Clemente 1

Christian Clemente

Professor Beadle

English 115

October 25, 2017

Atomic Born

World War 2 was one of the most devastating moments in history. This War

brought so much to the human race as much as it took away. World War 2 brought

things such as technological advancements, boosted national pride, and the rise of the

atomic age. With the rise of the atomic age, the monster Godzilla was born. The story of

the monster Godzilla or Gojira began in 1954 shortly following the end of the war. Born

from the after effects of World War 2 Godzilla has grown exponentially since the time of

its creation until now. The 1954 Godzilla or Gojira is about a 50 meter radioactive

dinosaur that is rampaging across Japan because it was disturbed by Hydrogen Bomb

testing in the ocean. The concept of Godzilla is one that has grown in popularity over

time not only because of its appeal to the general public as a monster but because of the

comparison that Godzilla makes with real life events. Shin Godzilla is a remake of the

original film and the changes within this movie and the original are very apparent.

Changes as in the way that Godzilla is handle within the movie and what Godzilla

represents. After viewing both of these films, I was able to see the changes to Godzilla as

a whole. This monster's change through time is significant because even though the

general idea of Godzilla has not changed, the circumstances in which Godzilla represents

has changed greatly.

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The original version of Godzilla was made during 1954 and directed by Ishiro

Honda. The movie is about an ancient creature that resurfaces from the ocean after being

disturbed by hydrogen bomb testing in the ocean. Then it attacks Tokyo until it is stopped

by the Japanese government. This film is not just an ordinary monster movie, it stems

from the aftermath of World War 2 and the fear of nuclear weapons. The fear of atomic

weapons and radioactivity is shown throughout the 1954 version of the movie. For

example, in the film Godzilla attacks Odo Island, Godzilla leaves extreme radioactive

traces behind after the attack that was making people sick within the island and

contaminated the water supply in the island. This had actually happened to Japanese

citizens after the bombings in World War 2. In the movie, Godzilla attacked Japan

without any warning and was something that they could not understand or prepare for.

This is a direct parallel to how the nation of Japan was attacked by atomic bombs. This is

how a relation between Atomic bombs and Godzilla can be made. As stated by Liza

Hearon in her article Godzilla more than a fire breath and bad dubbing: Monster movies

come with a message Around the time of Godzilla's appearance in 1954, the Japanese

had been hit by A-bombs ..., and even today they are the only people to have been the

target of a nuclear attack. So for the average Japanese person, it was habit to see their tiny

island nation as a victim of incomprehensible forces outside their power -- and that's the

metaphor Godzilla provides. This statement talks about the relationship between the

Atomic bombs used on Japan and Godzilla. The unimaginable tragedies of an atomic

bombing and the giant radioactive dinosaur in the movie brought up the concept of

dealing with a problem that no one saw coming and that was something that was more

than they could handle. Godzilla was the physical embodiment of the atomic bomb. He
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had atomic breath. He created fire. He devastated buildings. He left radiation sickness in

his wake. And, as was true in Hiroshima, hospitals were filled with his victims. said

Victor Schwartzman in his article How Gojira became Godzilla. The themes that had

Godzilla represented were all mainly centered around the atomic devastation the

bombings left on Japan. The significance about this movie is that it sheds light on the

travesties of the atomic bombings on Japan while conveying it in a way that appeals to all

people regardless of age or background.

The newest version of Godzilla is the 2016 version Shin Godzilla. Shin Godzilla

is about a evolving radioactive prehistoric creature that emerges from the ocean in

modern day Japan. Then it attacks Tokyo repeatedly until the United States and Japan try

to find a way to stop Godzilla. As the movie progresses the United States concludes that

the only way to defeat and stop Godzilla is to drop a nuclear bomb on Japan again to

finish off Godzilla for good. This relation to dropping another bomb on Japan is a

callback to the atomic bombing on Japan during World War 2. It also has a relation to

the original version of Godzilla and the after effects of the atomic bomb that the original

movie conveyed. Although it does have some relation to the original film, Shin Godzilla

has more to represent than just the atomic bombings that Japan had to deal with. Shin

