Dr. Strangelove and the American way of life?

Question

In politics we are analysing the film, Dr. Strangelove.. one of the questions was "Describe the American way of life as depicted in the film"

however, i feel that the film doesn't really depict their way of life at all.. it portrays the political tensions quite clearly, but nothing further than what it was like to be in the war-room during a crisis

what do you think?

Answer 1

Cheat, go to teachwithmovies.org pay $12 and you will know what your teacher is getting at for the next year.

Answer 2

There are details you can point to.  The crew of the leper colony spends a lot of time playing cards and reading playboy.  The inside of the safe containing the various secret nuclear war orders is plastered with pinups. Major Kong's speeches tell you a lot about him as a person, beyond his role as an air force officer, and about American society in general, given the kind of rhetoric he employs to motivate his crew for nuclear war, for example.  General Turgidson's relationship with his secretary says a lot.  And other things.

There's no direct depiction of the "American way of life," but a lot of fairly ordinary military people are shown.  Their ways of acting and speaking can be considered reflections of that "way."  You could say as much about the words and actions of the president too, really.  And of the Russian ambassador with regards to Russia (and his boss).

Generally Americans are depicted as fairly coarse and materialistic, with a veneer of pious religiosity laid on at times.  The Russians come off pretty much the same way, with the veneer rather consisting of lip service to the ideals of communism of course.  All being more than a bit out of their depths where nuclear war is concerned.  

Answer 3

Well actually, in some ways it does! You may have observed in the film, the 'polispin' that went on, this is the sort of thing that is put to your now, largely, unquestioning media, and thus, onto the people! It seems to the rest of the world, that you can no longer even question your Government, without giving notice of the question!..When we see your Presidential press conferences, its so obvious that most of the questions asked are 'plants' that we dont understand why most of you cant see it!..There are certainly no 'fights in the war room' here! No other leader in the western world would get away with what your President gets away with at these 'press conferences'! So, perhaps there is a touch of Dr. Strangelove going on here, and you cant see it, because your not allowed too!

Answer 4

I tend to agree with you.  Dr. Strangelove is one of my favorites but it doesn't depict the current American way of life.  It depicts the cold war, it pokes fun at the military and it portrays world leaders and their chief advisers as fairly flawed people.  The film deals with either the military or the government and rarely even acknowledges the American way of life. With few exceptions countries and governments are not the same thing. If you must use the movie as a meter stick of America then you could say that in the cold war we were deeply suspicious and anti communist but the real message of the movie is that governments have much more in common with one another then their people know and are the real threat.  The regular citizens in Dr. Starangelove were clueless as too the risk and dangers their governments put them into and the leaders were united in the end, determined to survive and prosper regardless of the fates of people they led.  

Answer 5

Well,if you replaced the word American with bloodline llluminait it would be an easy one to answer.For every nation has been pawns in the Globalist's aim for world domination for 232 years.And at times their MO is teasingly spilled out in films and print media.What isn't shown in that film are the real  mover's and shaker's.It is a parody of nonsensical politics and war.But it isn't clownish in the real world.The insanity is actually brilliantly planned down to the minutest detail.