Time Settings

In literature, a **Time Setting** is, as the name implies, the period of time a story or scene takes place. In *The Mandela Catalogue*, the series jumps back and forth between three notable time settings: The **Biblical Era**, the **Analog Era** and the **Digital Era**; the latter two being the main focus of the series and commonly referred to as a whole as "**Modern Times**".

## Overview

### The Ancient Times

The term 'Ancient Times' refers to the era like the Biblical Era before the Modern Times. In this era, humans do not clearly know what alternates are, and probably equate them with some supernatural creaturs like demons in the mythos of some ancient religions. It is unknown how active alternates are in this era. Considering that alternates are always able to finish their tasks in the Modern Time because they can use technology to implement their plans, the alternates are probably much less active in the Ancient Times because such technology hasn't existed at that time yet.

#### The Biblical Era

Biblical Era takes an approach which is different from the other eras. Sometimes, they might appear briefly as sections throughout episodes or Volumes, such is the case of Exhibition's ending scene, and sometimes they might have entire episodes dedicated to them, such as Overthrone.

These serve as a backstory to the events seen in the series, as well as contextualize and expand upon the threat that the Alternates and, of course, the self-proclaimed Archangel Gabriel pose to the world.

Although most of the events in the Holy Bible aren't shown in the series, some of them are alluded to in the form of certain Modern Times characters being named after Biblical Figures and sharing similar traits to their counterparts, such as Evelin Miller having Eve's keen but deadly sense of curiosity for forbidden knowledge.

The series seems to focus on the Before Christ era, with the sole reference to the After Christ era (besides name drops of characters mentioned in New Testament) being the post-credits of Vol. 333, depicting the crucifixion of Labbi Yeshua.

### The Modern Times

The Modern Times are the name given to both the Analog Era and the Digital Era. As specified in their title, these two eras differentiate from eachother due to their technological differences, how the public reacts to the Alternates, and noticeable differences in formatting.

The Analog Era and the Digital Era are never shown in the same video, instead they are shown separatedly in each volume and forming a pattern: Vol. 1 was in the Analog Era, Vol. 2 was set in the Digital Era, Vol. 333 was set in the Analog Era, and so on.

As previously mentioned, the Modern Times era is the main focus of the series and by extension the most developed upon, being "home" of most of the series' characters, such as Mark Heathcliff and Adam Murray.

#### 1992 & Analog Era

> you never had any idea what you were doing, you cowards. the grand year of 92, leaving me t-
>
> Unknown, mandelapolice.com

In the Analog Era, the public seems more alert and scared of the Alternates and treat them as the legitimate threat that they are, such is the case of Mark Heathcliff asking Cesar if he had been following the instructions issued by the USDTP to avoid them at the start of Vol. 1.

The formatting is also made to fit the Analog Era of technology, centering in things such as VHS tapes, CRT televisions, and more. Most of the formatting in the Analog Era is displayed in the Found Footage format in order to give out the illusion that the videos being seen are actually under an investigation.

#### 2009 & Digital Era

> It's a wonder Digital Technology has come and saved us all
>
> Face Studio 2, Volume 4

In the Digital Era, any type of fear for them isn't shown and in fact, skepticism of the existence of Alternates is shown within the public, such is the case of Jonah Marshall. In fact, the USDTP has given out a (blatantly fake) announcement telling people that the Alternates had been exterminated, further reinforcing the skepticism.

The formatting is also different, the Digital Era is heavily centered around Digital Horror, with technology belonging to the early 2000's as the main focus, mainly computers and the internet.

## Trivia

* According to Alex Kister's saying in the Wendigoon Interview, the series would originally have a time travel aspect that was planned until the two first episodes. This may explain how false Gabriel sabotage the Annunciation, and why the United States Department of Temporal Phenomena appeared at the beginning of Vol. 1. Even though this idea has already been abandoned, it is unknown if the alternates have the ability related to time travel.