Lopez I

Ryan Lopez

Professor Jon Beadle

English 115

7 December 2017

Godzillas Everlasting Relevance

Godzilla, the mighty monster, has gone through many changes throughout the time period

from its first introduction into the world of cinema in the 1954s to the current pop culture

phenomenon that it is today. Starting from the monsters first incarnation, Ishir Honda brings to

life an original imagining of how effects of continuous nuclear testing could impact humanity.

While initially it may appear to be a silly thought that a 164 foot beast serves solely as an

allegory for the effects of irresponsibility with nuclear weapons and power, contextualizing the

film in this way you can blatantly see the intended parallels. However, that was a film from the

1954s; now we have to ask ourselves has Godzilla changed since then? This is a question which

has an answer with leverage on both sides to create a compelling argument. It is in my personal

opinion that Godzilla has in fact changed from the initial metaphor and evolved into something

that while similar, is more contemporary to today. In the most modern adaptation, Shin Godzilla,

we see that Godzilla has a variety of new powers and abilities affecting itself and those who must

deal with it. There is a clear significance in the way which Godzilla has in fact changed from its

initial inception to the current day due to the fact that the monster will most often directly reflect

the current political climate at the time of the films creation, giving more insight into the times.

For example, in 1954s original Godzilla, there is an obvious allusion to the danger of nuclear
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warheads. This is a direct cause of the political climate due to the then recent nuclear attacks on

Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States. When we take a look at Shin Godzilla, we now

see that the United States of America has come forth and helped with the extermination of

Godzilla, on the side of the Japanese people.

First, for clarity, original metaphor for Godzilla was a direct reflection of the political

climate concerning nuclear warheads. In the second world war, the tensions between Japan and

the United States were reaching their climax, and the nuclear bomb was unleashed on Hiroshima

and Nagasaki. In the original Godzilla, there is a very clear parallel from the Oxygen

Destroyer to the nuclear bombs used on the two Japanese cities. Both are seen as last resorts

which if not handled extremely responsibly can see the end for mankind. This was the main

anchorpoint for Serizawas sacrifice in the original film. In the film, Serizawas character was

the one who invented a weapon called the oxygen destroyer an extremely powerful weapon

which as the name entails, destroys oxygen. After being hesitant to show the world his creation

out of fear that he would be forced to use it for military purposes, he finally decides to give in

and use it to destroy Godzilla. However, in the end, he decides to go down with Godzilla in order

to make sure its technology is never used again.The thematic arc for the original film

surrounding Serizawas character was brought full circle with his sacrifice so the world would

not learn the secrets to his ultimate creation. The audience are meant to take this as a warning

and learn from the sacrifice of Serizawa, due to the fact that it is unfortunately too late for

nuclear technology to not be widespread.

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Writer Nancy Anisfield wrote in a peer reviewed journal covering Godzillas influence in

pop culture, The bombs created the monsters. The monsters punish the humans. After enough

punishment, the humans triumph and are left in peace. This quote only furthers the parallel of

nuclear terror to the monster godzilla. Anisfield writes about why Godzilla exists in the first

place, where an excellent case can be made for Godzillas relation to the nuclear bomb. Godzilla

only exists in the first place due to human nuclear tests, these bombs gave way to terror; a terror

which is manifested physically in the monster Godzilla. In this, we gain more insight into

Serizawas sacrifice in the film Godzilla. This quote by Nancy Anisfield truly explores the mind

of someone who, like Serizawa, understood the greater implications of what a weapon with such

great magnitude could do. Rather than let his work be exposed for evil, leading to the creation of

greater monsters, he decided to sacrifice himself for the greater good. This however is the main

inspiration and meaning behind the original 1954 film, throughout constant incarnations Godzilla

has changed in many capacities. In the most modern adaptation, Shin Godzilla (2016) the

original Godzilla beast has undergone a few changes which adapts the same allegory for a more

modern time.

In Shin Godzilla, we see a vast amount of changes to the monster itself, and the metaphor

which Godzilla is so famous for. In this incarnation, Godzilla is capable of evolving through

different stages of terror. This can be best read as the directors, Hideaki Anno and Shinji

Higuchi, expressing how the beast Godzilla has evolved through many different stages over the

years of its existence. In the beginning of the initial process of creating the Godzilla monster, it

was a strict allegory for the nuclear warheads destructive capability, however should you watch
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the Godzilla film (2014) directed by Gareth Edwards, you will see almost no screen time for the

monster itself. The Americanized versions of Godzilla are quite different in their evolutions and

incarnations when compared to the original source material coming straight from Japan. In

addition, in the newer Shin Godzilla, the monster is not simply an elongated reference to the

nuclear bomb, but to the current political climate involving the United States and Japan. In the

newer film, the U.S. serves more as a helpful force rather than a force which is not included in

the original content at all. For example, when the United States is asked to come help with the

destruction of Godzilla with their military forces, they immediately show up with full forces.

