Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, Essay Example

Directed by S. Kubrick and released in 1962, the film Dr. Strangelove or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb portrays some of the most conventional issues that the American army had to deal with during the war years. Having fierce enemies that are strongly aiming to make considerable changes to the human living and further cause them to thrive in oppression in consideration with the domination of the Soviet Union within the American society. In the discussion that follows, five particular questions shall be addressed regarding the film. These questions are as follows:

• What is the film’s attitude toward American society as depicted in the film? What is its attitude toward history, work, and political engagement?

Standing in a defensive position, the American society is presented in the film to be at the verge of being captivated by the Soviet Union dominators. Nonetheless, the effects of the operation that the military force intended to follow through provided them the chance to gain victory against their enemies. Presenting themselves in full defense and adhering to specific measures of military strategy, the American troupe hoped so much to keep their control intact.  However, particular mischief operations that happened along the way placed their position in jeopardy as one member of the force serves as a spy for the Soviet Union party.

• Is change portrayed as necessary, desirable or possible? Who or what has to be transformed?

A change in attack approach was necessary since it would mean the victory of the American force against the Soviet Union military men. With limitations that the American troupe against its counterpart, it was hard for the army of US to make aggressive attacks, hence, they intended to utilize effective strategy which they assume would cause them to reassure their position towards victory.

• Who is powerful and who is powerless? Do power relations change in the course of the movie?

At some point, Soviet Union was presented to be the stronger party as they had the intelligence support they needed, they had the loyalty of an American spy, a more advanced technology in warfare and a more specific path to define their course with. However, at the turn of events, the changing perception of the American troupe with war and bombs as well as military strategies has created a great impact on the turn of events.

• Is conflict generalized/universalized, or is it depicted as culturally specific? Is the conflict portrayed as unresolved in the film? Is it unresolved today?

The conflict was rather political which required sacrifice. In the ending of the film, it could be assumed that it was the sacrifice of those who will die that saved the future American society. With a ratio of ten to one female to male, the ones who were saved through an underground pathway were expected to repopulate the United States.

• Who is the ideal audience for this film? Do you see your own views expressed in the film? Did the film encourage you to see something in a different light?

Personally, I do think that the film intended to portray the idea that war will always have its casualties. The only difference is if these causalities’ lives were actually lost for a reason in support of a particular cause that defines their worth for the coming generation of individuals at the end of the war years. In terms of my personal views being presented in the film, I do guess that sacrifice was needed to make the US society start anew.

Reference

Challenges to Conventional Patriotism: the 1960’s and ‘70’s.

Kubrick. Dr. Strangelove or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), Reading: Ross, Ch. 8; May, Ch. 6 & Appendices; Projecting Politics, Ch. 8