Masculinity and the Cold War - Movie Review Example

Research Writing Masculinity and the Cold War War is a horrible thing, and that goes without any doubt; however, the menace of war can provide an even greater source of disturbance. The invisible enemy is always more intimidating than the enemy which we can see. The world after Second World War was caught in a vicious cycle of nuclear warhead piling with the two super powers being engaged in cold war for almost 50 years. The cold war was characterized by a palpable fear that a nuclear attack might wipe out the whole country, or even the whole world. Some people were actually fearful that the communists might have something which was referred to as a device capable of extinguishing life on earth. The Cuban missile crisis had been the most glaring example of a possible nuclear war. While the possibility still remains valid today, the menace appeared more eminent in cold war era. The cold war can actually be compared to a chauvinist conflict, whereupon both nations involved tried to use their supposed technological supremacy as a tool to undermine the influence of other nation. This notion is quite obvious in Stanley Kubrick's movie "Dr Strangelove: or How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb", as well in the text authored by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Joseph Rotblat, "A war-free world". Though the cold war no longer exists but the situation in Iran, Iraq and the role of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has again compelled this world to think of a very different approach towards nuclear deterrence. Mohamed ElBaradei, the eminent scientist who is heading IAEA while giving a lecture at Stanford, called for a new commitment from the peace loving world to go for nuclear disarmament rather than nuclear deterrence. Dr. Strangelove: Human lust for destruction The human urge to use things of mass destruction in satisfying their hatred and paranoia has been the main theme of the movie Dr. Strangelove. Right at the start of the movie, the audience is treated to a scene depicting the refueling of an American bomber which is shot in a way that is ostentatiously copulative, a lingering notion which is reinforced by the theme song. On its own, the opening scene provides a good hint of the ensuing innuendo, and the characters only add up to the concept. The very first scene with human characters shows one General who must turn down his secretary's attempts of seduction, to attend his duties. In the next sequence, the viewer is introduced to the main character, who is the pure embodiment of the utmost anti-communist paranoia, General Ripper. The characters itself have made the whole of the world especially the Russia as a play ground. The thirst and desire for causing widespread destruction has been the highlight of the behavior of the persons who have been provided the control of nuclear weapons.The movie hovers around different characters filled with hatred against the communists and possesses the strong desire of using the weapons of mass destruction against communism. The basic theory of nuclear deterrence has got severe damage, thereby renewing a call for nuclear disarmament. Rotblat makes a similar comment in his address: "The concept of nuclear deterrence is basically flawed, because it rests on the assumption that national leaders are rational persons, that the policies of both sides in a dispute are governed by rational thinking. Recent history has provided several examples that this is not always the case." Rotblat was jointly awarded the peace Nobel for participating in the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs; this organization was enacted as a response to the cold war's global security threats. According to the author, "Even rational leaders may behave irrationally at time of war, particularly if they face defeat." It doesn't take much insight to realize how the main character, Jack D. Ripper is an embodiment of such kind of leadership. Dr. Strangelove and the beginning of an end Right from the start of the movie, Ripper actually launches a first strike nuclear assault on Russia, motivated by nothing else than his raging paranoia. He actually manages to convince everyone involved in the process that the country was under attack, and they had to defend themselves, and no one seems to realize that he's totally crazy. Ripper apparently craves destruction, and he urges for the release of the nuclear bomb as tough he would actually get personal satisfaction, like the moment of destruction represented an outburst of pleasure. All of the military men in the movie seem to share such an insatiable thirst from destruction, almost comparable to sensuous desire. The peculiar Dr. Strangelove actually makes fantasies about the advantages that might be brought along by such destruction, since the surviving members of the human race would be responsible for breeding the post-apocalyptic generation: "I hasten to add that since each man will be required to do prodigious... service along these lines, the women will have to be selected for their sexual characteristics which will have to be of a highly stimulating nature. The thirst for destruction that has been depicted in the movie shows the way the basic animal instinct of humans can derive pleasure out of rampant killing and death and the misuse of the weapons. The fear of misuse actually emphasizes the need of nuclear disarmament. The apprehensions of the same led to Joseph Rotblat to raise the issue of denuclearization of earth so as to achieve peace and made it quite clear: "All this will be conducive to overcoming chauvinism and xenophobia, the fomenters of strife and war." According to the author, we should dedicate ourselves to developing the sense of belonging and welfare. This is just the opposite of what the military leaders in Kubrick's dark comedy aim to accomplish. Joseph Rotblat was personally involved in the development of the hydrogen bomb; however, the physicist maintains that in the real world, it was fear that pushed individuals towards accomplishment, rather than lust. Within his address, the author explains that he regarded himself as a man of science, and he regarded science as an instrument of peace. However, he could not help feeling that a figure race was taking place that would have disastrous consequences, if it was