I Want My MIRV: MTV as Cold War History Lesson

[Raellus]

Inspired by the article that Teg linked in the OP, a few years ago, I created this bonus lesson for my AP US History students (16-17yo). I thought they'd really get into it, but the overall response has been a bit more muted than I expected/hoped. Maybe some of you GenX'ers out there will appreciate this.


The Cold War on MTV

“Everybody's got a bomb
We could all die any day, aw
But before I'll let that happen
I'll dance my life away”

-1999, Prince (1982)


Big Question: How were anxieties about the Cold War- especially the possibility of a nuclear war between the USA and USSR- reflected in the pop music of the 1980s?

Directions: Watch the music videos and listen to the song lyrics. How does the imagery in the video reflect anxiety about the Cold War? How do the lyrics of the song reflect anxiety about the Cold War? (Lyrics for the first four songs are provided on p. 3 of this doc.*)


1999 (1982) by Prince (USA)- peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rblt2EtFfC4

It’s a Mistake (1983) by Men at Work (Australia)- peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0AxrOUJ62E

99 Red Balloons (1984) by Nena (West Germany)- German version peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiwgOWo7mDc

Russians (1985) by Sting (UK)- peaked at #16 the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHylQRVN2Qs

Distant Early Warning (1984) by RUSH (Canada)- peaked at #4 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart in the USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrDj5XvZXX4

Two Tribes (1984) by Frankie Goes to Hollywood (UK)- peaked at #43 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO1HC8pHZw0

Land of Confusion (1986) by Genesis (UK)- peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq7FKO5DlV0

The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades (1986) by Timbuk 3 (US)- peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qrriKcwvlY


*A Google doc.

...

A music-related thread:

https://forum.juhlin.com/showthread....ighlight=music

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