The Imagination of Disaster in 1950s Science Fiction Movies and American Fears

According to Susan Sontag's 1965 essay, the imagination of disaster in science-fiction movies of the 1950s gave expression to America's fears of the hydrogen bomb and ________.

a) Nuclear power
b) Alien invasion
c) Communism
d) Climate change

Final answer:

Susan Sontag's 1965 essay posited that science fiction movies of the 1950s expressed American fears of the hydrogen bomb and c) communism, which were heightened by Cold War tensions and the doctrine of mutually assured destruction.

Explanation:

According to Susan Sontag's 1965 essay, the imagination of disaster in science fiction movies of the 1950s gave expression to America's fears of the hydrogen bomb and communism.

The era depicted in these movies reflected the anxieties of the time, particularly regarding the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. Propaganda such as the comic book 'Is This Tomorrow?' served to intensify fears by presenting graphic depictions of communist invasions. The potential horrors of living under a Communist dictatorship and the threats posed by nuclear warfare were prevalent themes in the media of the time.

The backdrop of mutually assured destruction (MAD) during the Cold War era, and the constant threat of nuclear proliferation, such as the concerns over rogue countries developing nuclear weapons, were significant societal and political issues influencing the genre of science fiction.

What were the main fears expressed in 1950s science fiction movies according to Susan Sontag's 1965 essay?

The main fears expressed in 1950s science fiction movies, according to Susan Sontag's 1965 essay, were centered around the hydrogen bomb and communism, reflecting the anxieties of the Cold War era.