Maya Lin’s Vietnam War Memorial is a non-representational abstract piece of art the commemorates the fallen soldiers that were lost during the war. The artist Maya Lin was 21 years old student of Chinese descent, consequently causing several prominent political figures to revoke the memorial. Lin’s memorial relates with the surrounding environment. The memorial is in a large V shape. The V shape starts and ends level with the ground, then gradually increases in the middle. The Vietnam Memorial is engraved black stone with all the name of fall soldier listed by the date of their death. Maya Lin’s described the wall as, “the black surface of the earth, the earth polished.” She considered her moment “Book out of door”.
Frederick Hart’s Three
Soldier moment dedicated in 1984 a gift from Ronald Regan to appease those who did not like Maya Lin’s memorial. Hart was a professional well-known older artist. The Three Soldiers is both representational and a realistic statue. Unlike Lin’s memorial, Hart’s memorial is intrusive to the surrounding environment. Three Soldiers is a sculpture of several soldiers made of bronze larger than life. The Three Soldiers are facing the Vietnam Wall giving the feeling of the motto of the Marines, “leave no soldier behind.” Both moments do come together and to make a cohesive memorial for both the living and fallen Vietnam Veterans.
i. Difficulties faced by soldiers due to the nature of fighting in the Vietnam War - Personnel had difficulties with transportation supplied with adapted vehicles back seat faced rear to provide additional fire power (Source A) – It appears as if the government didn't worry enough to supply men with safe and capable equipment - Threat of traps led to fear as vehicles had to be parked on street at night (Source A) o Check for traps each morning became a daily ritual particularly in fuel tanks (Source A) o A request for a locking fuel cap was denied because weren’t entitled to one” (Source A) • What circumstances would have needed to arise for them to be entitled to one? The Offensive full guard was set up (24hrs a day), personnel got no sleep and were constantly on alert (Source A) – How significant would this have been in the personnel’s mental frame of mind?
War is cruel. The Vietnam War, which lasted for 21 years from 1954 to 1975, was a horrific and tragic event in human history. The Second World War was as frightening and tragic even though it lasted for only 6 years from 1939 to 1945 comparing with the longer-lasting war in Vietnam. During both wars, thousands of millions of soldiers and civilians had been killed. Especially during the Second World War, numerous innocent people were sent into concentration camps, or some places as internment camps for no specific reasons told. Some of these people came out sound after the war, but others were never heard of again. After both wars, people that were alive experienced not only the physical damages, but also the psychic trauma by seeing the deaths and injuries of family members, friends or even just strangers. In the short story “A Marker on the Side of the Boat” by Bao Ninh about the Vietnam War, and the documentary film Barbed Wire and Mandolins directed by Nicola Zavaglia with a background of the Second World War, they both explore and convey the trauma of war. However, the short story “A Marker on the Side of the Boat” is more effective in conveying the trauma of war than the film Barbed Wire and Mandolins because of its well-developed plot with well-illustrated details, and its ability to raise emotional responses from its readers.
Lieutenant Colonel Moore led his unit, the 1st Battalion, 7th U.S. Cavalry to South Vietnam, and led them in the famous Battle of Ia Drang. Surrounded by enemy soldiers, and with no clear landing zone that would allow them to leave, Moore managed to persevere against the overwhelming odds and complete his objective. Moore's dictum that "there is always one more thing you can do to increase your odds of success" and the courage of his entire command are given credit with the outstanding outcome (Galloway). Despite the fact that Moore's outstanding leadership and tactical prowess led to more than a 4-to-1 ratio between North Vietnamese casualties and U.S. casualties in their first major engagement of the war. Many consider this early battle a small preview of the U.S. tactics later in the Vietnam Conflict.
Interregnum, painted by the Chinese artist Hung Liu, is a massive oil painting created circa 2002. With the intentional application of several principles and elements of art in her work, Liu effectively depicts her late Asian culture’s traditional aspects while also exposing the harsh reality of China’s Communist society. Hung Liu incorporates a variety of styles into Interregnum while also utilizing color and line to visually communicate the subject matter to the viewer. In a formal interpretation of this work, the overarching theme of Interregnum will be explored and described, focusing on the particular values sought out by the artist Hung Liu.
