, PLEASE USE THIS DOCUMENT AS A GUIDE TO ANSWER YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Introduction
The aim of compiling this portfolio is to reflect on the ideas, opinions, and insights that have struck
me throughout this challenging and thought-provoking module. To begin, I revisited my responses to
the multiple-choice questions presented in the "Crossroads" assignment. These questions served as a
starting point for my reflections, as they encapsulated some of the central issues that this module has
brought to the forefront of my thinking. I have included my original opinions alongside my current
views, accompanied by brief notes to demonstrate how my thinking has evolved over the course of
the module. This section, titled "Back at the Crossroads!", provides a direct comparison between
where I started and where I have ended up. By critically engaging with these questions and exploring
my changing perspectives, I hope to provide a deeper understanding of how this module has
influenced my views on complex societal, ethical, and environmental issues. The portfolio aims to
capture my intellectual journey, highlighting the themes that have challenged my thinking and
reshaped my opinions in significant ways.
BACK AT THE CROSSROADS!
1. “It’s easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism.” (Mark Fisher) My
personal opinion on this statement, is most closely described by:
a. Who cares?
b. This is what comes from a world population that believes that the path to enlightenment is
X.
c. Capitalism is absolutely the only viable economic system, so yes, this is true and right.
d. I had never thought of this, but as unreasonable as this might sound, it is actually so true.
e. I think that we need to work on our imagination then because this is clearly absurd.
Choice now: d
Choice in assignment 1: d
Notes:
Mark Fisher’s statement challenges the prevailing norms of capitalism, suggesting that we find it
more feasible to imagine apocalyptic scenarios than envision an economic system beyond capitalism.
This reflects how deeply entrenched capitalist frameworks are in our societies. The idea that we
cannot even conceive of an alternative to capitalism points to how limited our imagination has
become in terms of societal transformation. Fisher's point underscores a larger issue of ideological
dominance—capitalism is so pervasive that alternatives are often dismissed as unrealistic, even in
the face of growing inequalities, environmental crises, and social unrest. The apocalyptic
imagination, in contrast, offers a kind of escape that is both dystopian and somehow still imaginable.
This highlights a profound disconnect between the potential for systemic change and our collective
ability to imagine such a change.
Introduction
The aim of compiling this portfolio is to reflect on the ideas, opinions, and insights that have struck
me throughout this challenging and thought-provoking module. To begin, I revisited my responses to
the multiple-choice questions presented in the "Crossroads" assignment. These questions served as a
starting point for my reflections, as they encapsulated some of the central issues that this module has
brought to the forefront of my thinking. I have included my original opinions alongside my current
views, accompanied by brief notes to demonstrate how my thinking has evolved over the course of
the module. This section, titled "Back at the Crossroads!", provides a direct comparison between
where I started and where I have ended up. By critically engaging with these questions and exploring
my changing perspectives, I hope to provide a deeper understanding of how this module has
influenced my views on complex societal, ethical, and environmental issues. The portfolio aims to
capture my intellectual journey, highlighting the themes that have challenged my thinking and
reshaped my opinions in significant ways.
BACK AT THE CROSSROADS!
1. “It’s easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism.” (Mark Fisher) My
personal opinion on this statement, is most closely described by:
a. Who cares?
b. This is what comes from a world population that believes that the path to enlightenment is
X.
c. Capitalism is absolutely the only viable economic system, so yes, this is true and right.
d. I had never thought of this, but as unreasonable as this might sound, it is actually so true.
e. I think that we need to work on our imagination then because this is clearly absurd.
Choice now: d
Choice in assignment 1: d
Notes:
Mark Fisher’s statement challenges the prevailing norms of capitalism, suggesting that we find it
more feasible to imagine apocalyptic scenarios than envision an economic system beyond capitalism.
This reflects how deeply entrenched capitalist frameworks are in our societies. The idea that we
cannot even conceive of an alternative to capitalism points to how limited our imagination has
become in terms of societal transformation. Fisher's point underscores a larger issue of ideological
dominance—capitalism is so pervasive that alternatives are often dismissed as unrealistic, even in
the face of growing inequalities, environmental crises, and social unrest. The apocalyptic
imagination, in contrast, offers a kind of escape that is both dystopian and somehow still imaginable.
This highlights a profound disconnect between the potential for systemic change and our collective
ability to imagine such a change.
