Register here.
The battle between good and evil is one of the oldest stories there is, like capitalism it takes up our horizon of thought. But what if it’s time to put it to rest? To finally settle this great battle and make way for new stories . . .
Karen Effie will bring her wealth of weird-ass knowledge, along with a touch of humour, to take you on a tour through 4,000 years of the greatest story we just keep telling–and an exploration of what stories we could be telling instead.
Course Structure
This course will take the form of six weekly modules. In each module there will be a 20 minute video lecture, a 90 minute class on Zoom, a list of resources for reading, watching, or listening, a shared group chat on Signal, and e-mail access to the course instructor.
Zoom sessions for this class are:
- Wednesday 1:00 pm NZDT
- Wednesday 11:00 am AEDT
- Tuesday 7:00 pm EST
- Tuesday 4:00 pm PST
Course Instructor
I am quite old, so I have a long history of thinking about things. I have a BA Hons in history, and in 2024 I went back to university study. On my Substack, I have: “Elderly call centre worker and occasional house sitter declares Cosmic War over” because I am a very ordinary person with a big idea and a bad sense of humour. Except that is not all of me. Over the years, I have mostly had jobs where I get to ask people questions, and so I have asked thousands of people many thousands of questions. Questions are powerful. So is listening to the answers. Due to necessity, I have had a good look at the world from the bottom – from the grey economy, from the lives of friends in low places, from precarity – and I love the world dearly and I want it to go on. I live in Te Waipounamu, the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand, where I choose the forest and the mountains over the beach.
Course Modules
Week 1: What is the Cosmic War and why we should be concerned about this narrative
How it is cosmic and how is it a war? How has the idea of a great cosmic war shaped our metaphysical and physical worlds and the human heart? And how has it played out in the real world? This week we will meet the great cosmic war–and each other!
Week 2: How we came to be fighting the Cosmic War: the deep history
This week will look at the development of monotheism including Zoroastrianism and Judaism, alongside Mesopotamian ‘combat myths’ and how these laid the groundwork that led into early Christianity–and the role of Hellenistic influences on shaping the story of the great cosmic war. We will also engage with some primary sources to explore the early development of this narrative.
Week 3: The End of the World is Always Nigh: Apocalypse always
This week we will explore the various apocalypses–from the Bible to eschatology in Islam. From there we will shoot into the present and consider how these ideas are reflected in contemporary discourse by examining a range of modern apocalyptic stories.
Week 4: The Great Characters of the Cosmic War
Who is fighting this great battle? From Satan himself to Luke Skywalker–this week we will look at the characters who do battle for evil and for good. What makes them tick? Why do we keep constructing them with the same faults? And how have they transformed through the ages?
Week 5: The Cosmic War as Vibe Generator
How has the story of the cosmic war shaped our vibes? This week we will look at the idea of historical cycles and some of the darker paths that idea has led us down. From ecofascism to accelerationism to Conspirituality. This week is all about the vibes.
Weeks 6: Yes, there is an alternative
Not all writers and societies have been shaped by the cosmic war narrative. This week we will explore thinkers, writers, and cultures that have been shaped by other ideas and by different stories. From Indigenous writers to cli-fi, we will explore other stories and ideas–ones that take us past the old story that no longer serves us.
How this course works
Taking inspiration from the long history around the world of folk education, particularly the Scandinavian and Appalachian traditions, this course is designed to offer a fun, affordable and rigorous experience–that serves the needs of working adults.
Like all folk education, liberation and movement building is at the core of the course. We save ourselves together–and we educate ourselves to build solidarity, share tactics, and create a shared vision for a better future for all of us.
There’s no grades, no assessments, no credentials.
This is about learning for the love of learning and the love of each other.
Course Tools
- Zoom, links will be sent out via email shortly before each class session begins
- Signal (optional)
We will be offering an optional “tech support session” early in the course so that you can ask questions, get help with Signal, and try out the tech tools we will be using.
Please come along if you need any help feeling comfortable with the tools we are using. If you aren’t comfortable with technology, please don’t worry! We will be happy to help you out and work to increase your comfort level.
Model for Each Week and Expectations
Each week will include a ~20-minute pre-recorded lecture and a 90-minute Zoom class session to discuss the material and engage in hands-on activities related to the course material.
We will also provide a list of resources including readings, podcasts, and videos for each week. You can choose to engage with these as we go along or save them for later.
Our goal is to provide readings at a range of levels—if you struggle with reading or have other literacy barriers, you should still find plenty of learning material for you.
You don’t have to be a reader to participate and we aim not to privilege those with better literacy skills.
You are good enough as you are.
Code of Conduct
Our goal is to create a vibrant and engaged learning community where we all prioritise learning and building relationships with each. This course and all Dark Times Academy classes and events aim to be accessible to all people regardless of age, disability, sexuality, background, religion, gender or ethnicity.
A respectful, open attitude towards others is expected from all. Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated and may result in your removal from the course.
Life is hard enough as it is; leading with kindness and patience is key to a great learning experience, one that ensures all members feel welcomed.
Anxiety, Busyness, and Stress
Doing an online course on top of your full-time job, care responsibilities, and other life stuff is really hard. It’s ok to fall behind! Please don’t let anxiety or stress lead you to avoid engaging or cause you to feel inadequate.
Do your best, it will be good enough. Ask for help if you need it. We are always happy to support you as best we can.
Accessibility
Please email mandy@darktimesacademy.co.nz with any accessibility needs. We are happy to work together to make this class work for you
Content Warnings
The nature of this topic means that we will occasionally discuss material that includes upsetting topics. We will do our best to warn you ahead of time when this is likely to happen. Please feel free to do what you need to do to protect your well-being.
Your health and mental well-being should always be your first priority and we will always respect that.
Register here.