United Nations in popular culture

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Popular culture references to the United Nations have been made in several media, including film, books, video games, and others. In many instances, the United Nations (or a fictional agency thereof) will figure in a storyline.

Contents

[edit] In film

The United Nations is the setting for a mouse variation thereof called the Rescue Aid Society in the Disney movie The Rescuers.

Also, in the Donald Duck cartoon, Donald in Mathmagic Land, the United Nations building is used as an example of the usage of the mathematical golden rectangle in modern architecture.

The Interpreter is the only film to date to be filmed in the United Nations Headquarters.
The Interpreter is the only film to date to be filmed in the United Nations Headquarters.

Alfred Hitchcock, director of the 1958 film North by Northwest, wanted to film in the UN but did not have permission. Shots were secretly done and recreated on a sound stage.

The 2005 film The Interpreter is the first, and to date only, feature to be filmed on location in the UN. It features Nicole Kidman as a UN interpreter who inadvertently overhears a plot to assassinate a fictional African dictator (the character appears to be based on Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe). Secretary General Kofi Annan commented on The Interpreter that "the intention was really to do something dignified, something that is honest and reflects the work that this Organisation does. And it is with that spirit that the producers and the directors approached their work, and I hope you will all agree they have done that."

The United Nations Godzilla Countermeasures Force appeared in the Godzilla film series.

The movies based on the Left Behind series were not filmed at the UN, and in fact, stand-ins for the UN buildings in New York are unconvincing. In the first film, the thirteen provincial and territorial flags of Canada are visible as if they were UN member nations. The logo is also totally dissimilar to the UN logos.

[edit] Video and computer games

[edit] Comics and anime

  • S.H.I.E.L.D., a planetary defense/intelligence service often depicted as UN-affiliated in the Marvel Universe line of comic books.
  • Checkmate began filling a similar role in the DC Universe line of comic books in 2006.
  • U.N.C.L.E., the fictional organisation featured in the television series The Man from UNCLE was based in New York with an international staff, and has often been presumed to be at least UN-related, in spite of objections made by the series' production company on legal grounds.
  • U.N. Spacy, a fictional military arm of the Earth U.N. Government (地球統合政府 chikyuu tougou seifu) from the Japanese anime series Macross.
  • The Gutsy Galaxy Guard (A.K.A. "GGG"; pronounced "Three-G"), a branch of the United Nations Earth Defense Force in The King of Braves GaoGaiGar. (The Secretary General of the UN in this show's universe is identified by name and visage as the character Rose Approval)
  • United Nations Special Agency NERV in Neon Genesis Evangelion In Neon Genisis Evangelion the United Nations is extreamly powerful, and has a very strong standing army. [Unlike in the real world where UN Peacekeepers are small numbers of troops donated by countries.]
  • In the Wildstorm universe the UN has taken an active role in monitoring and dealing with posthumans and, to this end, formed both the superpowered Stormwatch and the largely unenhanced Stormwatch: Team Achilles. The on-and-off leader Jackson King is often portrayed in the UN buildings in New York and when he walks out and forms The Monarchy the UN assign special agent Morro to monitor his activities.
  • FLAG, a documentary-style anime series from 2006, is about a fictional war in central Asia and the UN flag that is raised above the battlefield which may be the key to peace. UN peacekeepers involved in the anime are known as UNF (United Nations Forces) peacekeepers.
  • UN peacekeepers had participated in the the Central/South American wars and in the Second Korean War in Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG. However, they have white ballistic helmets instead of blue helmets.

[edit] Novels, Software games, and TV

[edit] Music

  • In Summertime Blues, Eddie Cochran sings "I'm gonna take my problem to the United Nations," appealing the decisions of a school-age boy's boss and parents that interfere with his summer social life.
  • In Megadeth's 2007 album United Abominations, The United Nations is severely criticized and described as "a blot on the face of humanity." This is defended by several examples, including ambassadors using diplomatic immunity to live a tax-free life and commit crimes, the fact that the UN is never there when they are needed most, and that American and NATO forces end up doing the fighting instead of the UN. It is also expressed the opinion that "our so-called allies" are not pulling their share of the work and sometimes even work directly against the United States of America.

[edit] References to fictional similar organizations

Similar-themed world or galactic bodies that model the UN in some way include:

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