The Nuclear Age

In 2024, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists set its "Doomsday Clock" as close to midnight as it has ever been. How did we get here? This course offers an examination of the atomic age through three prisms: historical, political, and cultural. Through the reading of primary documents and secondary texts, we will look at the circumstances in physics and international affairs that prompted the development of nuclear power. We shall also look at the impact of the bomb on international relations. We will consider examples of nuclear diplomacy, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, and their implications for the control of the spread of nuclear weapons. We will also treat the European and American peace movements of the 1970s and 1980s. Finally, we shall consider the cultural impact of the bomb through a selection of cinematic pieces, and discuss the future of peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Readings will include excerpts (PDF) from: Svetlana Alexievich, Voices from Chernobyl (Dalkey), Kenzaburo Oe, and The Crazy Iris (Grove), Other materials will link to online historical sites.

No prior knowledge is required, and this course does not emphasize technical elements, in order to draw discussion and questions from all attendees.