Jarhead: An Instrumental Film in American War Culture

Jarhead follows the journey of Anthony Swofford during his service in Middle East. Throughout his journey, Swofford presents a unique perspective on a variety of issues that indirectly affect American life and the “war” on terrorism. Some of the issues touched on include the mental stability and mentality of American soldiers, the influence of politics in the presentation of war, and the construction of a marine. Through these themes, along with the unique perspectives offered by the characters in the film, the audience is able to gain insight into the corruption and lies that are “war”. This insight ultimately helps the audience analyze the text deeper and enables them to draw the similarities in current events and dissect what they hear and see throughout the film.

The mentality is a solider is addressed throughout the movie. “This is my rifle. There were many like it but this one is mine. Without my rifle, I am nothing. Without me, my rifle is nothing”. Throughout the movie, the viewer is constantly reminded of the importance weapons play in a soldier’s identity. In Jarhead, soldiers from Swofford’s platoon have close bonds with their rifles. They sleep with them, eat with them, and even go to the washroom with their rifles in hand, (Mendes, 2005). Swafford’s character in particular is obsessed with his gun, (Mendes, 2005). Swofford spends hours at a time disassembling and reassembling his weapon, cleaning it, and addressing how to use it, (Mendes, 2005). Swafford’s obsession with his weapon insinuates his fear of dying, “a soldier’s weapon is the only aspect of the war he can control to stay alive”, (Mendes, 2005). Even after the war is over, the soldiers use their weapons to display emotions, (Mendes, 2005). ...

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...y the characters in the film, the audience is able to gain insight into the corruption and lies that are “war”. This insight ultimately helps the audience analyze the text deeper and enables them to draw the similarities in current events and dissect what they hear and see throughout the film.

WORK CITED LIST

1. Jarhead. Dir. Sam Mendes. Perf. Jake Gylenhaal, Jamie Foxx, Lucas Black. 2005. DVD.

2. McCutcheon, Richard. "Rethinking the War against Iraq." Anthropologica. No. 1 ed. Vol. 48. Ottawa: Canadian Anthropology Society, 2007. 11-49. Print. War and Peace.

3. Hamilton, John. Behind the Terror. Edina, MN: ABDO Pub., 2002. Print.

4. Stoll, Richard J., and Mathew Lebo. "War President: THe Approval Ratings of George W. Bush." The Journal of Conflict Resolution. By Richard C. Eichenberg. Vol. Vol 51. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 2006. 783-94. Print.