won by the Russians:"in the back of my mind a fear kept gnawing away, the fear that other scientists might not have the same moral scruples." Granted, the scientists apparently believed that mankind would never dare to effectively use such a powerful weapon as the atom bomb, not in the way it's implied in the movie Dr. Strangelove. "But human society", Rotblat reminds us, "was that stupid. Within a few decades this number of warheads was manufactured, and made ready for use. On several occasions we came very near to their actual use." As the movie climax approaches in Dr. Strangelove, the bombing is nearly avoided. However, the dark comedy is definitely intended as a tribute to human bloodlust and self-deception, and in this sense it's actually quite a pessimist movie (especially considering the cold war never did effectively heat up). In a remarkable display of ideological satire dealing with the cold war, we see Major Kong, the pilot of the American bomber riding the bomb as it descends towards its targets, screaming in orgiastic pleasure. Even as the movie ends, we cannot help but wondering if men really is like that, and if it was actually fear that prevented such a tragic outcome from actually occurring in the rear world. Does man genuinely take pleasure in destruction This is a question that is ultimately left for each viewer to consider. Lessons from Dr. Strangelove and the 21st century world For instance, it does not take long until Turgidson takes the opportunity to suggest that a full-scale attack should be launched: "we would destroy ninety percent of their nuclear capabilities. We would therefore prevail, and suffer only modest and acceptable civilian casualties from their remaining force which would be badly damaged and uncoordinated." All of the characters invariably use their anti-communist hatred as a pretext to engage military offences, despite the widespread suffering and destruction which will invariably result. They are obviously people who had enough of living trough a cold war, and they were desperate to make it raging hot. The very approach of the characters of the movie undermines the importance of the word nuclear deterrence. It's been this term which prompted nations like India, Pakistan and now Iran to produce nuclear warheads. The point around which the movie revolves is not the destruction that nuclear weapons can cause but the capability of human beings to handle this weapon of mass destruction sensibly. The world can never be secure with nuclear deterrence but it's the nuclear disarmament which can bring peace. The post cold war world though a bit secure but still the presence of a large number of nuclear weapons and repeating incidents of violation of NPT has made the world to rethink on its current approach on nuclear disarmament. ElBaradei while forwarding his points called on the world community to work for achieving total disarmament. To avoid any damage in future, the need of the hour is the implementation of the processes for nuclear disarmament and the use of the technology for peaceful means. The responsibility for this not only shoulders on politicians and policy makers but also on scientific community. And if we look inside the history, it's been the scientific community which took the first step for nuclear disarmament. Rotblat himself a renouned nuclear scientist and the sole survivor among the eleven signatories of the Russell-Einstein Manifesto that took place at Nova Scotia Vilage, Pugwash has shown gratitude to the scientific community with members from both East and West for their in denucleanising the world. He asked the world to go for a nuclear free world rather than a nuclear deterrent world and called on the entire nuclear commuinity to implement the process of disarmament. If the issues of nuclear detterence and nuclear disarmamenet is made the points of discussion, ElBaradei in his lecture cited the failure of the world community in dealing with India, Pakistan and Israel; all NPT states but very capable of weaponisation of nukes and has asked the responsible countries to be more creative to achieve further proliferation. The nuclear cleansing will reduce all chances of nuclear profileration. Again in his Drell Lecture in Stanford University, ElBaradei called for the search of an alternative to nuclear deterrence. Rotblat also had the same feeling about this policy of nuclear deterrence. He simply stated that each side is having isolated researchs with only one motive that is with better weapon, they can make other more vulnerable and themselves at a higher stage. The solution named nuclear deterrence is not only providing a solution to problmes like the balanced of power but actually the very end of the root cause of the problem i.e, human stupidity through the provisions which can make an end of the human race itself. The deterrence is nothing but a state in which a countries though not ready to use the weapon but again they are not hesitant in keeping it while considering future nuclear war. So the theme of this deterrence is to think for a future nuclear war rather than a nuclear peace. ElBaradei ended his lecture with the things which should form the priority of the world leaders. The world is still a difficult place to live with almost 800 million people living with scarce resources. And to bring these changes, first of all the mindset should be changed. One should now concentrate on peace and justice with education being the gateway to this enlightment. Similarly, Rotblat also ended with a call for nuclear education not just for common students but also the political leaders who have the responsibility to maintain peace and tranquillity. We humans have worked for centuries for the war to bring peace but still the world saw innumerable number of wars. Now we should learn how to practice peace and how to prepare for it. Things are not very easy but still the sole reason being the existence of the entire human race is the enough reason to work for complete nuclear disarmament. Works Cited: ElBaradei, M. "In Search of Security: Finding an Alternative to Nuclear deterrence" Retrieved 12/03.07 from http://iis-db.stanford.edu/evnts/3949/ElBaradei_Drell_2004-1104.pdf Rotblat, J. "A war-free world" Retrieved 27/02/07 from http://www.cnn.com/EVENTS/1996/world.report.conference/news/08/rotblat.spee ch/index.html Kubrick, S. "Dr Strangelove". Read More