish State and temple. The other was the break-up of the Roman Empire."--The Beginning of the Middle Ages (1877) by Richard William Church |
![Awful conflagration of the steam boat Lexington in Long Island Sound on Monday eveg., January 13th 1840, by which melancholy occurence; over 100 persons perished. Courier lithograph documenting a news event, published three days after the disaster.](/images/thumb/200px-Awful_conflagration_of_the_steam_boat_Lexington.jpg)
Awful conflagration of the steam boat Lexington in Long Island Sound on Monday eveg., January 13th 1840, by which melancholy occurence; over 100 persons perished. Courier lithograph documenting a news event, published three days after the disaster.
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- Any enormous and disastrous event of great significance.
- A disaster beyond expectations (insurance industry)
- In ancient Greek tragedies, the solution of the plot.
- A social change of an outstanding radical and rapid character, with highly magical explanations by victims and others (sociology)
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