idle gaze 034: the supernatural and spiritual renaissance.
The allure of heaven, hell and the paranormal in times of permacrisis.
One of the most popular podcasts right now is “Otherworld”, where ordinary people who’ve had supernatural experiences tell their stories firsthand, to the show’s host, Jack Wagner. Dubbed by fans as the “paranormal This American Life” - the show has won a loyal following thanks to its objective, no frills, first-hand accounts of UFOs, ghosts and haunted houses, delivered free from unnecessary sound effects or superfluous drama. The first episodes racked up thousands of five-star reviews and entered the top 30 on Spotify, becoming a cult phenomenon across meme accounts and Discord servers around the world.
The popularity of Otherworld taps into a wider renaissance of occult and spiritual exploration. A mass of recent surveys indicate that young people have lost faith in the factual, logical realm of the sciences, and are desperate to seek meaning elsewhere. As internet culture researcher Josh Citarella commented when speaking about Otherworld’s popularity:
“Institutions and people in charge have disappointed the younger generation, they no longer believe in rational scientific expert ways of organizing the world, and that’s manifesting in all these fringe belief systems, which includes religion, spirituality, paranormal and things that are largely unexplained. Jack has become a trustworthy narrator for a generation that has lost belief in old institutions and systems.”
This constellation of fringe beliefs consists of various ancient practices, made aesthetic and trendy for the modern age, like the WitchTok community, who undergo spell work and moon hexing, soundtracked by Crystal Castles, or the rise of manifesting as a means to achieve a high-vibe life or increased passive income.
In an increasingly atheist-centric society, even the world’s most recognizable religion has turned into an alt-status symbol. Across 2022 there was a flurry of signals indicating a Catholic renaissance in culture, from Mary memes and “conventcore”, to the rise of tradwife fashion. Perhaps the most controversial manifestation of this trend was the emergence of the LA-based streetwear brand Praying - with a collection that combines catholic iconography, Y2K kitsch and sex appeal. Its most contentious release was the Holy Trinity two-piece bikini, the top emblazoned with “father” and “son”, the bottom printed with“holy spirit”.
Praying’s founders position the brand as an antidote to nihilism, a refuge from what they call trashworld, a slogan used to describe a feeling of powerlessness pervasive in the time of climate change and platform capitalism - “the idea that the world is broken beyond repair.”
Horror films in particular have also become a powerful way to codify and interpret our collective fears and help us to make sense of an increasingly grim reality. This in many ways explains the fanfare around A24-produced horrors like Hereditary, the Witch and Midsommar, which typically use the genre, not so much as a way to deliver jumpscares and gore, but as a vehicle, where supernatural and occult themes are utilized as metaphors and symbols that help us to make sense of all the grief, trauma and evil in the world.
Collins Dictionary announced ‘Permacrisis’ as 2022’s word of the year - defined as “an extended period of instability and insecurity”. It was selected as a reflection of the seemingly neverending bombardment of crisis and catastrophe inflicted on humanity over the past few years. And the less sense the world makes - with scientific institutions failing to provide adequate answers - the more we seek meaning in a more divine authority. A way to gain power over the unfamiliar, deliver us from evil and lead us not into temptation.