Aliens, Monsters, & Area 51

The “Other”Space and nuclear radiation

1

2

Sputnik, October 1957

Van Allen Belt, 1958

3

Ray BradburyThe Martian Chronicles

4

The Day the Earth Stood Still1951

5

The “Atomic Psychosis”

The fascination with space and aliens brought on by the bomb

6

Today’s topics:

• Some general historical themes• Central event in 1947: The Roswell Incident• Area 51 of the Nevada Test Site• What does the UFO phenomenon mean?• “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1956)• Events of 1960s• “Night of the Living Dead” (1968)• Historical consequences

7

General historical themes

•Radiation and the “other”•Immigrant culture (“aliens”)•Us vs. them•Challenges to configuration of power

8

July 1947: The Roswell Incident

9

Area 51

Nevada Test Site

10

Nevada Test Site

11

Area 51 “No trespassing”

12

What does the UFO phenomenon mean?

13

“Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1956)

14

Events of the 1960s

1. Limited Test Ban Treaty 1963

15

Events of the 1960s, 2. 1968

16

“Night of the Living Dead” (1968)

17

Aliens: Historical conclusions

• Fear vs. hope• Vocabulary to talk about social fears• Changes: 1970s-1980s• Significance:– Cultural criticism and public protest– Government response: SDI

18

Atomic Age in space still in the future

Canvas on which the hopes and fears of nuclear power has been expressed, but

filtered through ‘45-’63, ‘63-’79, and ’79-’89.

19