Philip Tankovich - Entry 4 (Masco)

     The Nuclear Borderlands, written by Masco, is an attempt to analyze and find the current position of the Atomic Bomb in its relation to society. It is without doubt that the Atomic Bomb has directly influenced the current social atmosphere of the world, nevertheless the manner in which this happened / is happening is complex. First and foremost, Masco claims that the bomb not only has changed the world in terms of technological advancement such as energy production and most infamously warfare, but has also found a place in the collective consciousness of the Post Cold War generation.

As society enters a world that has the capacity to destroy itself, certain notions arise within the heart of society - primarily the notion of the fragility of current affairs and the creation for a post- apocalyptic world with just a push of a button. Not only does the US have the arms to destroy the world once, but three times! Notice how you feel when you read that fact, knowing we can obliterate the world with a button not only once, but multiple times - this feeling is what the bomb has instilled above all in the heart of society - fear. This fear is the vehicle of the social aspect of the bomb, which takes on a fatal seriousness in relation to its ability to destroy society. Regardless of whether the greater part of society is indifferent to such and such war, such and such political instability - everyone is affected by the bomb. From those obliterated in the first blast, to those melting from the heat wave that follows, or developing cancer thousands of miles away thanks to the carcinogenic chemicals - everyone in society is affected.

The fear and paranoia that follows from such realities of the world is what Freud would call Neurosis. Neurosis is the diagnosis of an individual as feeling oppressed and bound to society to the point that his individuality is being withdrawn. Simply put, the Superego is overpowering both the ego and the id. The individual, under the whims of the superego and society, loses the ability to live normally because society and its leaders  have more control over the life of the individual than he has over his own life. This symptom of society was developed far before the invention of the Bomb in the time of Freud, but it's effects have only multiplied as society is more and more under the whims of Big Brother and his Bomb. 

The Nuclear Bomb has changed society radically since its invention in the terms of individual and societal consciousness. Not only has it instilled fear and neurosis within the individual but it has made society is puppet, following the shockwaves of its explosions. Although it was originally developed for "national security" the Bomb has quickly become a threat to the world. As each country arms itself for its own national security,  each country simultaneously puts the world at a greater risk.  The Bomb is, without doubt, the greatest paradox of our time, providing not only neurosis and fear in the place of freedom and peace, but also providing the ability to end the world where nuclear energy should in fact be used to power the world.

Regardless of all the negative effects of the Bomb, it is the hidden giant of society, it is Big Brother - out of sight but omnipresent - and it will continue to rule and determine the fare of society, mankind, and the world.