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HG Wells
1914: H.G Wells: the world set free- the phrase atomic bomb pre dates their actual existence (a chicken before the egg moment) -
Period: to
The Effects of nuclear technology & radiation in pop culture
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The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima
The bombing of Nagasaki followed on 9 August 1945. -
Comic Books Vs Manga
"Although the comic book/manga industries played very different roles in their respective societies, postwar cartoonists on both sides of the Pacific spilled a great deal of ink in trying to come to grips with the promises and perils created by the onset of the atomic age" ( Szasz & Takechi 2007, p.728). -
The Great Debate
The stories and the characters in the comics or manga books refelected the wider debate in society at the time about the effects of nuclear technology and radiation. The basic arguement being - Was this technology good or bad for the future of the world? -
Them
1954: Them - giant ants in the Los Angeles sewers -
The US effect
In general the US assumed the triumphant and positive effects of nuclear technology. This was seen in there use of anthropomorphic animals in their comics who obtained their powers from radiation and saved the day from various villians. -
Changing opinion
As public debate continued there was a shift in representation within comic books. This was seen when many superheros discovered they were not powerful enough to defeat nuclear technology on their own. The almost end of the earth stories were done to foster respect for this technology and also reflected the general srate of anxiety, -
Japan Effect
In Japan it was almost the opposite. The characters and stories refelected tragey and victims and always emmense respect for the technology. Heavily censored by US occupation. Astro boy is probably one of the most famous examples of the Effects of nuclear technology & radiation in pop culture. Gave lots of warnings about the power of technology -
Planet of the Apes
1968- 1973: Planet of the Apes- apes rule the Planet after an apocalyptic nuclear war -
Spiderman
1968: Spiderman- bitten by a radioactive spider and turned in to a super hero -
Godzilla
"Not only does Godzilla underscore the fear of the Japanese over atomic energy, it also serves as a warning against potential human folly over modern technology" (p. 745) -
China Syndrome
1979: china syndrome- American thriller film that tells the story of a reporter and her cameraman who discover safety cover-ups at a nuclear power plant. -
Mad Max
1979-1985: Mad Max -a post apocalypse waste land -
Barefoot Gen
Barefoot Gen represents the blame and responsibility of hioshima and nagasaki and is very vengeful. -
Silkwood
1983: Silkwood- true-life story of Karen Silkwood, who died in a suspicious car accident while investigating, alleged wrongdoing at the Kerr-McGee plutonium plant where she worked -
Terminator
1984: Terminator – the first film. Set in a post-apocalyptic future were the A.I rules and uses our own nuclear weapons to kill all humans on earth -
The Simpsons
1989- Continued: The Simpsons- you have three eyed fish, nuclear reactor melt downs and a funky gene pool. -
Dr Seuss
The Effects of nuclear technology & radiation in pop culture was very widespread. Even Dr Seuss weighed in on the debate in his story the Butter Battle Book http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qkqzdgL3wo -
Stargate
1994- con: Stargate (SG1 and Atlantis)- use nuclear weapons all though out the TV show adding alien technology in some cases to make it an even more destructive power -
Xmen
2000: X-men- the X-men and mutants as a whole are the result of radiation -- ambient radiation brought on by atomic testing -
The Hulk
2003: The hulk- an accident with a scientific experiment which exposes Bruce banner to gamma radiation and the nanomeds and transforms him in to a monster when he is angry. -
Jericho
2006: Jericho- focuses on a small town after the nuclear attacks on major U.S cities
