Techno-Triumphalism in 2012 'Biblical' Flood
I finally gave in and watched the action blockbuster '2012', an apocalyptic scenario based on the end of the Mayan calendar and prophecy of doomsday. I new what to expect but I watched it anyway.

As well as a hearty smattering of unbelievable stunts, mind blowing visual effects and predictable outcomes was the unmissable parallels with the bible story of Noah and his ark (part of the deluge myth) modernized for a civilization whose faith in technology surpasses their common sense.

The movie tells the story of fragmented nuclear family attempting to reach a secret ark somewhere in the Chinese mountains while the world is destabilized and eventually engulfed by ginormous tidal waves, all a result of mutated neutrinos emanating from the sun.

Of course 'tickets' on the arks are limited and only available to the highest bidder or well connected. Our heroes stow away in beneath the animal deck but inadvertently cause the main hatch to jam. We watch, bathed in classical music, as the giant steel boat with all its face tracking, integrity assessing, timer activating computers takes on water and is driven towards the rocky face of Mount Everest.

Never fear, just before the impact timer runs out they close the hatch, start the engines and avoid disaster.
Presumably the waters recede and people get on with their lives.

I'm not sure how much thought went into the plot of this movie or any message behind it but it certainly seems to reflect modern the common modern attitude and faith that a technological fix will save the day. This is what is referred to as techno-triumphalism.

Movies like this, while playing to peoples desire for excitement and a happy ending, do more than just entertain, they indoctrinate. With clear and growing issues such as climate change, population and resource depletion staring us in the face we need to be proactive to avert the course for disaster. Sitting back and hoping for a technical fix and a happy ending is sure to end in tragedy.

Perhaps there is another metaphor here? One where those who can see the danger coming do something about it, substituting the steel ark with more appropriate course of action and live to see some kind of uncertain future while those who refuse to acknowledge the issues before they are too late are lost to the rising tide.