large influence on contemporary music , particularly for rock and metal bands who engage with global events , criticize government policies , and use their music to promote awareness of the dangers of complacency .
Interest in the terrible potential of nuclear power has never abated . Physicist Gregg Springs , at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory ( LLNL ), is leading an initiative to collect , declassify , scan , and assess America ’ s nuclear history ; the records of more than 200 atmospheric tests , shot from various angles , resulted in nearly 10,000 films . So far , more than 4,000 have been digitally scanned , and Spriggs ’ team has analyzed almost 500 of them . 15 They hope to provide more accurate information about the effects of nuclear weapons than the often inaccurate data collected during the tests 50 years ago . Just 750 of these films have been declassified so far , but they are being made available to the public for the first time . It ’ s likely that we ’ ll see a lot more of this government footage , as well as other contemporaneous news footage , appearing in visual rhetoric in the future .
The importance of real life visual film footage is integral to bands who engage in political conversations . Beyond the bomb , for example , 2017 has been an explosive year politically , with the general population more engaged with politics and dissent than in the past . Several bands have made similar use of the spirit of protest in recently released videos . Ministry released the first single , “ Antifa ,” from the upcoming album AmeriKKKant ( due out March 2018 ). The accompanying official video incorporates footage from numerous protests from the current year . 16 Frontman Al Jourgensen says of the song : I do believe that people should stand up for themselves and not be a party to this bullshit we ’ ve been fed [ . . . ] I think Antifa is a state of mind . It ’ s , like , “ We ’ re not going to take this shit anymore , because we ’ ve been sold a bad bill of goods here by you people .” [ . . . ] I relish the attitude of Antifa ; I think that some of the tactics they take actually hurt the cause or the thought process more than it helps , but I do enjoy the “ Enough !” aspect of it , and that ’ s what this song is about . 17 The album artwork reflects the political commentary as well – Lady Liberty , distressed , hangs her head in shame and covers her eyes . Jourgensen notes that the song “ Antifa ” and the forthcoming album , Amerikkkant are meant to stand up to the political chaos
15 O ’ Brian , Nolan . “ Physicist declassifies rescued nuclear test films .” Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory . 14 March 2017 . https :// www . llnl . gov / news / physicist-declassifiesrescued-nuclear-test-films 16 Ministry , “ Antifa ,” official music video , 2017 , Nuclear Blast Records . 17 Ministry , “ Deconstructing the song ‘ Antifa ’” ( Official Trailer ), 2017 , Nuclear Blast Records .
95