Cold War Impact On American Culture

The Impact of Cold War Propaganda on American Culture and Society

The Cold War, which lasted from 1946 to 1989, was a time of political tension and ideological conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. Propaganda was a crucial tool used during this era to shape public opinion and to gain support for a country’s ideologies. In the case of the Cold War, the Soviet Union used propaganda to promote communism and socialism. In the United States, propaganda was used, “to spread messages that were favorable to the United States and to prevent the spread of communism.” Many Americans were taught that their country was a unique and superior nation that represented the best of democracy, freedom, and prosperity. Anti-communist sentiment

Cold War propaganda used this idea of exceptionalism to create a positive image of America and its political and economic systems, with the aim of persuading Americans to support the government's policies by creating a sense of national pride and unity, as Americans believed that they were part of a unique and exceptional nation that could do no wrong. Another key theme propaganda was used for was to amplify public fear in order to justify military spending. During the Cold War, propaganda, “served to escalate domestic fear of imminent [nuclear] destruction,” and, “[was] presented on every applicable media source.” By presenting propaganda on all kinds of media, the government was able to reach a wide audience and utilize fear mongering in a way that reinforced the public to believe in the need for increased military spending. In the 1950s civil defense animated nuclear guidance film,

Many artists and writers produced works that reflected the dominant themes and values of the time. Hollywood films were one of the most visible forms of propaganda during the Cold War. Dan O'Meara, a political science professor at the University of Quebec, has stated that during the 1940s, “something like 90 million Americans were going to movies every week.” With this massive amount of moviegoers every week, many Americans were exposed to the propaganda messages contained in the films, which often promoted pro-war and patriotic sentiments. This exposure had a significant impact on the way Americans perceived the government's actions and beliefs, as well as on their own attitudes towards the Cold War and the role of the United States in the world. Tanner Mirrlees, an associate professor of communication and digital media studies at Ontario Tech University, stated that before the Cold War, “the burgeoning movie town [of Hollywood] had been producing frothy films made to distract and entertain,” and that, “the onset of [the Cold War] meant that it would now get into the business of persuading Americans to support the war effort.” This shift in Hollywood's role reflects the broader impact of Cold War propaganda on American society. The Cold War created a sense of national urgency and a need for