Atomic Disaster?

In 1942, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt started the Manhattan Project under the Army Corps. of Engineers with Robert Oppenheimer as the leading physicist. The Manhattan Project, lasting from 1942 to 1946, was the program in the United States to develop nuclear weapons: specifically, the atomic bomb. Then, on August 6 and 9 of 1945, the US bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs devastating the cities.

Some see the bombings as a necessary end to World War II on the Asian Front. However, others saw the bomb for what it really was and not a necessity. The scientists wrote a letter explaining the known impacts of the bomb; mainly the radiation poisoning. However, the scientists also say that they do not know all of the effects such as on the environment and what role it plays after the bomb is detonated. Dr. Szilard was one of the scientists that discovered neutron emissions from uranium and, according to Einstein, "He was greatly disturbed by the potentialities involved" in using uranium for national defense. Oppenheimer quoted "I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." Instead, the scientists were pondering the idea of nuclear power instead because they did not believe it should be used in warfare and would be more beneficial providing power to the US. In a memorandum to the President: "[We] completed the most terrible weapon ever known in human history...the world...would be eventually at the mercy of such a weapon...modern civilization might be completely destroyed."

Some citizens of the United States signed and send a petition to the president against dropping the bomb because they were concerned that "There is no limit to the destructive power which will become available in the course of their future development" and our "nation which sets the precedent of using these newly liberated forces of nature for purposes of destruction may have to bear the responsibility of opening the door to an era of devastation on an unimaginable scale." The US would be responsible for every life that ended by those bombs and anyone that falls to nuclear weapons. Was the atomic bomb the right answer?

Finally, in a draft statement dated for July 30, 1945, the author wrote: "It is an atomic bomb. It is a harnessing of the basic power of the universe. The force from which the sun draws its power has been loosed." The power of the universe. Enough said.

Time and Anxiety

The "Age of Anxiety" following World War One was a time of fear, questions and new ideas. The tragic war had shocked the world and devastated an entire generation. People began to question everything they thought had been solid and definite. Society was on edge and constantly looking over its shoulder for another devastating blow. They were not wrong to do so because after the roaring twenties the Great Depression devastated society once again.

Eight years ago, a similar social shock occurred in the United States. September 11, 2001, sent the US into a similar period of anxiety. Citizens of the US had been living in a false sense of security for at least a decade because there were no serious threats or attacks. Immediately following the chain of attacks that morning, the country was stricken and questioning. We questioned national security, foreign threats, home threats and most of our society's views changed. From security, race and foreign and home affairs to an overall feeling of insecurity and worry about traveling for vacations, going to work and even sending children to school. New ideas about security and protection emerged as the ideas did after WWI. The US also looked over its shoulder for the next blow which would come economically as well. Now, the US finds itself in an economic recession and possibly a crisis that is beginning to be felt around the world. Although 9/11 in most respects was not as devastating as WWI, both created an "Age of Anxiety" in their aftermath.

Marcel Duchamp's "In Advance of the Broken Arm"

Marcel Duchamp, a French artist, is one of the most famous Dadaists and surrealists of the movement. Dadaism is one of the many new forms that appeared after World War One. Rejecting conventions, artists of the style used off-the-wall techniques to get society's attention. The movement was anti-rational and the name is a vital part of its meaning. The name sounds like nonsense and jumbled and is an accurate portrayal of the style. Dadaists among most of the new styles were anti-war as well. They did not approve of the nationalism and other causes that bought about the war. Dadaists used their art to convey their anti-war messages in a way that was supposed to catch peoples' attention and make them think.

In Duchamp's "In Advance of the Broken Arm," his views of the war are clear. At first glance, it appears to be just a shovel. But, a longer look reveals more. When a burial was conducted, a rare occurrence during the war, a shovel is used to dig the grave of the fallen soldier. So many people died during the war that if every one was buried properly one would break his arm burying them all. Therefore, the shovel used to dig the graves preceeds the broken arm as the title states. The plain, blank background complements the focal point but does not take away from it. The shovel is the only focal point of the painting so Duchamp did not want the background to distract from the point he was trying to make with the shovel.

Duchamp was one of the most prominent artists of the time. Using his influence, he created new ways of looking at objects in a form called Dadaism to awaken the world to the horrors of the war and the time that followed.

Falling Water

Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most influential and greatest architects in history. His home life was anything but stable as was his career. His early career was successful but not defining. Next, he went through a period of depression and his career greatly suffered because it became hard for him to find work. Finally, Edgar Kaufmann asked Wright to design a weekend house in Bear Run, PA over the waterfall of Bear Run. The family had a favorite picnic spot which became the focal point of the home. Falling Water turned Wright's career around and put him in the spotlight and the best period of his career picked up until his death.

