Both film, Failsafe and Dr. Strangelove depict the issues of the establishment and use of the Atomic bomb in correlation to that of the fear and anxiety of the threat of Communism. Class lectures discussed that during the Cold War era, American society is on the edge of nuclear war, where the ideology of never letting the “reds” win prevails over the idea of possible world annihilation. Nuclear technology casted a whole new approach for a future war. Massive retaliation established the idea in the US to reconcile Cold War aims with a defensive and security strategy by placing emphasis on nuclear weapons. At any time and place of its choice, the US would be willing to respond to any communist aggression with the prospect of massive retaliation.
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Both presented how easily nuclear war could occur. Furthermore, similar themes were included such as the following. The idea that Russians are the enemy at all costs comes into question, the anxiety about the Reds, and the issues of the annihilation of the world through nuclear warfare, all contribute to both films’ depiction of the Cold War Era.
Class lectures further discussed that between 1945 and 1947, U.S. officials and the public concluded that the Soviet Union was no longer an ally. Instead, the Soviet Union and communism was now an enemy and threat to U.S. interests. Due to these developments, hysteria or also known as the Red Scare was presented in both films. Specifically in Failsafe, it was the American duty to protect democratic society from the evil Communists. Prof. Groeteschele stated “And the Lord said, gentlemen, ‘He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.’” And later states the question “Do you believe that Communism is not our mortal enemy?” Anyone who was against using everything possible to stop Communism was …show more content…
Specifically, it was mainly seen in the presented authorities. The two worlds had extremely different views with the communist Russians and the capitalist Americans. Communication was necessary in order to prevent nuclear war because of lingual or cultural misunderstandings. As the presidents of both countries spoke to each other in both films, anxiety was present. In Failsafe, the president asked the translator to translate not only words, but to include any feelings that could make the difference between winning or losing the confidence from the other party. On the other hand, in Dr. Strangelove there is a focus on letting people know what the purpose of the threats are to cause fear. The US wanted the Russians, to know what weapons it had and vice versa. Otherwise, no one would be aware of the power the other force had and there no fear would be present. Thus, in Dr. Strangelove it is emphasized that, “Yes but the whole point of the doomsday machine…. is lost if you keep it a secret! Why didn’t you tell the world, eh?” In addition, Failsafe dramatizes cold war anxieties about the meaning of automation when it comes to the detonation of the atomic bomb. Anxiety was increasing because people were involved in the judgment and decision process which would activate the machines. The possibility emerged that nuclear war could be triggered by a mechanical error in the automated systems. Dr. Strangelove depicts
Both presented how easily nuclear war could occur. Furthermore, similar themes were included such as the following. The idea that Russians are the enemy at all costs comes into question, the anxiety about the Reds, and the issues of the annihilation of the world through nuclear warfare, all contribute to both films’ depiction of the Cold War Era.
Class lectures further discussed that between 1945 and 1947, U.S. officials and the public concluded that the Soviet Union was no longer an ally. Instead, the Soviet Union and communism was now an enemy and threat to U.S. interests. Due to these developments, hysteria or also known as the Red Scare was presented in both films. Specifically in Failsafe, it was the American duty to protect democratic society from the evil Communists. Prof. Groeteschele stated “And the Lord said, gentlemen, ‘He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.’” And later states the question “Do you believe that Communism is not our mortal enemy?” Anyone who was against using everything possible to stop Communism was …show more content…
Specifically, it was mainly seen in the presented authorities. The two worlds had extremely different views with the communist Russians and the capitalist Americans. Communication was necessary in order to prevent nuclear war because of lingual or cultural misunderstandings. As the presidents of both countries spoke to each other in both films, anxiety was present. In Failsafe, the president asked the translator to translate not only words, but to include any feelings that could make the difference between winning or losing the confidence from the other party. On the other hand, in Dr. Strangelove there is a focus on letting people know what the purpose of the threats are to cause fear. The US wanted the Russians, to know what weapons it had and vice versa. Otherwise, no one would be aware of the power the other force had and there no fear would be present. Thus, in Dr. Strangelove it is emphasized that, “Yes but the whole point of the doomsday machine…. is lost if you keep it a secret! Why didn’t you tell the world, eh?” In addition, Failsafe dramatizes cold war anxieties about the meaning of automation when it comes to the detonation of the atomic bomb. Anxiety was increasing because people were involved in the judgment and decision process which would activate the machines. The possibility emerged that nuclear war could be triggered by a mechanical error in the automated systems. Dr. Strangelove depicts