Dr. Strangelove

Dr. Strangelove is a dark comedy that portrays themes of fear of nuclear war and its consequences, the danger of leaving power in the wrong hands, and masculinity. Though the film was released in 1964, these themes are still prominent in modern times. In the film, a nuclear attack is called on the Soviet Union, which ends up creating a domino effect of further consequences that ultimately leads to world destruction. The film portrays a nuclear arms race, similar to the race to the moon, and shows a dangerous competitive spirit between countries and politics that end up hurting everyone in the end. Today, there is still a massive fear that there will be a nuclear arms "race" again, but this time with a lot more technology and following destruction. Many countries use the treat of nuclear war in international politics, specifically for the United States going into a nuclear war or becoming victim to a nuclear attack with China and North Korea in recent years. Russia has also developed a nuclear system and has threatened to use it during their current war with Ukraine. 

Another fear that is represented in the film is the fear of leaving a large decision that could impact over a million lives into the hands of just a few people. The military general who calls the attack highlights the fear of giving military personnel too much power. A lot of people don't trust the military because of lack of education/information or from hearing what other people have experienced, and therefore, feel much more uncomfortable with feeling a loss of control of their lives and survival. Authoritarianism and the concentration of power in the hands of a few is still a major political problem and a problem for society whose lives are being affected. The final theme that I'll discuss is the theme of masculinity. The film presents a comedic representation of hyper masculine political and military culture. There was only one woman in the film and she was only used as a sex symbol. While discussing what to do when world destruction occurs, the men in the war room are deciding what women to reproduce with based on their physical appearance, but choosing men off of their skills, intelligence, and social status. A good example of an extreme masculine character is General Jack D. Ripper. There is a time in the film where he basically says his masculinity was put into question and how much of a problem that was. Of course this wasn't his fault, but the fault of the Soviet Union and their plan to take our bodily fluids. He explicitly states that he has never seen a women that lives up to his standards and calls his male subordinates boys. Another example is Major T.J. "King Kong" who is the pilot of the bomber plane who is delivering the nuclear bomb and destroying the world. He rides the bomb down to its target in the end, seeming extremely enthusiastic, with a southern drawl, and stereotypical cowboy appearance. Both characters represent the fear of masculinity on the rest of society and the power that they often control. Today, in politics we can see that fear with the overturn of Roe v. Wade and the controls on abortion rights.