Pham, Andrew X. Catfish and Mandala: A Two-Wheeled Voyage Through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999. Print.
The poem's persona and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall depend on each other to express the poem's intention. The poem's intention is to show that war is lethal, less than gloriful, and extremely real. Although years have gone by, these recollections are still affecting how he lives. Simply standing in front of the wall reminds the speaker of all of this. The Veterans Memorial takes on a life of its own. While the speaker is in its presense, the wall controls him. It forces him to remember painful memories and even cry, something he promised himself he would not do. The persona in the poem reacts to the power the wall has and realizes that he must face his past and everything related to it, especially Vietnam.
From the contrast of the slums of Hanoi and the breathtaking beauty of a natural vista, Huong has revealed the impact of this disparity on her protagonist. The author utilises the connection between the land and the villagers of Que’s birthplace to emphasise the steadiness and support the landscape gives, in times of upheaval, illuminating that it is possible to recover from disaster. Despite Huong’s criticism of Vietnam, she emphasises the resilience of the people of Vietnam and the ability for beauty and hope to flourish through oppression.
It is understandable that some Americans strongly opposed the United States getting involved in the Vietnam War. It had not been a long time since the end of World War II and simply put, most Americans were tired of fighting. Mark Atwood Lawrence is one of the people who opposed our involvement in the Vietnam War. In his essay, “Vietnam: A Mistake of Western Alliance”, Lawrence argues that the Vietnam War was unnecessary and that it went against our democratic policies, but that there were a lot of things that influenced our involvement.
The story focuses on her great-grandfather, who was in disapproval of the French occupation of Vietnam, but still excelled at his job as a Mandarin under the puppet imperial court, fearing persecution of his family if he were to resign. In this section, the author also mentions more about the how the values of confusion had influenced the Vietnamese people in attempts to justify her great grandfather’s
“Facing It” is a poem by Yusef Komunyakaa which talks about the Vietnam Memorial and the names. He thinks about what he experienced in the Vietnam War. This poem has details that can represent the Vietnam Memorial, but it also represents him and what he experienced in the war. He is staring at the Vietnam Memorial and having a flashback to when he was in the war and then he is brought back to reality. Then he is standing there looking at soldier with no arm that is staring back from the wall.
Art movement’s characteristics vary from nation to nation, but painting can be used as a critique of the socio-political reality in a given nation. It is a creative way to communicate with a population about economic, education and social issues. Therefore, The History of Cuernavaca and Morelos: Crossing the Barranca (ravine) Detail (1929-30) Fresco by Diego Rivera is a good example of how an artist uses his creativity to connect with people in relation to Mexican history. Art is an inspired way to share the complexity and challenge of a community. It can be used a way to respond to them likewise. Therefore, the concept of accessibility takes ingenuity. With his deepen knowledge of European and ancient Mexican art, it was not a documentation
Senator Pat Toomey recently sponsored the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act, this act states that the flag of the United States should be displayed, especially on Vietnam War Veterans Day. The Vietnam War was fought between the United States and North and South Vietnam. During the Vietnam War, more than fifty thousand people were killed. When the soldiers returned home there was a negative and hostile attitude towards the war and a misperception that the soldiers did not measure up to the soldiers who fought in previous wars. This unwelcoming and disdainful homecoming was very hard on most of the soldiers who had just experienced a very difficult time coming from fighting in the war. This act designates March 29 as Vietnam War Veterans Day and is the “first federal statute that specifically provides for the honoring of Vietnam War Veterans.” Due to the unpopularity of the war, the Vietnam war veterans did not receive the recognition and welcome
In this painting I tried to show how, although the soldiers buried were unknown, what they did for their country would not be forgotten. I painted the eagle in this painting looking at the cemetery as if were showing its gratitude to the soldiers.
Vietnam was a struggle which, in all honesty, the United States should never have been involved in. North Vietnam was battling for ownership of South Vietnam, so that they would be a unified communist nation. To prevent the domino effect and the further spread of communism, the U.S. held on to the Truman Doctrine and stood behind the South Vietnamese leader, Diem.