Apocalyptic Technical Communication from Clockface to Briefcase: Revealing the Spurious Coin of Nuclear-Security Rhetoric

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Oct 2025

Apocalyptic Technical Communication from Clockface to Briefcase: Revealing the Spurious Coin of Nuclear-Security Rhetoric

Ryan Cheek Missouri University of Science and Technology

Abstract

This article the Doomsday Clock and the Nuclear Football as interconnected technical communication artifacts that function as two sides of a “spurious coin” in the securitization of nuclear deterrence. While the Clock externalizes existential risk through apocalyptic rhetoric, the Football internalizes it within exclusive military command structures—together legitimizing perpetual nuclear crisis. Drawing on technical communication scholarship and critical security studies, the analysis argues that both artifacts sustain nuclearist ideology by reinforcing deterrence as common sense. The Clock's ominous countdown and the Football's ever-present launch capability are mutually validating and together normalize nuclear brinkmanship as the price of global security.

Journal: Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published: 2025-10-07
DOI: 10.1177/00472816251384930
Open Access: Closed
Topics: technical communication

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Cites in this index (2)

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Moving technical communication off the grid

Technical Communication Quarterly
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Public Communication of Climate Change Science: Engaging Citizens Through Apoca…

Technical Communication Quarterly

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