Introduction: Radiation Ecohorror
Rising Fear of Nuclear Technology
In the 1940s, the Manhattan Project and the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki shocked the world with the enormously destructive potential of human technology. America raced to create atomic bombs during World War II due to fears that Germany was already working on creating weapons of mass destruction. The United States deployed the world's first atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II in an attempt to end the war with Japan. Nicknamed "Little Boy" and "Fat Man," the atomic bombs caused thousands of deaths from the initial impact and long-term radiation effects. Radiation-induced cancer and birth defects from the bombings demonstrated the devastating impacts of nuclear warfare on a population.
Following World War II, tensions caused by the Cold War led to the nuclear arms race, which furthered humanity’s fears that nuclear warfare would lead to a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With countries’ development of nuclear weapons, the concept of mutually assured destruction was the only safeguard protecting the world from obliteration. Since then, the frightening fact that humans can—and will—annihilate themselves with nuclear technology has shaped various media. Governments’ lack of communication with the public also led to widespread concerns about the development of nuclear weapons. In response, authors, filmmakers, and artists used the eco horror genre to project fears of humanitarian and environmental catastrophes.
Nuclear disasters such as Chernobyl and Fukushima have further intensified fears. The 1986 Chernobyl disaster was an accident at a nuclear power station in the Soviet Union. Several thousand experienced health impacts from the disaster, and radiation fallout also had detrimental and long-lasting impacts on the surrounding ecosystems. The meltdown of a nuclear reactor in Fukushima, Japan was another catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred in 2011. These devastating incidents heightened fears about nuclear power, inspiring more radiation eco horror.
Common Themes in Radiation Ecohorror
One common idea that radiation eco horror texts convey is that rapid technological progress is not the best way for society to advance. In radiation eco horror, texts often explore the threat of nuclear warfare—warfare that is a result of unhindered progress in weapons development. Many texts portray rapid technological progress alongside nuclear disaster and show how new technologies do not save humans from the effects of nuclear disasters. Additionally, in some texts, the destruction of technology can result in an improved society that places less emphasis on capitalism and profit. However, this restructuring of society is often too late, because communities are destroyed by radiation, and there is a shortage of resources for survival.
Another common theme is the hostility of an unforgiving nature and the fear of the unknown in nature. Post-apocalyptic settings, which are common in the horror genre, demonstrate how careless destruction of nature can lead to humanity’s own demise. Many texts also focus on societal challenges and nature’s indifference to humanity’s fate. Additionally, texts in the horror genre vary in their degree of optimism in the face of nuclear disaster. While some texts emphasize that humanity can recover from nuclear disasters, others find nuclear disasters to cause irreparable damage. These media complement each other and show both the direct horrors of radiation and the horror of inhabiting and rebuilding from an annihilated world.
In radiation eco horror, instead of the environment being fully antagonized, it is often seen as something beautiful. For example, in Ray Bradbury's short story "There Will Come Soft Rains," nature's biodiversity is idolized and its pastoral qualities are emphasized throughout the text, even as nature is actively fighting humanity's creations. In the movie Z for Zacharaiah, the setting of the film and the film's color palette highlight nature's beauty, while the film still keeps archetypal eco horror aspects. For example, the feelings of fear may not stem from the environment, but from the unknown aspects of it. In a post-apocalyptic environment, there is no guarantee of what the future holds, which is what creates horror for the audience. Overall, by emphasizing the beauty of nature, radiation eco horror criticizes humanity's destruction of the environment with nuclear technology and encourages people to protect nature.
The Future of Radiation Ecohorror
Following the Cold War, radiation eco horror was less prevalent in popular media due to the concept of mutually assured destruction and arms control agreements made between the United States and the Soviet Union that reduced fears of nuclear catastrophe in the public conscience. However, in recent years, the geopolitical conflicts within the Russia-Ukraine region have sparked real fears of thrusting our world into the apocalyptic landscapes foretold in some of our most popular stories. When Russia seized control of one of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, there were fears that this acquisition could lead to the release of radioactive materials. Fortunately, these fears didn’t manifest, though Russia did shell the power plant and set one of the buildings ablaze. Russia’s withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty has also furthered apprehensions about a future nuclear attack. These events highlight the continuing relevance of the eco horror genre.
The Doomsday Clock, which is run by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, tracks how close we are to global disaster due to nuclear fallout or climate change—it is currently set at the highest risk level it has ever been at. Over the decades, radiation eco horror’s popularity has waxed and waned in response to a changing political climate, technological developments, and nuclear disasters. In today's politically turbulent landscape, radiation eco horror is more relevant than ever. Radiation eco horror narratives serve as powerful warnings of the consequences of ignoring nuclear threats. These narratives' eerie warnings encourage their audience to take action to prevent such disasters from occurring. It is only through conscious efforts that nuclear disaster has been averted in the past—countries signing nuclear arms control agreements, a genuine desire by Khrushchev and Kennedy to prevent war in the Cuban Missile Crisis against the wishes of their militaries, and citizens advocating against nuclear weapons and nuclear power. Radiation eco-horror serves to inform the populace about nuclear risks, saving us from the horrors it portrays.
