Browsing photos from a 1947 naval expedition into Antarctica by the United States led me to reflect on scientific advancements of the era as well as the nation’s political climate from that year. After some cursory readings, two primary developments from that year jumped out at me as particularly interesting. The first is the formation of the “Doomsday Clock” by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, measuring the global threat posed by various technologies and crises along an abstract scale, depicted as hands on a clock moving towards midnight. Fittingly, this year’s Doomsday Clock announcement is quickly approaching, with the 2025 announcement scheduled for January 28. The second development contextualizing my image/audio combination is the signing of the Truman Doctrine in March of the same year, effectively beginning the Cold War following the end of World War II. Asserting the United States’ opposition to the rise of Communism in Eastern Europe, this address contributed immensely to military buildup and technological advancement in the mid twentieth century. The global push to explore the cosmos sped up rapidly, as did the proliferation of nuclear weapons domestically and abroad.
The image speaks to a nationalistic earnestness to push the boundaries of human exploration, to expand American culture and solidify its interests abroad. There is an uncanny jubilance to the young men’s motion, made eerie by the context of an uncharted frontier and the presence of an immense military vessel dominating the background. The sound, taken from a wind-up clock, nods to the creation and symbolic “winding up” of the aforementioned Doomsday Clock at the start of the Cold War. The sound creates a feeling of unease, of expectation, as the young men from the image, seemingly unaware of the gravity of their situation, both physically and historically, are suspended in perpetual play. Reading further still into the juxtaposition of the sound with image, there is a suggested dark humor, a double-entendre suggesting play amidst nuclear winter. The image is free of distinguishable flora or fauna, instead consisting of three simple elements: man, machine, snow. Perhaps the combination of image and audio could be read as speculative fiction- a glimpse into life in the post-apocalypse, of peace amidst armageddon.
“Playtime in Nuclear Winter” by Craig Moore is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Hi Craig,
Your image makes me feel surreal; it’s hard to believe this event took place less than 100 years ago. I don’t know much about the U.S. expedition and mission in Antarctica, but it sounds interesting. The image of the men playing in the snow is full of innocence and joy. It seems to be a carefree moment, but the Navy icebreaker in the background fills the scene with ominous intentions, almost as if there is more going on than meets the eye. The audio you pair with your image fills me with anxiety. I feel like something is about to go off or happen at any moment when listening to that audio. I feel sad when paring the audio with the image that something tragic is about to happen, yet the men playing are completely unaware as they play in the snow. It is as if there is a countdown to an impending threat such as nuclear war. Other audio clips like nuclear warnings or snowy weather could evoke different feelings and pair well with your image. However, I prefer your paring as it makes the image more ominous and dark. Nice job!
Hello Craig! The image you chose is so fun and relevant after the snow day we just had. I can almost feel how playful and carefree the group is. The audio on its own is ominous and anxiety inducing for me. I was unsure what I was even listening to until I looked at the title of the audio. The audio and image coupled together makes me reflective of how fleeting the passage of time is. It’s strange to think about how the image is a moment frozen in time, while time has continued to progress and alter all of the things captured in the image. I liked how you mentioned it is a play on the ‘doomsday clock’, that is very clever. Great job!
I love your take on using a time clock for this imagery. When I played the sound I heard a the gun machine turning. And as I continued looking at the image I felt like I was pulled back in time. Well done.