The Cold War involved growing tensions between east and west and also polarized films. As tensions grew between the USSR and the US, American foreign affairs appeared on the big screen in various ways. Of course, the tyrannical enemy appeared to be fought by “mean Joe”. The Cold War and its threat of nuclear Armageddon tormented the world from 1945 to 1991. Themes in films and stories originating during the Cold War resonate with the American public and are seen in Star Trek Wars and The Lord of the Rings.
Fears without a name prepare the amorphous fear of communism after the Second World War. In Stars Wars Episode IV (1977), Luke Skywalker defends against the threat of Darth Vader, who is a part of it. a partly human machine. In this first star War movie Skywalker must defend his freedom from an attack by the Imperial Knights. Skywalker and his allies Han Solo, Chewbacca and two robots join a rebellion that aims to contain the power of the Empire where it has already spread. The first US foreign policy was to deal with the threat of Communists containment, as proposed by Skywalker’s friends. Darth Vader and storm troopers represent Communism. The same clothes make individuality impossible; every storm follows the orders of a simple knight.
Vader is never given a face on who he may be, and reports to the Emperor are unknown as seen in subsequent films. Torture, bullying and indifference to human life characterize Vader, as the Soviets are known for their traditional heavy-handed tactics, especially leaders like Stalin. In Star Trek First Contact (1996), the feelings of the Cold War are returned. The Borg emerge as enemies of a federation that resembles the West. The Borg are a collective, one mind for millions of bodies. They are a synthesis of machines and organisms. In borg there are no nouns, one body singular and plural. Communism tried to mold individuals into groups, into a single spirit. Stalin’s exact term for agriculture, collective collectivization, is also often described as Borg. In The Lord of the Rings, although more recent film adaptations have been made, the plot line originated during the Cold War; Saruman is never fully described or shown. His army of orcs and uraki is one huge unit, although divided into groups, they are not individually identified.
Growing dependence on technology and arms is another argument. In Star Wars IV the Empire is trying to build a new weapon, one the Rebellion doesn’t have. The USSR and the US were in arms, each seeking the other and being the most powerful. With this Death Star, as the Empire’s deadly station is called, the Empire will be able to destroy dozens of planets. that nuclear weapons threatened to incinerate cities and towns. Storm Riders are armed with new technology, flying motorcycles in Episode VI, fighter planes and much more. Darth Vader himself is the perfect merger of human and technology. The Borg are just like Darth Vader, organic and machine-made. Technology was increasingly used to help the US fight, in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, machine guns and technology helped into the infinite
The communist obsession with technology as a tactical weapon can be seen as the villains of these films are almost indistinguishable from machines. Science and technology were vital to the American public as the space race was launched by Sputnik. The Americans put the first man on the moon and tried to maintain this advantage. Meanwhile, Star Wars listens to the glorious war by keeping the sword in battle, but these swords or light sabers should be used with swords, but really a more technical way of promoting truth. Sauron and Saraman’s forces are seen in The Lord of the Rings with great machines and iron buildings, tearing into the natural countryside. Their construction of modernized techniques and techniques shows the unfortunate innocence of Frodo and his companions. Technology after WWII was heavy and sinister. With minor exceptions in The Lord of the Rings, the technology was used to not build on more powerful technology, as the US attempted to do with foreign policy.
Even these movies can have meaning, as ordinary citizens realize that they are called to save the world. Although Captain Picard and his allies are at the headquarters of the Federation, they are not ready to keep their mission. the world suddenly appears threatened by the unknown. In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo, a hobbit and therefore similar to a human child, must lead a wild quest through the most dangerous lands in Middle Earth. Luke Skywalker is a boy who manages to make amends for a robot’s wrong in some way, and therefore gets mixed up in certain galactic battles and finds his destiny and true heritage. This time, the American wanted to feel that they could defeat these dubious enemies, almost forever hovering in favor of total war. This situation of impotence, just waiting to drop the first nuclear bomb, made people want to rule and be strong. Even though Lord of the Rings was written in Great Britain, it can be extended to the US by the offshoots of the Cold War and the effect that it had on the American people as well as on history.Just as Aragorn calls people to unite against their neighbor, who is literally separated by the iron curtain, Tolkein called on the people of the West to unite more than just British citizens.
The Cold War was not just a foreign policy, but a public mind. The American people feared Soviet superiority, nuclear war, and the end of known life. These themes were reflected in popular films, showing that Westerners or Western groups could identify with their enemies who had symbols of communism or the Soviet Union. The Cold War period of movies that led to the West advancing and overcoming the Soviets, even when they were less profitable, created a series of movies that attempted to both power and shock the American public and were relevant to the growing mind. put up for war.
