Catastrophe means "a reversal of what is expected". And apocalypse means to "reveal, uncover, disclose, discover". Better definitions than we're used to

Our great friend and transformer Mary Kaliakis caught us in an unsophisticated use of the terms “apocalypse” and “catastrophe” the other day. In short, their root is not as apocalyptic and catastrophic as we take them to be.

She sent us two heavily annotated snaps of a book she’s reading by Micheal Meade, from 2012, titled Why The World Doesn’t End: Tales of Renewal In Times Of Loss. The actual meaning of the words are striking:

Well, that’s a better justification for feeling apocalyptic or catastrophist!

Mary also recommended Russell Brand’s interview with Meade, a YouTube excerpt of which is pasted below, where Meade uses his storytelling powers, and knowledge of Native American myth, to redefine catastrophe/apocalypse:

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