1 “The Destruction of New York City: A Recurrent Nightmare of American Cold War Cinema”

ABSTRACT. This article examines the repeated appearance of scenes showing the partial or complete destruction of New York City in American cinema of the Cold War. While this theme goes across genres, it has been particularly prevalent in science fiction films which are the focus of this study. It begins by showing the particular reasons for this morbid fascination and the history of such imagery in 19th and early 20th century literature and cinema. The paper then analyzes the changing presentations of destruction from the 1950s to the 1980s and relates them to the dominant fears and anxieties of each period. It concludes by taking a brief look at the continuation of the theme in the post-Cold War period. The destruction of New York City, in whole or in part, established itself as a frequent theme of American cinema during the Cold War, although it predates that conflict. 1 It goes across genres and has appeared in films considering political questions, the impact of technology, the effect of capitalism, the nature of power, urban living and war but is especially prevalent in science fiction. There are solid reasons for this. Science fiction, as a genre, is particularly suited to reflecting the political and social anxieties of its time especially as its main thematic focus often bears upon a grim future. Worries about current problems (as well as hopes for a better life) can be projected forward and exaggerated to show what might happen if things develop (or do not develop) in a particular way. In this manner a warning can be given or, in more optimistic times, people can ha l-