-Take note of the react of the plane crew when they get the code for attack plan R. Also, take note of the difference of the tone of the propaganda and the demeanor of the flight crew before they receive the code. What kind of things are they doing on the plane?
-What is plan R and what are the implications as far as game theory? Why was plan R set into place and what does R stand for?
-Take note in the difference between the General's tone and the President's tone. How do they differ and why do you think they differ in this way while they are talking in the war room.
-What kind of communication are in place during plan R? Why are they like this?
-Pay close attention to the "list" that the general spouts off during the first war room scene.
-What was the reason that General Jack Ripper initiated code R in the first place? What does this tell you about the rational of the cold war in general?
-Besides the comedic value, what implication do the contents of the plane survival kit tell us about the mood surrounding the arms race and possible outcomes?
-Pay close attention to the mood and tone of the phone call between Dimitry and the President. What is Dimitry doing at the beginning of the phone call and what does this imply about the evil Russians?
-Pay close attention to Dr. Strangelove when he explains the doomsday device. Why does he say that its an "essential device" and that it doesn't work if its kept a secret?
These are just a few things that I thought were interesting and hopefully they give you some direction before we watch it as a class tomorrow! Enjoy!
Muffley: "Automatically? ... But, how is it possible for this thing to be triggered automatically, and at the same time impossible to untrigger?"
ReplyDeleteStrangelove: "Mr. President, it is not only possible, it is essential. That is the whole idea of this machine, you know. Deterrence is the art of producing in the mind of the enemy... the fear to attack. And so, because of the automated and irrevocable decision making process which rules out human meddling, the doomsday machine is terrifying. It's simple to understand. And completely credible, and convincing."
I both enjoyed and got lost in how bizarre the movie is when I initially watched it. There were several parts that were obvious game theory or strategy on the part of the Americans or the Russians. My favorite is the doomsday device, as it is both automatically triggered and impossible to untrigger. The fear of this device sets those who lost control of the lone bomber into a panic of how to get the bomber back and the Russians because they can't do anything about the doomsday device should the bomber succeed. It was like a zero-sum game between America and Russian in that both sides would be detrimentally effected by this bomber because it would set off the doomsday device.
The end was both amusing and made me twitch. If I was a woman alive at the end of this catastrophe, I would be extremely disappointed to have to share my man with nine other females! Haha!