Summary: How Giant Ants Taught Me About Nuclear Warfare
Alaja Frahm
Eng 1A
Mr. Carlander
12 May 2013
How Giant Ants Taught Me About Nuclear Warfare As a kid, sitting on the couch with my dad watching cheesy 1950s Sci-fi horror flicks, it never occurred to me that these movies could actually hold importance beyond their entertainment value. At a glance, it’s all just a bunch of bad acting and cheap tricks (compared to todays standards); however, behind all the stage make-up and “spooky” fiction creatures there is often an important message, i.e. social commentary. Many writers and directors use film as a way to entertain the masses while bringing their attention to important events (usually controversial matters) happening in our world, and what better way than to use giant radioactive bugs! …show more content…
Never before would I have guessed that a giant mutated ant could be symbolic of a much bigger issue, such as the atomic age and nuclear warfare. Certainly, this goes to show that one cannot simply accept all things at face value as there is, more often than not, some message lurking beyond the surface waiting for the attentive viewer to catch it in the webs of their mind.
Works Cited
Broad, William J. "Some Atomic Tests being Kept Secret by Administration." New York Times: A.1. Jan 29 1984. ProQuest. Web. 6 May 2013.
Carrier, Jim. Denver Post, Staff Writer. "Atomic Legacy Fallout Downwinders." Denver Post (pre-1997 Fulltext): 0. May 18 1995. ProQuest. Web. 6 May 2013.
Fallout - 1950s Atomic Weapons and Hydrogen Bomb Safety Education Documentary. Prod. United States Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization. YouTube. YouTube, 04 June 2012. Web. 04 May 2013.
Glazer, Sarah. "Future of Feminism." CQ Researcher 14 Apr. 2006: 313-36. Web. 14 May 2013.
Honeybone, Nigel. "Film Review: Them! (1954)." HorrorNewsnet. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 May 2013
Them! Dir. Gordon Douglas. Perf. James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, and Joan Weldon. Warner Bros. Pictures Inc., 1954.
Eng 1A
Mr. Carlander
12 May 2013
How Giant Ants Taught Me About Nuclear Warfare As a kid, sitting on the couch with my dad watching cheesy 1950s Sci-fi horror flicks, it never occurred to me that these movies could actually hold importance beyond their entertainment value. At a glance, it’s all just a bunch of bad acting and cheap tricks (compared to todays standards); however, behind all the stage make-up and “spooky” fiction creatures there is often an important message, i.e. social commentary. Many writers and directors use film as a way to entertain the masses while bringing their attention to important events (usually controversial matters) happening in our world, and what better way than to use giant radioactive bugs! …show more content…
Never before would I have guessed that a giant mutated ant could be symbolic of a much bigger issue, such as the atomic age and nuclear warfare. Certainly, this goes to show that one cannot simply accept all things at face value as there is, more often than not, some message lurking beyond the surface waiting for the attentive viewer to catch it in the webs of their mind.
Works Cited
Broad, William J. "Some Atomic Tests being Kept Secret by Administration." New York Times: A.1. Jan 29 1984. ProQuest. Web. 6 May 2013.
Carrier, Jim. Denver Post, Staff Writer. "Atomic Legacy Fallout Downwinders." Denver Post (pre-1997 Fulltext): 0. May 18 1995. ProQuest. Web. 6 May 2013.
Fallout - 1950s Atomic Weapons and Hydrogen Bomb Safety Education Documentary. Prod. United States Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization. YouTube. YouTube, 04 June 2012. Web. 04 May 2013.
Glazer, Sarah. "Future of Feminism." CQ Researcher 14 Apr. 2006: 313-36. Web. 14 May 2013.
Honeybone, Nigel. "Film Review: Them! (1954)." HorrorNewsnet. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 May 2013
Them! Dir. Gordon Douglas. Perf. James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, and Joan Weldon. Warner Bros. Pictures Inc., 1954.