MovieChat Forums > The Atomic Cafe (1982) Discussion > Movie is PROPAGANDA about propaganda

Movie is PROPAGANDA about propaganda

posted 18 years ago by jbhop23
7 replies | jump to latest

This movie thoroughly twists the fear of nuclear holocaust during the cold war by taking US propaganda clips out of context, adding jingoist music, and overall delegitamizes the serious threat of destruction during that time period. We had just created the nuclear weapon and were still learning about it, back then hiding under your desk was a way to cope emotionally and make people feel better about this serious threat. Of course it looks silly now, but you have to view things in the context of the time period. The film dangerously depicts the Rosenbergs as victims when they in fact were Soviet Spies handing over atomic secrets to the greatest threat to the american people. If anyone was a victim it was the American people that were now in danger of losing their lives. We've learned that the Rosenberg's were in fact guilty and served the right penalty with the release of the Venona Files. We also know that there were several times in history in which the Soviet Union was within a twist of a key and a push of a button from blowing the hell out of us. By reductio ad absurdum of the Cold War, this films hand picked US propaganda has been blatantly subverted into a demagoguery of liberal propaganda.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] adamaisacylon555 17 years ago

Get F U C K E D!

[–] namhoram 17 years ago

First off, the Verona Files were compiled from Soviet Intelligence memos back and forth. The soviets ALWAYS used code names when talking about their spies; real names were only used when talked about as targets or something outside the spying, etc, alternatively were being used as disinformation in the case of interception. IMO, chances are Julius was a spy, but the evidence against ethel wasn't really as strong, perhaps she knew about what was going on but probably wasn't actively involved. The government primarily tried to get her to testify against julius, not the other way around; she didn't tell on her husband, she died with him.

Anyway, Atomic Cafe doesn't really depict the rosenbergs as victims, doesn't say ANYTHING about them being innocent, says not a word in their defense. Did you even watch the movie. The inclusion of that clip was more about providing context in terms of the government struggling to keep nuclear secrets, the country's reaction to communism, etc.

In terms of coping w/ the nuclear bomb...remember that dude from, I think, Columbia who talked about nuclear shelters etc? Generally, making people feel falsely safe about the nuclear bomb made them more comfortable with it; much like missile defense systems, the problem with such technologies (either the perception or the actuality of having them) threatened to thaw the cold war and start a nuclear one.

In terms of russia being "close to pushing the button" the same goes for the US. Ever heard of Stanislav Petrov? He's a russian, and probably was the only person who decided, in the face of destruction from nukes (computer error said they were incoming), decided not to counter.

Well, this is an old topic, but since I've just noticed that now I'll just post my response now :)

[–] thepooles-1 11 years ago

I plan to see the film this week on DVD from the library. I'm curious if it includes the Cuban Missile Crisis. Americans were told to admire Kennedy for standing up to the Ruskies and now the USA is trying to "clean up" the Vietnam War and make it very uplifting.

About seven years ago I looked at some civil defense sheets which could have been real with sardonic captions dealing with what to do during a nuclear exchange. Damn, I haven't been able to find them again. Everyone who saw them still quotes a few of them for comic effect but none of us can figure out where they are and where they came from. John Poole wyncoteacademy.org

[–] fast_fierce_and_funny 16 years ago

By reductio ad absurdum of the Cold War, this films hand picked US propaganda has been blatantly subverted into a demagoguery of liberal propaganda.

"Liberal propaganda," indeed. I'm hardly a liberal, but that doesn't handicap me when it comes to spotting lies and attempts at deception. And seeing as how our government has had 200+ years in which to perfect the Art of the Lie, they're quite good at it, and do their best to stay in practice.

Someone pointed out that the only difference between American and Soviet propoganda is that the Russians were never expected to believe theirs.

And if you think that your government is any less likely to lie to you than any other government you'd care to name, well, all I can say is that you're in for some unpleasant surprises. Lies are pretty much the stock-in-trade for all governments: if you took away their ability to lie to their people, you would, more than likely, put them out of business.

[–] Ohiowatha 16 years ago

...how brave.

[–] TheEmulator23 15 years ago

It's since been proven all over again that the Rosenberg's were guilty. Just like they used Tokyo Rose (there were up to 4 of them that we know of) the Rosenberg's were the scapegoats because they sure as hell weren't the only people involved. It was also the beginning of the Red Hysteria.