Cold War Cafe Documentary Essay
Atomic Café Questions
NOTE: This documentary combines authentic newsreels, military training films, advertisements and other footage from the early Cold War era, combined with speeches, radio broadcasts and actual music. Keep in mind that this documentary, produced late in the Cold War in 1982, was made to convey a specific political and social message. Some of the events are portrayed in such a way as to make the people of the 1950s seem foolish; thus, we can learn from this film, but we must remember that these events are taken out of context and exaggerated.
1. Think about how early atomic testing is portrayed in the film. What happened to change people’s ideas regarding the bomb? -They were shown demonstrations of what the bomb could …show more content…
Do you think efforts to prepare and protect people from the atomic bomb did more harm or good? Why?
-I think it did more good because it probably gave Americans a somewhat feeling of relief knowing that they could be protected.
4. How did the Cold War influence American domestic politics and society?
-The Cold War gave citizens a large fear of nuclear war and there was a fear of livelihood.
5. Do you think events like the Rosenburg trial, the Alger Hiss hearings, and McCarthyism were rational responses to fears of Soviet communism and the atomic bomb?
-I think that they were rational because America was scared at the time and they didn't take anything for granted.
6. To what extent was American consumption during the 1950s a reaction to fears of Soviet communist aggression?
-Americans didn't know if and when they would be bombed by the Soviet Union, so they liked to spend a lot of their money and have a good time, because they never knew if it would be their last day or not.
7. What was surprising to you in this film? Why?
-One thing that really surprised me was when the pilot that dropped the bomb on Nagasaki was asked what the most thrilling moment of his trip was, and he responded with, "when I actually dropped the
NOTE: This documentary combines authentic newsreels, military training films, advertisements and other footage from the early Cold War era, combined with speeches, radio broadcasts and actual music. Keep in mind that this documentary, produced late in the Cold War in 1982, was made to convey a specific political and social message. Some of the events are portrayed in such a way as to make the people of the 1950s seem foolish; thus, we can learn from this film, but we must remember that these events are taken out of context and exaggerated.
1. Think about how early atomic testing is portrayed in the film. What happened to change people’s ideas regarding the bomb? -They were shown demonstrations of what the bomb could …show more content…
Do you think efforts to prepare and protect people from the atomic bomb did more harm or good? Why?
-I think it did more good because it probably gave Americans a somewhat feeling of relief knowing that they could be protected.
4. How did the Cold War influence American domestic politics and society?
-The Cold War gave citizens a large fear of nuclear war and there was a fear of livelihood.
5. Do you think events like the Rosenburg trial, the Alger Hiss hearings, and McCarthyism were rational responses to fears of Soviet communism and the atomic bomb?
-I think that they were rational because America was scared at the time and they didn't take anything for granted.
6. To what extent was American consumption during the 1950s a reaction to fears of Soviet communist aggression?
-Americans didn't know if and when they would be bombed by the Soviet Union, so they liked to spend a lot of their money and have a good time, because they never knew if it would be their last day or not.
7. What was surprising to you in this film? Why?
-One thing that really surprised me was when the pilot that dropped the bomb on Nagasaki was asked what the most thrilling moment of his trip was, and he responded with, "when I actually dropped the