"Hello yesterday! What's so bad about tomorrow anyway?" Collapsing some past uncertainties via anticipatory hermeneutics

Abstract

Perhaps one of the most remarkable recent manifestations of the past meeting the future was the celebration of the advent of the Year 2000, which took place globally on 31 December 1999. Historically the event, which presented itself as a series of fractured ceremonies in various time zones across the globe, told the story of human existence in anticipation of the future.  It was an important celebration of the past - an acquiescence or general acceptance of the Gregorian calendar - and also a celebration of the future. For the critical observer it appeared as if global society was paying homage to the past ntillennium, and celebrating the advent of the next (future) ntillennium simultaneously.