Figure 58: Life Magazine article, January 4, 1954.
1 media/FN10_thumb.png 2019-10-30T06:25:42+00:00 Gina Plumey c7bdb6b48ecbb34364302aeee300c6bd09f67510 1 2 Popular magazine regularly featured articles on nuclear energy research and the benefits it could bring throughout the 1950s. This helped to contribute to the “Atomic Age.” plain 2019-12-02T07:43:36+00:00 Gina Plumey c7bdb6b48ecbb34364302aeee300c6bd09f67510This page is referenced by:
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Futurism by Theme: "The Atomic Age" and Rocket Design
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While there are examples of the other themes of futurism in other eras, none is more unique to the Cold War than the marketed emphasis on Atomic Culture. Nuclear energy was promoted in magazines to maintain support and deflect from the negative affects emerging through scientific research. Automotive design and architecture adopted the imagery that was presented in space concept imagery (see figures 60 and 62). Gas stations, restaurants, shopping malls, and other entertainment venues all embraced the concept of nuclear power and rocketry in design (see figure 61). Astro pops and other consumable goods normalized the idea of living in the nuclear age, particularly to the younger generation. Fashion utilized the bomb craze for a time which saw atomic themed beauty pageants, mushroom cloud apparel, and the introduction of the bikini.[1] Most significant in the normalization of atomic culture was the promotion of nuclear research as an energy source (see figures 58 and 63). While nuclear energy was promoted as the potential environmental solution it was also given positive weight through that technology being a necessary component to rockets.
[1] Designer Louis Réard named his new swimsuit design days after the nuclear testing over Bikini Atoll in 1946.