From a filmmaking standpoint, it is also noticeable that when the United States military arrives

on screen, they are met with a giant fanfare which signifies and epic turn for hope in the fight

against Godzilla. This parallels the new political relationship between the United States and

Japan, one which is far less full of anger and bitterness as a result of the attacks on each other. So

much has the world changed since then that the United States is even seen providing aid to their

Japanese allies in light of the Godzilla attack. In addition, the way which Godzilla is defeated is

vastly different in these two different incarnations. For example, in the original, Godzilla is

without a doubt defeated with an Oxygen destroyer, paralleling the use of the Nuclear bomb for

good. In Shin Godzilla, there is a strong chance that Godzilla will return, which is an allegory for

the threat of everlasting nuclear fear, unless of course a change is made into our society which is

expressed in the conversation atop the roof between Yaguchi and Akasaka as Godzilla remains

frozen, for now.

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The counterclaim for this progression would be that there is a major plot point in Shin

Godzilla where the United States decides that should Godzilla not be stopped, they will be forced

to unleash a nuclear warhead on the city of Tokyo in order to stop the monster once and for all.

One may say that this shows that United States and Japanese relations have not changed in

actuality. However, this is an opinion which chooses to ignore the exact reasoning for the nuclear

strike. The logic behind the United States decision here is that, should Godzilla not be stopped,

there would be more cities across Earth that will be brought to the same fate of Tokyo. The entire

decision to have a nuclear strike was the very last option that the United States could think of;

there had already been many failed attempts at stopping the monster Godzilla.

Now we that we have laid out the specific changes between the original Godzilla (1954)

film and Shin Godzilla (2016) we should best analyze why specifically these changes occurred

and what they are a direct response to, their significance overall. In the same article written by

Anisfield, she states that the Godzilla films equate the monster with the atomic bomb, and

Noriega shows how the Japanese versions, by symbolically repeating the trauma of Hiroshima,

establish the monster as an archetype of Japanese horror that explicates the present. For

Americans, however, the other is overcome, and Godzillas death represses American guilt and

anxieties about nuclear weapons. This text is extremely relevant to the subject matter due to the

fact that it allows for more political analysis of Godzilla. It shows the significance Godzilla has

had on not just Pop Culture, but society as a whole. Godzilla has had the job of directly creating

an outlet for nuclear terror, with each change made to the monster, it reflects a change in the

political climate of the world at the time. In the original (1954) film, Godzilla is a direct result of
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nuclear tests in the Pacific, the response of the beast is to unleash nuclear hellfire upon Tokyo; a

fate for the city which was not completely out of the question should another worldwide conflict

occur again. There is no help from other countries in this original film, this is the film makers

way of showing that Japan is left alone to face the terror of Godzilla, as it is alone with facing the

fears and repercussions of former and future nuclear attacks. However when we look at Shin

Godzilla (2016) youll notice that American assistance is quite prominent, especially in the final

standoff against Godzilla itself. This may seem like a minor change, however I believe it is a

quite obvious way to show the audience how relations have changed with Japan and The United

States. The specific ways which we can see how relations have changed over the years are as

follows, in World War II we were blood enemies to each other; the events of Pearl Harbor and

Hiroshima and Nagasaki bred an intense deep hatred between our two nations. However, should

we look to today we see that our two nations have learned to thrive with each other on trade and

commerce. So much so that the United States has become a firm defender and ally for Japan with

the rise of North Korean threats. On a far less political level however, we see that in the peer

reviewed journal World and I Jerome F. Shapiro writes of the importance of thematic elements

in the original Godzilla. The film established the kaijyu eiga genre's key themes: the importance

of tradition, family, and harmony with nature; the dangers of modernity, technology, and

capitalism; the role of the military; and the centrality of women in Japanese society. This quote

is a perfect way to convey the times of the original Godzilla film. If this quote were referring to

modern times, it would most certainly not be correct in conveying the contemporary Japanese

lifestyle. Now, Japan has become more of a capitalist, free reigning force in the world producing
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most of the high quality technological goods to be purchased. However on a cultural level, we

see through the film Shin Godzilla, that these values are still cherished to this day. For example,

in the film we see that one of the key protagonists is a woman, reaffirming the importance of

their role in Japanese society. The role of family is also a prominent plot point, in the sense that a

major part of the reason they wanted to save the city of Tokyo was due to the countless families

living there, and to keep their traditions alive.

In conclusion, the monster Godzilla has gone through a vast amount of changes over the

years in its many incarnations. Should we look to the monsters beginnings, the director of the

original 1954 film Ishir Honda provides a physical manifestation of the fears of a nuclear

destruction to Japan, a reality which was unfortunately faced during World War II. Should we

look to the present, in the latest film Shin Godzilla we see that the same foundation has stayed

true, there has just been more added to it in order for it to stay relevant. These changes take

shape in the form of new powers and abilities creating completely new challenges for those who

are made to overcome the atrocity that is Godzilla. Whether its in the articles of Shapiro or

Anisfield, Godzillas relevance and impact on pop culture and society as a whole is one that can

not be disputed, and wherever the future takes the world, Godzilla will be there to serve as a way

for humanity to project its own fears for technological capabilities.

 Works Cited

Anisfield, N. (1995). Godzilla/Gojiro: Evolution of the Nuclear Metaphor. Journal of Popular

Culture, 29(3), 53-62.

Godzilla. Ishir Honda. Toho Film (Eiga) Co. Ltd., 1954. Film

Shapiro, Jerome F. (1998). When a God awakes: Symbolism in Japan's mysterious creature

movies. (Godzilla). World and I, 13(5), 182.

Shin Godzilla. Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuch. Toho Co., Ltd. 2016. Film.