Critiquing the representation of life and death in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer (2023): an ethical perspective

Abstract

Since the start of the atomic age, the value of life and gravity of mass deaths have been severely undermined in narratives on/related to the nuclear bombings. Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer similarly fails to address many critical ethical perspectives regarding representation of life and death. The paper explores the movie's treatment of life and death and the underlying philosophy of nuclearism, which devalues the lives of the 'other', and shapes the 'sublime' representations of atomic bomb scientists and the science behind the bomb. The eulogization of the atomic bomb science and its scientists create a worldview that prioritizes violence over life and death of the 'other' who are victims of that violence. To contrast and represent an alternative outlook, a philosophy which prioritizes life and acknowledges the weight of mass deaths, as is appropriate for narratives on/related to mass atrocities like Hiroshima and Nagasaki, is explored. This philosophy is explored through a comparison with Japanese atomic bomb literature, which provides the victim's perspective. The comparison highlighting the differing perspectives of representations on a very crucial issue.  The paper concludes with importance of embodying suffering of the victims in representations and giving weightage to death and mourning to emphasize the value of life. The analysis of the issue is also important as cultural representations influence the public's acceptance or rejection of nuclear weapon and its developments, indirectly shaping whether further suffering is inflicted on the world or peace prevails.