Effects of the war on Culture
The american psyche was more affected by the Cold War than possibly any other conflict in history
SCIENCE-FICTION LITERATURE & HOLLYWOOD AS PROPAGANDA
The fear of a communist invasion, combined with the space race, led to a revival of science-fiction literature. Throughout the Cold War, many movies and books were produced about invasion from space, the majority of which contained some kind of anti-communist message. This era of film making was pioneered by two movies that came out in 1950: Rocketship X-M and Destination Moon. These movies began a revival of sci-fi entertainment and books.
Many of these films were overseen by the US government to make sure they did not contain any communist sentiments. In fact, "national security agencies encouraged Hollywood to produce anticommunist movies … and urged that film scripts be changed to remove references to less-than-praiseworthy aspects of American history.” As part of McCarthyism, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) persecuted many suspected communists in Hollywood with little evidence. Although only a few people were caught, many had their careers ruined by false accusation and blacklisting.
Trailer for "Destination Moon" (1950):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdCZ32uGGOs
Many of these films were overseen by the US government to make sure they did not contain any communist sentiments. In fact, "national security agencies encouraged Hollywood to produce anticommunist movies … and urged that film scripts be changed to remove references to less-than-praiseworthy aspects of American history.” As part of McCarthyism, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) persecuted many suspected communists in Hollywood with little evidence. Although only a few people were caught, many had their careers ruined by false accusation and blacklisting.
Trailer for "Destination Moon" (1950):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdCZ32uGGOs
The Arts and the Cold War
The Cold War also led to the creation of many popular novels and childrens' stories, many of which are famous today. Even Dr. Seuss published a childrens' book mocking the Cold War and both conflicting superpowers. In his famous story, two opposing groups, the "yooks" and the "zooks," keep getting bigger and better weapons (produced by their "backroom boys") to outdo each other until two people from each side are standing on the border threatening to drop a "bitsy big-boy boomeroo" (the equivalent of a nuke) on the opposing side.
video of "The Butter Battle Book" (1989):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZi3joa8q-k
However, books were not the only form of the arts in which civilians expressed their opinions. Many songwriters, actors, play-makers, painters and other producers of the arts made work with some kind of Cold War-related message or theme. Songwriters were among the most influential, and many of the anti-war songs composed from the 1960s to the 1980s are still popular today, two of the most famous being John Fogerty's "Fortunate Son" and Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA." Both of these songs protest the United States' involvement in the Vietnam war.
Fortunate Son:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5CchLz45fw
Born in the USA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dey4Iid9tXQ
video of "The Butter Battle Book" (1989):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZi3joa8q-k
However, books were not the only form of the arts in which civilians expressed their opinions. Many songwriters, actors, play-makers, painters and other producers of the arts made work with some kind of Cold War-related message or theme. Songwriters were among the most influential, and many of the anti-war songs composed from the 1960s to the 1980s are still popular today, two of the most famous being John Fogerty's "Fortunate Son" and Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA." Both of these songs protest the United States' involvement in the Vietnam war.
Fortunate Son:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5CchLz45fw
Born in the USA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dey4Iid9tXQ