Falling Water was the first success of the new style of architecture created by Frank Lloyd Wright himself; often called Naturalism. He sought to unify architecture and its structures with nature surrounding it and not destroy nature in order to create a structure. Perhaps as a result of the time, he valued preservation and strove to preserve as much as possible. However, he also strove to preserve the feel and style of the area he was working in. He was aware of and not want to take away or damage the mood of a site with his structures. Instead, he wanted to incorporate them and make them part of the site and compliment the area and not take away from it or alter it. His drive for preservation fit in with the time of disillusionment and awareness of the time between wars.

Falling Water is constructed as a fortress and a family oriented home. It represents a fortress because it is secluded and built among the cliffs. Also, it is built out of stone and the entrances are hidden. The cantilevered balconies overlaying each other give the feeling of impenetrability. However, inside the home has been completely designed around the family. The focal point of the living room is a large stone near the hearth. Falling Water is built around this stone; where the Kaufmann family had their picnics with their grandfather who had previously passed away. The ceilings are low and effectively use "the romance of the horizontal." This means that homes built horizontally instead of vertically tend to be more homely, personal and romantic.

Falling Water was designed with awareness of its surroundings and the family that would be living within it. Wright's awareness and new naturalistic style evident in Falling Water was characteristic of the age and continues to marvel us today.

Water Lily Pond: Claude Monet

Claude Monet was one of the most prominent Impressionist painters. Impressionism surfaced in the late nineteenth century after World War One and during the period known as the "Age of Anxiety." Impressionism was a sort of rebellious form because Impressionists were discontent with regular teaching. Impressionists strove to show things realistically and as they really were. They painted things in their correct colors and used small brush strokes to show reflected light. They used traditional and realistic colors and their compositions were more casual than traditional art.

Monet's Water Lily Pond is one of his most famous paintings. It is a good example of Impressionism because it looks like a realistic scene and showcases the techniques and philosophy of the Impressionists. For example, between the water lilies in the pond you can see the reflection of the trees above in a realistic reflection. The lighting and shadows play over the bridge that stretches over the pond. After the war, people saw things as they were because they were disillusioned by the horrors of the war. An entire generation was lost to the war because of deaths, shell-shock and numerous other fates. Even though this painting by Monet is not typical of art during the war it still shows society's opened eyes and awareness of the world around them.

A Changed Society

After World War One, society was shaken to the core. The period following WWI is known as the "Age of Anxiety" because of the disillusionment and the abandonment of previously ruling thoughts of the Enlightenment and nineteenth century revolutions. Many new ideas surfaced; some were frightening. The effects of WWI reverberated through society.

In philosophy, Friedrich Nietzsche developed Existentialism. He looked at the human condition and their existence in a meaningless world. His idea that "God is dead" led to Nihilism, or the rejection of the material world for Utopian thinking. Also, Ludwig Wittgenstein developed logical empiricism which is based on experiences and inductive reasoning. Although these philosophies still believed in progress and reason, they were radical and somewhat disturbing ideas that arose from the ashes of war. People began to question ideas that had been in place for centuries as a psychological result of the war.

Then, psychoanalysis through literature and music developed. Sigmund Freud studied hysteria cases, developed theories on instincts, unconsciousness and the structure of the mind and then developed psychoanalysis. He put patients under hypnosis to recall emotions and such from the unconscious mind and cure mental disorders. In literature, the stream-of-consciousness technique uses internal monologues to explore the human psyche. Virginia Woolf, William Faulkner and James Joyce were the most prominent authors of the technique. In music, the feelings of the time were expressed in different styles and different themes such as a musical study of madness. Famous composers such as Igor Stravinsky and Arnold Schoenberg represented opposite ends of musical styles. Psychoanalysis became a big part of society because of the traumatic effects of the war.

All aspects of society were dramatically impacted by the war. The rise of new and disturbing ideas came out of the questioning of what was the foundation of society. The roots of society had been uprooted and destroyed and society had been changed forever.

Tensions, Alliances, and War

Prior to World War One, Otto von Bismarck devised a series of alliances in an attempt to keep peace. These alliances drew more and more countries into the war until it was a full-scale war. The effects were devastating. Also, tensions with Germany prior to the war were not addressed and left to boil over. Even if Franz Ferdinand had not been assassinated Germany would still have launched its attack.

This past summer, Russia invaded the small country of Georgia. Tensions in Georgia, especially over joining NATO, aggravated Russia who did not want Georgia to join NATO. Also, Georgia wished to escape Russian aggression by itself after being rejected by NATO. Both sides armed themselves and Georgia being a strong ally of the United States drew us into the argument. Tensions ran similar to the Cold War and could have erupted into another war of superpowers.

This lesson from WWI has the potential to avoid some world conflicts and possibly some wars. Tensions should be dealt with before they go to the brink and turn into conflicts and wars. It also reinforces George Washington's farewell speech warning against entangling alliances.