Shapiro, Jerome F.. Atomic bomb cinema : the apocalyptic imagination on film / Jerome F. Shapiro. [0415936594] New York : Routledge, 2002.
Call#: Van Pelt Library PN1995.9.W3 S52 2002

The devastation of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Cold War may have passed, however they are embedded within the psyches of individuals around the globe. Jerome F. Shapiro's book analyses just how our horror and fear of a nuclear holocaust surface in many aspects of our culture, most specifically, within films from 1945 to the cold war.
Shapiro discusses the themes present in the film Godzilla, relating these themes to the genre of Japanese sci fi horror known as kaiju eiga of "mysterious creature film" the themes are quite moralistic and focus on tradition, nature, family and harmony (not to mention the theme of the dangers of technology and modernity, as present in many sci fi films. Shapiro states that the theme of balance and harmony is the most important. Relating to balance and harmony, Gojira focuses on Tokyo, which is a center of modernity for Japan. He points out that the first to see Gojira are young people on a boat dancing to western music.. The character Serizawa is a parallel to Godzilla in that he is also rebelling from society. When interviewed Honda, the director he explained how the loss of an eye would indicate war experience. Serizawa creates an oxygen destroyer, which he eventually uses to kill Godzilla and himself too.
Shapiro states that there are many ways to interpret Godzilla. one could consider it a rip off of earlier American monster films. However, judging by other scholars' attempts to rationalize the monster in American films by allowing it to represent the main character who by conquering the monster, conquers his own problems. However it is Serizawa who conquers the monster, yet he dies, learning nothing. Therefore, Godzilla as a typical cold war film is useless. Godzilla has a character that develops, unlike American monsters.
In addition, he rejects the theory that Godzilla is about the condemnation of nuclear weapons. Instead, Shapiro believes that Godzilla's sole purpose is to portray the theme of balance and harmony. the two main characters fight, creating a ma in Japanese aesthetics, which signifies a vacuum, or void - and Shapiro states that this concept can be found both in narrative and visual imagery. where as the central character Emiko is the key to restoring balance and harmony, by asserting herself.
We are introduced to the idea that the power of the feminine is able to restore harmony with nature and a balanced society. he goes on to relate this dynamic to following kaiju films, most specifically, mothra series.