The Fear of Apocalypse in Science Fiction - Essay Example

? Science Fiction and the fear of Apocalypse of Science Fiction and the fear of ApocalypseScience fiction has always been a channel for filmmakers and audiences to channelize their anxieties regarding apocalypse that may result out of the actions of human beings. The boom that was seen in the production of movies in the genre of science fiction following the world wars points to this very fact. The fear that man felt in the face of widespread death which occurred during these wars manifested itself in these movies. They placed the onus on the prevention of apocalypse on mankind. This was then seen as a reclamation of agency on the part of a beleaguered species which felt that it was doomed as a result of the inexorable progress of science and technology. The world wars made it clear to man that science was something that could be used for causing unimaginable misery on mankind. The atomic bombs that were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki proved to even those who were not directly affected by the destruction the power of such bombs. There was thus, a fear of atomic power as something that could trigger off apocalypse or the end of mankind as a species. This fear was then expressed through movies such as The Day the Earth Caught Fire and The Day the Earth Stood Still. These movies were made in the wake of the world wars and the effect of these wars and the incredible human loss that they caused can be seen in them. The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a movie that was released in 1961 and it was directed by Val Guest. The movie narrated the story of a possible apocalypse and how the human race attempts to avert this crisis. The movie makes it very clear that the reason for the crisis to have happened in the first place was a series of nuclear explosions that were conducted by the Soviet Union and The United States of America. These explosions are then said to have an effect that is catastrophic and the future of the whole of mankind is then in jeopardy. This ability of science to affect the whole of mankind is something that arises out of mankind’s recognition of itself as a singular entity. This recognition came about in a major way as a result of the world wars where the world was united in war, with the whole of humanity fighting on one side or the other. Humanity then was seen as a whole. This however, also meant that nothing could be completely local ever again. The atomic bomb and its ability to wipe out the whole of humanity in a single strike was something that created a great deal of fear amongst the people of the world for whom even the unity of humanity and its future lay in the answer to certain questions. These questions centred on how to use science and the way in which it would progress. This was then seen in movies that were a part of the genre of science fiction. Science fiction could then be employed to articulate the fears of an entire generation of people who had no say in their own future where it would be decided by the ruling class of politicians. The dehumanizing ability of the bomb, where millions of people would be wiped out without leaving traces of individuals was also something that the people of this era was extremely fearful of. The movie’s depiction of individual human beings can then be seen to be a consolation of the desire on the part of the audience for individuality (Guest). Another aspect of the movie is its focus on the Cold War. Released in 1961, the movie talks of the nuclear explosions that were conducted by the Soviet Union and the United States of America. The tussle between these major powers led to countries becoming a part of one power bloc or the other. However, it also led to fear among mankind as to what the ultimate outcome of such rivalry would be. It is significant that the arms race that took place between these two powers is referred to in this movie. It is thus, again the fear of science and the pace of its progress that leads to fear amongst the masses. It is this fear that movies of the science fiction genre sought to tap into and was a manifestation of. The fear of being wiped out without having any remaining memory was something that people were fearful of. In the movie The Day the Earth Stood Still, directed by Robert Wise, there is a recognition of the fact that this kind of an apocalypse would be brought about by the actions of mankind itself. Therefore, there is a placing of direct responsibility onto mankind’s shoulders. This movie was released in 1951 and was thus closer to the years of the Second World War. The memories of the atomic bomb explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were still fresh in the minds of the people of the United States and the movie dramatizes the guilt that the American public may have faced regarding the death of the people due to the atomic bombs. The movie goes on to describe the violence that man is capable of and constantly creates a sense of gloom and sorrow. The inevitability of the situation is drawn attention to. This is then said to be the result of mankind’s tendencies for violence which has been allowed to run loose. The movie makes it clear through the character of Klaatu that mankind needs to exist in peace for the continuance of the planet. Atomic power is then held up as the primary threat to the continuance of the existence of mankind. The fear that was instilled in the minds of the common people of the world is then again tapped into in this science fiction movie (Wise). The hopelessness of this situation is seen from the fact that Klaatu is unable to save earth from destruction. He is meant to be a Christ-like figure within the movie and this can be seen even from his final ascent which is similar to Jesus’s ascent to heaven. However, unlike Jesus in the Bible, he is unable to make any changes to the way in which science is handled in the world. People do not pay any heed to his words and he is driven away like Jesus is, in the Bible. The need for more responsible leaders is also thus, hinted at in the movie, something that points towards the callousness of the world leaders which had led to the world wars and innumerable deaths. The fear of not being able to determine one’s own future is thus dramatized in the movie where the commoners have no say in what is to happen to Klaatu and his message while members of the political class do. In the wake of the explosions at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, people were apprehensive of their ability for self-determination in the face of such destructive power which could be unleashed at any point of time by a government. It is then, as has been discussed, the fear of annihilation, both physical as well as metaphorical, that science fiction movies such as The Day the Earth Caught Fire and The Day the Earth Stood Still depict. They seek to portray the vulnerable position that people found themselves after they witnessed the fury of atomic power. These movies also were a result of the American public’s feelings of guilt over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They were thus, an accurate representation of the mood of this age. Works Cited The Day the Earth Caught Fire. Dir. Guest, Val. London: British Lions, 1961. DVD. The Day the Earth Stood Still. Dir. Wise, Robert. New York: 20th Century Fox, 1951. DVD. Read More