The Television had become a major communications tool in that the majority of the programs and commercials portrayed in the 1950's contained no elements of death, poverty, ethnic blending, or any type of racial tensions that had in fact increased. TV shows depicted perfect families or the ideal life to lead with specific roles for each family member. Even though Americans knew that there was no such thing as a perfect family, they enjoyed the depiction and strove to reach that level. In the age of commercials, Americans were taught that owning the latest models of appliances and household goods to ensure a happy life. This was often difficult and expensive to attain. .
The U.S. Citizens had a firm belief that they were the best country in the world, and in that post war era, they were. After WWII, the hysteria of communism as a viable threat returned the Red Scare was a danger to the U.S. This period was one of the most repressive political campaigns ever launched denying people unalienable rights and condemned many innocent victims. Freedom of expression was forgotten and attacked as anybody that was accused of being a communist was ostracized and even sent to jail. Through Government propaganda, U.S. citizens feared communists and sympathizers and any light heartedness taken towards them was considered and admission of being a communist in itself. Communists were taught of in the same perspective as murders and were often talked about as they were. Americans were very afraid of a communist take-over and the ensured violence that would follow. In the wake of all this fear was a portrayal of communism in Science Fiction movies, namely "The Blob" and "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers".
"The Blob" displayed communism as a slow but unstoppable forced that devoured everything, much like we feared the Russians taking over Europe and then the United States. It would lurk almost unnoticeably and wouldn't be discovered until it was way too late and consumption was unavoidable.
