6. Nihilism is the philosophical doctrine that life is meaningless and that there is no deep order or purpose to the universe. What are the nihilistic elements of the film? Are there any contrary elements of the film that undermine a general nihilistic theme? What, if any, are the political implications of the film’s treatment of nihilism?The film “The Atomic Café� brilliantly portrays the habitual life in U.S. society during the Cold War. The Cold War was a period of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, the two main superpowers at the time. During the war both parties developed nuclear weapons and therefore assured each other mutual destruction. This constant threat led the American society to become extremely paranoid and chaotic at times. Nihilism is the “general rejection of customary beliefs in morality, religion etc.� It is also “the philosophical doctrine that life is meaningless and there is no deep order or purpose to the universe.
