Media Opposition to the Vietnam War (literature, film, art and song) - page 1
Keywords: Vietnam War Music Song Literature Book Film Movie Opposition Media
By roshooo on 10/06/2010
Level: GCSE Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Page Number: 1 of 6 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6To have a voice is to have the ability to make a difference. However, having a ‘voice’ does not necessarily mean one talks about a topic to get their views across. Different forms of art can be used as platforms for people to express their opinions and get their ideals to the masses. The use of literature, film, music and art are the four most popular means of expression and are admired by millions across the globe. Opposition to the Vietnam War has become a popular theme in media since America’s initial involvement.
In both music at the time of the Vietnam war and in more recent years, the American involvement in Vietnam is strongly opposed in the lyrics of certain artists. Music can be accessed anywhere; in shops, at home, online. This is why it is so effective to use your ‘voice’ through it. Thousands, sometimes millions, of people will listen to the lyrics of a song and listen to what the artist has to say. The most interesting part of these songs is the manner in which they are written. Some songs can be written to arouse sympathy for example ‘Travellin’ Soldier’ by the Dixie Chicks. The song makes use of an anecdote from a young girl, remembering the first time she met her partner and falling in love, “so they went down and they sat on the pier, he said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don’t care, I got no one to send a letter to, would you mind if I sent one back here to you?” The boy is talking about sending love letters to the girl while he is serving in Vietnam. This dialogue creates an instant sense of sadness as we know that as they fall in love, they will be separated. The boy sends letters during his time installed in Vietnam, “so the letters came from an army camp,” however these letters only heighten the sense of tragedy as we are informed that the letters stop coming, “Don’t worry but I won’t be able to write for awhile”. In the final verse we come to the realisation that the partner is dead, “A man said folks would you bow yours heads, for a list of local Vietnam dead, and one name read and nobody really cared but a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair,” the phrase ‘nobody
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