Pursuit of a Blackpilled World: Rhetorics of Fatalism and Fantasies of Apocalypse in the Incel Community

Abstract

Building from theories posited by cultural theorists like Daniel Wojcik and Christopher Partridge, my paper explores how blackpilled incels utilize rhetorics of fatalism and fantasies of apocalypse as tools for re-enchantment. Specifically, blackpilled incels claim fatalism while participating in a new-world-order fantasy that restructures the social hierarchy, placing them in a position to structurally and literally crush those they believe have suppressed them, particularly women and sexually active men. The overarching goal of this research is to shed light on the realities of at least one segment of a consistently misunderstood and miscategorized subculture, hopefully resulting in a deeper understanding of incels and the danger they pose to society, as well as the need for further research on the topic.