Question

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951): A Christ-like being from another solar system warns people to settle their differences peacefully or the planet Earth will be destroyed. The film implied that scientists will save us from mutual assured destruction. The Thing From Another World (1951): In this film, an alien being is found to be contaminated by radiation. "The Thing" is ultimately electrocuted before his menace spreads from the Arctic. The film's last line of dialogue is a reporter's radio warning broadcast: "Watch the skies! Everywhere. Keep looking. Keep watching the skies!" Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 Century (cartoon, 1953): The United States (Duck Dodgers or Buck Rogers) and the Soviet Union (Marvin the Martian from the red planet) humorously struggle to control Planet X, destroying it in the end. There's just enough left at the end for Dodgers to plant his flag and claim the remaining dust for Earth. Them! (1954): Mutated, giant, radioactive ants hatch in the New Mexico desert after an atomic bomb test. A professional soldier leads the search after the murderous ants travel from the New Mexico desert to city storm drains. The ants are interpreted as communist infiltrators and are destroyed in the end. Godzilla (1954): A fire-breathing reptilian creature with radioactive breath is brought back to life from the ocean depths to terrorize Tokyo after underwater nuclear testing. This movie was made only a decade after the country's experience with nuclear fallout from Hiroshima and Nagasaki and during a time of underwater nuclear testing. The monster represents the atomic bomb and all its danger and destruction. Reflect on these films and do some additional research, if necessary, to write a brief response (three to four sentences) to the following questions: What can you infer about the meaning of these films? What do they have in common? Why do you think they were so popular? How do you think they helped people cope with the dangers of the era?

Answer 1

The 1950s films like The Day the Earth Stood Still and Godzilla are reflections of the Cold War era anxieties, particularly about nuclear destruction and communism, portraying these threats through science fiction narratives. They gained popularity as they resonated deeply with the public's fears, providing an entertaining yet cathartic way to cope with the dangers of the time.

Step-by-step explanation:

The films from the 1950s such as The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Thing From Another World, Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 Century, Them!, and Godzilla share a common theme of reflecting societal fears and anxieties of the Cold War era, particularly surrounding nuclear weapons and the threat of communism. The frequent utilization of extraterrestrial or mutated creatures as metaphorical stand-ins for these fears can be seen as a coping mechanism for audiences, allowing them to confront and process the terrifying concept of nuclear annihilation in a more abstract and therefore more manageable form. Through these allegorical sci-fi narratives, filmmakers were able to comment on the dangers of the arms race and the potential for global destruction.

These films were remarkably popular because they played on the zeitgeist of the time, capitalizing on collective anxieties and offering a mixture of entertainment and subtle political commentary. Science fiction hits like these allowed people to explore their fears in a safe environment, providing a temporary escape from the harsh realities of the world while still engaging with them on a deep psychological level. The popularity of such films during the Cold War speaks volumes about the public's desire to understand and find solace in stories that mirrored their own existential dread.

The resonance of these films with the American public also had to do with how they helped audiences cope with the dangers of the era. Viewing these movies provided a sense of catharsis and allowed for a communal experience of facing fears through the lens of fiction. Moreover, they provided a platform for discussion about pressing contemporary issues under the guise of entertainment, which made the heavy subjects they tackled more accessible.