By Anne Alessandra Cuadros Gutiérrez*
Last August marked the 78th anniversary of the devastating U.S. bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 214,000 people. These events have left an indelible mark on history, but unfortunately still can be trivialized in pop culture. By following a few simple guidelines, filmmakers, studio promotions and fans alike can be respectful of the seriousness of nuclear weapons without compromising the fun and creative freedoms inherent to cultural spaces.
That respect did not always happen this summer. Just five days after the 78th anniversary of the first nuclear weapons test and two weeks before the anniversary of the first nuclear weapons use, two highly anticipated movies hit theaters: “Barbie”, a comedy based on the famous Mattel doll, and “Oppenheimer”, a biopic of the scientist known as the “Father of the Atomic Bomb.” Despite having different plots, both films became linked together in promotions and culture because of their shared release date, with many moviegoers using the hashtag #Barbenheimer to showcase watching both films in one day, often in costume. However, the unofficial promotion of these films often included inappropriate images and comments, such as the image of the main actors, Cillian Murphy and Margot Robbie, wrapped in apocalyptic flames. This rightfully generated controversy and unease, especially among the descendants of the victims of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.
This type of insensitivity related to nuclear issues is not new. After the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, similar cases arose, such as the “Burbank” brothel in Los Angeles, which promoted its entertainment offering as “The Atom Bomb Dancers.” In 1999, the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History offered “Hiroshima earrings“ in the shape of nuclear bombs. And in 2019, the Manhattan Project Beer Company launched “Bikini Atoll beer,” alluding to the nuclear testing that made some areas of the Marshall Islands uninhabitable, telling critics who accused it of insensitivity that the company sought to raise awareness about nuclear weapons in the United States.
This should not lead us to generalize and conclude that the role of pop culture when it comes to nuclear awareness is always or must be negative. On the contrary, as long as common sense prevails, pop culture can play a positive role in shining light on sensitive issues like nuclear weapons and the risks and consequences of their use. To do that, those interested in working on this topic in the future need to emphasize the following reservations in their work:
- Balance: The approach to sensitive topics should be measured, not simply labeled taboo. Any topic can be approached in a respectful manner, even when it involves nuclear issues.
- Awareness: We must be aware that the potential of a renewed nuclear arms race rightfully generates anxiety and not glamorize or suggest usefulness for nuclear weapons.
- Expertise: If we want to raise awareness, enlist experts and involve organizations actively. There should be a global standard of dissemination collaboratively crafted by experts, organizations, and international entities to be made available to filmmakers, ensuring responsible content creation and a consistent, credible message. By consulting with recognized experts, filmmakers and other creators can promote accurate depictions of sensitive issues, fostering a more informed public discourse.
Properly done, pop culture can inform the public on important issues, but it will be important that entertainment not drive policy. Some examples of this principle applied correctly can be replicated:
- Documentaries and educational films: Instead of using sensationalism as a marketing strategy, documentaries and educational films can accurately and movingly explain the history of nuclear weapons and their devastating effects and highlight the importance of nuclear disarmament. A clear example is “Barefoot Gen,” a film directed by Mori Masaki aimed at children, in which the catastrophic consequences of the use of nuclear weapons in Hiroshima are shown through the eyes of a child.
- Arms control and non-proliferation organizations: Organizations dedicated to nuclear disarmament can collaborate with the entertainment industry to provide resources, accurate information and access to experts in the field. They can work together on awareness and fundraising campaigns, including by showing testimonies from the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings around the world.
- Social media and viral campaigns: Social media is a powerful tool for spreading messages and raising awareness. Viral campaigns using memes, short videos or challenges can be an effective way to reach a young audience and generate conversation about the dangers of nuclear weapons. One of the most used is the #Cranesforourfuture campaign every August 6–9, through which people including celebrities share images of origami cranes as a tribute to the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
- Media consumers: Viewers and media consumers also have an important task as they can support and promote content that deals responsibly with the issue, while criticizing and boycotting insensitive or irresponsible productions so that these tactics are not replicated.
Popular culture should avoid approaching nuclear issues in an idealistic and simplistic manner, presenting the elimination of nuclear weapons as a simple objective to be achieved. It is therefore essential to acknowledge the challenges inherent in disarmament and take a realistic approach to this difficult issue.
- Highlighting current risks: If we want to talk about nuclear disarmament and a world free of nuclear weapons, it is essential to be realistic about current nuclear risks, such as the possibility of nuclear conflict, threats to use nuclear weapons or theft of nuclear material.
- References to history: It is important to mention historical examples of critical flashpoints in which disarmament and nuclear non- proliferation were key issues and how non-proliferation efforts mitigated concerns of nuclear war, such as the Cold War and arms control treaties.
It is essential to remember that addressing this issue is not the sole responsibility of any one entity. Everyone has a role to play, including the entertainment industry. The responsibility to use pop culture appropriately does not fall solely on producers; the general public also has an obligation to be critical and participate in the debate about how these issues are addressed. We are all responsible for taking the difficult steps that will minimize the dangers of nuclear weapons.
*Editor’s note: Writing for the Center’s new Next Up in Arms Control series, Anne Alessandra Cuadros Gutiérrez is an experienced lawyer specializing in international and humanitarian law. She is a current intern at the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism at the Organization for American States (OAS) and is highlighted as one of the UN’s Youth Champions for Disarmament in 2024.