Godzilla has more do with the problems that Japan is facing with currently. Shin

Godzilla's source material comes from a more recent time. Godzilla brings disaster in his

wake, flooding the land, crushing buildings, and leaving a trail of radiation where he

goes. It brings to mind 2011's TOhoku earthquake and tsunami, and the following

Fukushima nuclear disaster. And as Godzilla stomps through the city, government

officials bicker with each other over what to do while the monster destroys Tokyo,
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mirroring political criticisms in the wake of the disaster. said UWIRE TEXT in the

Article Tokyo Terror Returns With Shin Godzilla. This film is very centered around

the citizens in the movie more than the problems surrounding it. This film focuses on the

politics of the Japanese government and their attempts to fix the terrible situation in

which they are presented. Another point of this movie is the relations between the

Japanese and the US government. This is shown when the United States are trying to

help Japan with this problem and eventually concluded that the only way to finish

Godzilla is with a nuclear blast. But refusing to allow another nuclear bomb to be placed

on Japan, the japanese government comes up with a coagulant to freeze Godzilla. The

political standpoint of a more independent Japan is very prominent within the film. I

believe Shin Godzillas significance not only lies in its ability to relate to ongoing

disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and nuclear disasters. But the ability to

showcase a somewhat accurate representation of how disasters such as this would affect

people in this day and age.

Both the original Godzilla as well as the newly remastered Shin Godzilla may be

two movies based on the same monster but they could not be any more different. Not

only do they represent different things but the monster has even changed throughout the

years. Although there are some people claiming that Godzilla has remained true to its

origin and has not changed at all throughout the years . These people may claim that

what Godzilla represents as a whole will always be the Japanese recovering and dealing

with the aftereffects of the atomic bomb. Although this may be true for the original film.

Where Godzilla was made specifically to represent the living embodiment of a nuclear

disaster. With his nuclear breath, the radioactive waste it left behind, as well as the
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absurd amount of devastation that Godzilla left in its wake. Shin Godzilla on the other

hand may have some callbacks to World War 2 and the aftereffects of the bombing in that

war, but it is not the main idea that Shin Godzilla is representing. The newly made Shin

Godzilla tackles more current problems that are occurring within Japan. As I have stated

before these problems include things such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and meltdowns of

nuclear power plants. Even though nuclear power plants have to do with a radioactive

fallout that does not make it the same as a nuclear bombing on the country.

Some people on the other hand may just believe that Godzilla the monster as a

whole has remained the same throughout the years. Making the argument that no matter

what Godzilla will always be just a giant prehistoric dinosaur that shoots radioactive

beams through its mouth. Godzilla may indeed shoot a radioactive beams out of its

mouth in both movies, but that does not make them the exact same monster. There are

key changes to the monster that show that this monster has changed or even evolved

throughout the years. For example, in the original Godzilla all the monster was, was a

giant radioactive dinosaur monster that could shoot a radioactive beam through its mouth.

While the Shin Godzilla is an evolving prehistoric lizard who operates through nuclear

fission and evolves and changes forms throughout the movie. Starting from a something

walking on all fours, to evolving to be able to walk on two feet on land, to returning twice

as big after returning from the ocean. Even the way that Shin Godzilla shoots radioactive

beams is different. Not only can it shoot beams from its mouth but it can shoot several

more out of its dorsal fins as well from the tail. This monster has changed into a new

being throughout the years. This can even be displayed through the title of the movie.

The word shin can be translated into english from japanese to mean new. Therefore
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if translated completely into english Shin Godzilla literally or figuratively translates to

New Godzilla. With this evidence it is apparent to see that although these movies may

both contain a Godzilla in them, it does not mean that the same monster is being

portrayed in the movie.

In conclusion, Godzilla has changed significantly over time. From the original

1954 version to the newly remastered version from 2016. The significance of this change

is the ability to be able to represent different hardships that Japan is going through with

an entertaining monster while still being able to convey a deeper message to the

audience. The evolution of this monster is can also be significant because not only can it

bring joy to an audience but it can inform them of real life problems and show how far

Japan has come as a whole in recovering from disaster and overcoming hardships.
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Works Cited

Hearon, Liza. Godzilla more than fire breath and bad dubbing: Monster movies come with a

message: [Final Edition] Edmonton Journal, 12 Nov. 2004, p.E4

Schwartzman, Victor. How Gojira Became Godzilla.(Monster Movie). Canadian

Dimension, vol. 41, no. 5, 2007, pp. 4445,4 Terror of Tokyo Returns With Shin

Godzilla. UWIRE Text, 30 Nov. 2016, p. 1.