End of the world job
The image shows a man seated behind the wheel of a car, his hands are placed on the steering wheel, and he appears to be looking ahead with a slightly perturbed or resigned expression. He is wearing glasses, has neatly combed hair, and is dressed in what seems to be work attire, including a white shirt. The overall aesthetic of the image, from the quality to the color palette, suggests that it may be from a film or television show from the late 20th century.
At the top of the image, there’s a caption that reads "going to work after another failed apocalypse." The text implies that the man is returning to his normal routine despite having just experienced, or rather survived, an event that was supposed to be catastrophic and potentially world-ending.
The humor in the image comes from the juxtaposition of the dramatic concept of an apocalypse with the mundane reality of everyday work life. People often joke about the mundaneness of their daily routines, and the idea of simply going back to work after an apocalyptic event is humorously anticlimactic.
This image might also resonate as funny due to the facial expression of the man. He doesn’t seem panicked or relieved; instead, he looks as if he's steeling himself for another ordinary day. His demeanor suggests a kind of humorous resignation or a stoic acceptance of the repetitive cycle of work life, regardless of external circumstances.
Additionally, laughter can be a coping mechanism for dealing with stress or disappointment, and this image plays into that by treating a theoretically terrifying event with a nonchalance that could seem absurdly funny.
Lastly, the comedy might also stem from the relatability of the scenario. In recent times, people have faced numerous global concerns that have been sensationalized as apocalyptic or near-apocalyptic in nature. There’s a shared social experience in the disappointment or relief when such predicted events don’t occur, or perhaps don’t live up to their dramatic expectations, which can make this image humorous to a wide audience.
