The horror of apocalyptic vision holds within it the power to move mountains, sink cities, and, in a different mode, to shape and re-shape societies. The elusive knowledge of the End of Days is beyond the pale of human deduction, and anyone who claims to possess it is inherently claiming a higher destiny for him or herself. Over and over in history, revolutions both abortive and successful have been cloaked in this sort of prophecy – whether the revolutionaries are Christians or pagans, Communists or anarchists, the resplendent beast of Armageddon is a powerful ally for any whose aim is to rule the world. Like Lazzaretti, prophets of doom gain intrigue and speed with the confirmation of their pronouncements, and do indeed meet the end when they try to translate their prophecy into concrete power.
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Doomsday 2010
Tuesdays, 4:15-6:40 PM
Macaulay Honors College, CUNYProfessor Lee Quinby
leequinby (at) aol.com
Office Hours: T/W 3-4 PMLindsey Freer, ITF
lindsey.freer (at) gmail.com
Office Hours: T/Th 1-4 PMphoto by Scott Mill
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Recent Comments:
- Lee Quinby on Nietzsche, Genealogy, and History
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I agree with you that the movie, and indeed pretty much anything having to do with that theme, have been used in American history as a doomsday warning, as it were. This is also true throughout the Western world, and having spoken to several men and women who grew up in the Soviet Union in the 70s and thereabouts, I can say with some reliability here that the same was true in the USSR – except the US and the rest of the West were the bad guys. I’m not sure I agree with you entirely about the modern manifestation of the “obey or perish” nature of such propaganda, though. To be sure, that was one definite use of such materials, but perhaps it was done not so much out of a strict desire to be obeyed and to create order, as it were, but out of fear in the various leaders’ hearts and minds. So yes, perhaps it was paternalistic (and some may have abused the trust that people put in such attitudes by the government or other official-sounding people), but maybe that was done for protection, and not for being obeyed.
One further thing – I’m rewatching the video now, and the school that those children are in – the closets at the back, specifically – look exactly like my old high school. I had to check and make sure that it wasn’t filmed there… but before I could find any proof I remembered that my school was built as a WPA project, so it doesn’t surprise me to see schools exactly like it all across the country. Anyway, that doesn’t really have anything to do with your entry – sorry! lol
The juxtaposition of the the film’s tone and message is quite striking, and as you say, disturbing. It is difficult to imagine the mindset of Americans at the time, mostly because it seems unlikely that a similiar film would be shown to children today. I do think film’s explicit treatment of destruction (at least for children) is a reflection of the time’s naivete – children are exposed to far more disturbing material every day in our present culture.
Jon, I agree: the reality obviously is far more subtle than one of ‘simply propaganda’ or ‘simply security’ – we necessarily succumb in these brief posts to what Kermode calls “gossip.” But I was struck, especially by “Duck and Cover,” at the absurdity of this theoretically practical, applicable video. If the a-bomb did go off in East Nowhere, little Johnny should duck, cover, and kiss his ass goodbye — because nothing that the film proscribes will help him at all.
Instead of just assuming that this ridiculous premise is just the misguided attempt of our caring, compassionate rulers at saving lives of schoolchildren, I am more intrigued by the psycho-social consequences of this (godlessly) apocalyptic hysteria that was seared into a generation from a very young age.
I think it would be fascinating to see a comparable “educational” video fashioned for this generation of elementary school children. Perhaps it would be focused on terrorism, the prevailing fear of today. How do you think it would unfold? Would there be a reassuring narrative voice? What mechanisms would be employed to show “the terrorist”? Creative Project, anyone?
Hi!
If you can’t go back and categorize this, please drop by my office hours before class, and I’ll show you how! I hang out in the reading room…
This video is very disturbing to watch now. The narrator talks about the situation in a very composed voice as if this situation is nothing to scared at. Ducking and covering would make no difference in the case of a real bomb striking.