In this presentation, the documentary is featured as a government production. The comprehension of the footage which runs for approximately 10 minutes would require a basic understanding of the nature of government during the Cold War (1947 – 1991), particularly within the period of the Nuclear Arms Race between the western and eastern block.
Within the period of the arms race, the western community lived in fear of the atomic bomb. This fear was heightened when American and British governments began to initiate programmes on ‘educating’ the public about the dangers and consequences should the atomic bomb go off. With this, governments were provided with an automated and voluntary will of the people and civil control was made easy. A large part of the message from the ‘education’ initiation was delivered via documentaries which were broadcasted on television. These documentaries were often low budget productions and involve poor quality cinematography, mise-en-scene, and sound engineering. For the younger audience, the message came in the form of deceiving cartoons such as ‘Duck & Cover’ featuring the clever Bert the Turtle.
(Reference, see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6eQkBCLkIA&feature=related)
Omni’s documentary is a parody of these productions. The production values from the aspects of technical film making and script writing are intentionally poor. It spoofs how the so called government qualities are disguised and subliminally ‘forced’ into the subconscious minds of the public and thus dictates their way of life according to how governments wish them to be. In short, the video is in fact an element of propaganda machinery.
It is also important to note that Omni has created this documentary (which is in fact a spoof of actual documentaries) in the pretense of it being produced in 1962 as a source for entertainment. A fuller understanding of the bigger picture can be achieved by having some knowledge on the elements of political propaganda and historical background of the Cold War.
From the perspective of viewing the documentary as part of the ‘film format’ overall presentation, the plot introduces the footage (which was created in 1962) to be broadcasted in today’s modern world just prior to Armageddon. It signifies how the governments of the world are unable to stop the end of days and would still be persistent or obliged to pacify the public.
