Representation Of Vietnam War In Art
Vietnam War lost over a million Vietnamese lives and almost 60,000 Americans their lives in about a 20-year span. From November 1, 1955 to April 30, 1975, thousands perished and the separation of people in United States began. The war started between North and South Vietnam with the United States siding with the South by sending weapons and training the military to fight the North. The United States supported South Vietnam because they were a democratic government, whereas the North was communist. The United States feared the spread of communism and fought to stop communism from growing. The Vietnam War has many effects depicted even today, seen throughout museums, teachings in school, artworks, and videos about war.
The United States knew they could not fight this war alone; they convinced Australia and New Zealand to contribute their troops and material support. March 1965 began a series of bombing raids on North Vietnam known as ‘Rolling Thunder’. ‘As the United States geared up for war, young Americans sensed that there would be a return to the draft lottery.'( ) All of the newly recruited Americans went to different camps/forts in order for them to train and learn how to defend themselves. One of those camps was Fort Devens. Established in September 1917, Fort Devens is still active today, under a different name, is recognize for housing and training combat soldiers for the preparation of war over the years. The fort has a museum that displays artifacts throughout the fort’s history. Here visitors can see the progression of weapon technology used during combat. It is a historical monument that veterans, families and tourists can observe past wars and their artifacts. Having Fort Devens still running allows new generations to learn about their past and the history of the United States. Other museums have exhibited the Vietnam War, the Smithsonian has a special section that focuses on the “Artists Respond: American Art and the Vietnam War, 1965 – 1975,” emphasizing the dilemmas of war. The artists illustrate the struggles in United States, with the people separating and changing forever in politics and diversity. Other battles during Vietnam continued to be remembered.
The Battle of Long Thanh fought in the pouring rain, only lasting a couple of hours but the lessons learned continue to be passed as crucial mistakes equals lives lost. They learned that coordinating infantry, artillery, armor, and aviation were fundamentals in fighting a war. Not being prepared results in loss of life and lost battles. Pictures and poems of The Battle of Long Thanh are still being shown to this day giving us and insight to how it was while the soldiers “wait with fear in their faces and shake in their bodies'(Rudzinski). The soldiers waited in the woods for the enemies to come, all bloody and run down, hoping to make it another day. Not knowing what is going to happen next but ready to fight because they know they are defending their country and will do whatever they can to defend it. Learning through pictures, poems, and songs allows students to have a better understanding of the events that occurred during this time. Teachers can use these learning materials in classrooms to help students become aware of these events.
Chris Livingstone, a middle school teacher who teaches students from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, India, Iraq, Liberia and Nigeria. She teaches literature to her students about the Vietnam War through poems, songs, and photos. This allows her students to get a hands-on learning of literature and relate it to the real world, she said. “Because the photo’s subject talked a lot about mental burning, we were able to talk about figurative language'(). Using this method could give the students a better understanding of what they are being taught. Learning about the Vietnam War gives these children a perspective on what is happening in the world today. As well as making sure that the younger generations learn about what happened during the war. Not all schools teach about the Vietnam War and if it is taught many cover the material quickly. Livingstone believes all students should learn the Vietnam War through literature, art, and poems which gives “her students a more global perspective.”() This was a controversial time and reading the soldiers letters, poems and stories gives insight to the students.
Allowing students to read Vietnam War poems and writings allows students to see the different versions and perspectives of the war. Even evaluating the cartoons during this time allows students to learn about figurative language as well as propaganda. Students learn to read and write their thoughts about the war, from what they have learned through the poems, songs, letters, and cartoons. Students realize that soldiers sacrifice their lives in order for us to live our life. Movies also allow people to learn about events.
A famous movie based on the Vietnam War called Hamburger Hill depicts soldiers fighting a battle over the course of 10 days in May 1969. This military group led by Lt. Frantz comprised both seasoned troops and new recruits, attempting to take a hill during the Vietnam War. In between attacks, the squad members deal with the other psychological stresses of the war. This war did not only cause physical but also mental pain for everyone. This movie allows viewers to feel the soldiers fear, pain, frustration with the war, and personal anguish living in this war. Soldiers had to concentrate on the mission at hand but were also worried about their families at home. ‘We gotta get out of this place if it’s the last thing we ever do We gotta get out of this place ’cause girl, there’s a better life for me and you.'() This is one of the most famous quote from a song to come out of the Vietnam War because every veteran knows and can relate to the song. They were all fighting to end fighting for good. The goal was to return home, celebrate life, and start living the life they always dreamed they would have. Unfortunately, these Veteran’s did not have the celebrations that the War World II Veterans had when they came home. They encountered violence, hatred and discrimination for defending freedom.
Paul Bear a Vietnam veteran reflects on his experience on the Vietnam War. He states, “When I came home to public abuse of spitting on us, potential employers actually slamming the door in my face after finding I was a Vietnam vet the song once again had meaning and since I wasn’t welcome in the United States”. () Bear describes the lives of the veterans in the Vietnam War. He believed honoring and commemorating all who have fought for our freedom, should be remembered. The return of the soldiers should not be filled with hate; it should be filled with joy. Bear describes the return of the soldiers being ridiculed for fighting, getting spit at while returning and getting dog feces thrown at them. For a while, society did not accept the veterans for what they had done, instead, they were punished for what they were commanded to do. This should have never happened, and people are starting to realize that they have wrongfully accused the soldiers for fighting for freedom.
January 23rd, 1973 President Nixon announced an ending to the Vietnam War, believing that the ending the war will bring peace and honor. The agreement was made but was not upheld by North Vietnam. The United States was going through turmoil with the Watergate scandal, economic conflict, and political resistance about the war. Nixon lost focus while the North Vietnamese reinforced their military and took over South Vietnam. South Vietnam reunites as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under communist rule. By the end of this war, more than 50,000 Americans perished, along with 1.1 million North Vietnamese, and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers. This war was initially won by the United States, but quickly lost when North Vietnam did not support their agreement. The soldiers returned home with no celebrations or victory, but with rejection.
The Vietnam War lasted almost 20 years, to learn about peace people must learn about war. Yet, the Vietnam War was not taught in schools for years and if it was taught, the lessons quickly touched on it. More students can relate to the Vietnam War than wars in past centuries because they can talk to people who encountered this war. Learning about war is taught in many facets, art, music, cartoons, songs, videos and movies all allow people to learn about history.
Art has been around since the creation of humanity, it captures the image occurring and the viewer is able to interpret the scene. The artist seizes the moment and illustrates the image through the painters’ vision. The viewer can observe the artwork and learn about history from different perspectives. Cartoons taught about propaganda, music and songs lets the listener hear the story and pain of war, and videos and movies show the audience the destruction and evils of wars. The art lesson from the Vietnam War is that people should not hate the soldier, but instead hate the war.
