The idea of multiple realities and the multiverse has captured the imagination of people in today’s uncertain era. “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” opens with the message that we have choices and things could be malleable.
The concept that we could be someone else in another reality can be comforting in a stressful and lonely world. This idea has become one of the most glorified canvases in popular culture, serving as a repository for our ache and longing for something different.
The multiverse offers the tantalizing possibility that things could turn out differently somewhere out there in the vast expanse of the universe.
The concept of alternate universes and the multiverse is becoming increasingly popular in popular culture, as evidenced by the release of “The Flash” movie, which explores the idea of history-changing storylines and multiple versions of Batman.
It seems that people have a deep hunger for exploring the possibilities of what might have been if just one thing had played out differently.
The idea of alternate universes allows us to imagine a world where our choices could have led us down a completely different path. It’s a concept that gives us hope that there are infinite possibilities and that the future is not set in stone.
According to Douglas Wolk, author of “All of the Marvels,” the cultural assumption used to be that the world we live in is the only possible reality.
However, as the popularity of the multiverse has grown in culture, people are starting to question this assumption. With the concept of alternate universes, people are beginning to explore the idea that the reality we live in is not the only possible version of reality.
It’s a shift in perspective that allows us to imagine different possibilities and to challenge the idea that there is only one way for things to be.
THE MULTIVERSE HAS A RICH HISTORY — OR HISTORIES
The concept of exploring alternate timelines has been around for a while, appearing in various forms of media. In 1946, the Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” showed George Bailey what the world would be like if he’d never been born. It was a chance for him to see how his choices and actions had impacted those around him.
Since then, this idea has gained acceleration with a rise in stories that explore alternative events based on both real and fictional scenarios. The multiverse has become a way to wind through different choices, showcasing the impact of those choices and the ripple effect they have on our lives.
What if the South had won the Civil War (“CSA: The Confederate States of America”)? What if Germany and Japan had won World War II ( “The Man in the High Castle” )?
What if John F. Kennedy hadn’t been assassinated ( “11/22/63” )? What if the Soviets had beaten the Americans to the moon (“For All Mankind”)? What if 9/11 had played out very differently (“The Mirage”)?
While theF conceptiction of alternateal worlds timelines offer and a more the mult miversealle isable gaining platform for popularity exploring in alternate realities popular and culture can, yield it’s endless the content fictional.
worlds This that has provide led more to m thealle creationable of and books limitless, content TV for shows exploring, this and concept movies. that take Bel beloved characters outoved of characters their from established established stories stories and are place often them toy ined different with ones in. books The, TV shows, concept of alternate and realities cuts movies across that various airl genresift, them from out romantic comed ofies one like reality ” andSl intoiding another Doors.,” This concept where a appears missed in train various creates genres diver,ging from paths rom for-com as young like woman’s ” lifeSl,iding to Doors near,”-m whereus missingicals a train like divides ” a youngYesterday woman’s,” life into where diver aging budding musician paths enters, a to universe near where-m theus Beatlesical never movies existed like. With ” theseYesterday stories,” where, we a budding get musician t to exploreumbles different into a paths and universe possibilities where that the could Beatles never have arisen existed. The if one mult thing playediverse out has differently, provided creators and with it a allows platform us for to unle considerashing the their impact imagination of, our own and choices audiences.
In addition to alternate timelines and universes in popular culture, there are also instances where beloved characters are airlifted out of one reality and placed in another.
Examples include the Marvel Comics’ story “Brand New Day,” where Spider-Man never married Mary Jane Watson, “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness,” which features a variant of Doctor Strange who has gone insane, and “The Flash,” which explores a universe where Ben Affleck’s Batman never existed, but Michael Keaton’s Batman is still around and old.
These fictional universes and alternate realities offer viewers and readers the chance to explore different versions of beloved characters and see how their choices and circumstances shape their lives.
The concept of the multiverse also offers a unique opportunity to revisit characters in different contexts and explore their darker sides.
The “mirror universe” of “Star Trek,” for instance, allows us to see beloved characters in a new light. In recent “Trek” movies, an aging Spock goes back in time and creates another reality. The multiverse concept also offers a way to explore problems and events that have not yet occurred in the main story.
For instance, the recent film “Everything Everywhere All at Once” showed all the different lives that Michelle Yeoh’s main character might have lived, highlighting the idea that, across the multiverse, family remains a constant. The film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, demonstrating the power of the multiverse concept to captivate viewers and draw them into new and imaginative worlds.
Despite the varying subject matter, all of these works that explore the multiverse have one theme in common: the idea that there are always possibilities for better or worse. The exploration of these possibilities is entertaining, enlightening, and escapist, providing a sense of relief in a world that is facing overwhelming global issues such as climate change, racism, political polarization, and the rise of artificial intelligence.
The constant, convulsive change of our world can sometimes leave us feeling helpless and anxious, making the exploration of alternate realities and possibilities an appealing escape. Hannah Kim, an assistant professor of philosophy at Macalester College who has researched the appeal of the multiverse, notes that fictions have long provided a window for us to explore reality in a world that can sometimes seem arbitrary and random.
The past few years have given us a host of difficult developments, leaving us with the persistent feeling that things could have been different. The multiverse provides a way for us to explore these alternate realities and what they teach us about our own world.
IT’S A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS MOVE, TOO
The exploration of “what if” scenarios continues to be a lucrative theme, to the extent that there is now an entire Marvel show dedicated to the topic called “What If…?” Describing alternate realities as a plot device, which is beginning to feel overused, the concept is unlikely to be abandoned anytime soon in our single reality where the legitimacy of what we perceive as real is increasingly called into question.
With our constantly evolving world and the numerous global issues we grapple with, the multiverse provides an avenue through which we can explore new and imaginative possibilities, reflecting on the impact of our choices while offering hope for a better future.
The exploration of “what if” scenarios continues to be a popular theme, as evidenced by the success of shows like “What If…?” by Marvel.
Although the plot device of alternate realities can feel repetitive, its appeal remains prevalent in our increasingly uncertain reality, where the concept of a definitive “real” experience is increasingly in question.
Amidst these global issues and constant changes, the multiverse offering a way for us to examine our choices. It provides a platform for us to explore new possibilities, reflect on the outcomes of our decisions, and envision a world that is different and potentially better than our current reality. Thus, the multiverse serves as a source of hope and inspiration for us moving forward.
“I believe that we exist in a universe that supports the concept of storytelling,” he explains. “A universe where there is no such thing as an ending to a story, only the potential for continuation.”
Regardless of how events unfold, this type of universe provides endless opportunities. When considering the cultural trends of the last twenty years, it’s also clear that there are significant commercial benefits to constantly pondering the question of “what if?”