Palisades Fires: Hollywood Contemplates the Apocalypse

“Hell, it have to be like Los Angeles,” reads the poem “Considering Hell,” by Bertolt Brecht. The Marxist German playwright was largely critiquing town’s tradition. But in current days, many photos of wildfire devastation coming over the newswires made the Metropolis of Angels look each bit like Hades: raging infernos, charred skeletal stays of properties, a smoke-filled amaranthine sky, weeping residents. It was each surprising and all too acquainted — haven’t we seen this episode earlier than? Through the Malibu wildfires of 1993, actor Mark Hamill instructed The Related Press that the superstar enclave “seems like a conflict zone.” Thirty-two years later, Hamill is once more one among many stars being evacuated, this time calling the Pacific Palisades destruction “horrific” on Instagram.

But some elements have modified. Hearth hydrants operating out of water — that actually appears like a late-season writers room twist (getting old infrastructure, dry reservoirs and an excessive amount of simultaneous demand are cited as potential causes for this). The frequency and depth of fires statewide likewise feels new — seven of the eight largest California wildfires of all time have occurred in simply the previous 4 years.

Maybe the facet that’s most unusual isn’t any of the specifics, however the general vibe that we’re residing in an apocalyptic age, notably in Los Angeles: the pandemic, the strikes, the election, homelessness, studio contraction, media downsizing and, sure, fires that are actually more-bigger-worse — a lot in order that merely getting owners insurance coverage has turn into not possible in some areas. It’s one factor for fed-up celebs like Joe Rogan to peace out to Texas, it’s one other for YouTube promoting pathogen Liberty Mutual to allegedly surrender on complete ZIP codes. The town Hollywood likes to spectacularly destroy in its films retains getting pummeled in actual life.

Is there any trigger for optimism? “Even the homes in Hell will not be all ugly,” as Brecht wrote. The Golden Globes, in any case, arguably simply staged a much-needed comeback. There’s a surprisingly massive variety of extremely anticipated titles coming this yr to each cinemas and streaming. So, positive, there are causes for hope. However generally, unhealthy is simply unhealthy, a tragedy is just tragic, and systemic downward spirals have to be acknowledged as such. Hollywood manufactures escapism, however escapism can’t fill a fireplace hydrant, clear acres of low-level vegetation or forestall Mark Hamill from ever having to flee his residence once more. Calling one thing “apocalyptic” — a phrase closely used within the press of late — is defeatist; it’s one thing you say when a disaster appears completely overwhelming, a civilization-ending drawback that’s not possible to unravel. You possibly can wager L.A. firefighters, wading into scorching purgatories, don’t suppose that means. They will’t. They placed on their gear, collect their braveness and get to work.