New Delhi: Godzilla is unarguably one of the most popular fictional characters in Japan. This fictional monster made its debut in a 1954 film by Ishirō Honda and has become so famous that it is now an icon of international pop culture. So much so that it has appeared in numerous films, comic books, novels, video games, and television shows.
Who is Godzilla?
Godzilla is a giant reptile or dinosaurian monster of the prehistoric era. The monster is amphibious and was in slumber in the ocean. After several years, it was awakened and empowered by exposure to nuclear radiation and testing. The theme of nuclear radiation captured the attention of the Japanese audience when the monster first appeared in the 1954 film, with the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II still fresh in the consciousness of the country.
Godzilla became a metaphor for nuclear weapons while it has also been considered as a metaphor for the US, a ‘giant beast’ who came back from its sleep to exert terrible vengeance on Japan. Over the years, the storylines of Godzilla began to have less serious undertones and the monster became an antihero or lesser threat who could also come forward to defend humanity. Many subsequent films had wide-ranging themes including the apathy, neglect, and ignorance of Japan towards its imperial past, natural disasters, and the human condition.
A cultural symbol
Godzilla has become a massive cultural symbol, and today, it is one of the most recognizable symbols of Japanese popular culture all over the world. It is a significant representative of the films of the country and how its culture has evolved over the years, since the end of World War II. Japanese audiences and others all over the world have loved its human-like appearance and strained movements and have come to view it as a sympathetic character despite its wrathful nature. Many people have a positive response to it since it acts out of self-preservation and also because the films have grown to show the bane of science and technology and their impact on the environment. The character has also influenced many famous people including noted filmmakers like Steven Spielberg who cited Godzilla as an inspiration for Jurassic Park.
Godzilla is a giant reptile or dinosaurian monster of the prehistoric era. The monster is amphibious and was in slumber in the ocean. After several years, it was awakened and empowered by exposure to nuclear radiation. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
