The timing of this newspaper article is absolutely perfect for the effect it is looking for. In a time in which Americans were afraid of losing their way of life to the communists, having an example of some sort of superiority by the Soviets was scary. Had this taken place 20 years earlier, it would not have been a big deal, as long as we were working on something similar. The fact that they were our rivals and "next up" to go to war with the United States was intimidating and lit a fire in the US's stomach. In a time when the American public was on high alert, this newspaper article served as a wake-up call and demonstration of the power the Soviets had.
Peter
I definitely agree that the timing plays well into the situation. It probably emphasized certain propaganda that was going around too.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the fear in America at the time of this article, as well as the beginnings of the space race, I definitely agree that it's kairos plays a significant role in its overall meaning. Had it taken place in another time, like you said, the poignancy of the fear the article generated in America would have been a thousand times less potent.
ReplyDeleteI think comparing America's reaction to what it would have been 20 years earlier is an interesting twist. I do think that you could have gave more detail about the things going on at the time, but I understand that its hard to write a full 10 sentences, especially on kairos.
ReplyDelete