Activity 2: Vietnam[1]

 

 

“You know, it's a common wisdom to believe that television had a great impact on the American psyche during the Vietnam War -- the visuals of television. I disagree with that. I think that pictures, still pictures, had a much greater impact on American readers than the television …”

Hal Buell, Associated Press

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overview:

This activity asks that you look and think about the ways that photographs instrumental in changing the minds of Americans about the Vietnam War.  As noted in the video clip, photographers --- as well as journalists --- had no restrictions of censorship in reporting that war, and it is their unfettered reporting that caused the erosion of public support for the government’s foreign policies in Southeast Asia. 

 

Requirements:

You are required to complete each of the three steps, which are detailed below.

Timing:  Activity/Discussion Active until August 14

 

 

Assessment: Online Discussion: 30 points; 20 points for initial comments & 10 points for responses to comments made by classmates.

 

Step One:  Historical Context: Be sure that you have a good understanding of American involvement in the Vietnam War.  You will need this to better understand the photographs as well as to offer meaningful comments in the online discussion. Sources are:

 

• Textbook: Read the relevant sections in the Chapters 27, 28, 29 of the textbook.
  
  
• You might also want to read the following source: The Wars of Vietnam.  Read the Overview
  
  
• Vietnam Yesterday & Today Chronology of U.S. Vietnam Relations, Timeline

 

 

 

Step Two: Images of Vietnam:

• Access the video clips on Vietnam. You might wish to read the transcript as well.
  
  
• Write down your initial impressions about each of these photographs. Do you agree with the commentators that the photographs changed the minds of Americans about the war?  How did you emotionally react to these photographs?

 

• Next, review the photographs a second time. This time select which photograph you find most interesting or that you would like to know more about. The four photographs are:

 

• Quang Duc
• GENERAL NGUYEN NGOC LOAN
• Phan Thi Kim Phuc
• Mary Ann Vecchio

Step Three: Learning More about Photographs

 

• Learn more about the specific photograph that you have selected. 
• Next, use the recommended websites to gain more specific knowledge. 
• You will be asked to use your research and impressions as comments in the online threaded discussion.

 

 

Sources: Four Photographs:  The websites included here are recommended.  You can extend beyond these and you also do not need to use all the websites in prepare yourself for the online discussion.

 

 

• Viet Nam War Overview

 

• Photo One: Quang Duc  & Diem Regime  (1963)
  • Vietnam - The Fall of Ngo Dinh Diem
  • Ngo Dinh Diem
  • Buddhism in Vietnam
  • Malcolm Browne – Interview

 

• GENERAL NGUYEN NGOC LOAN & Tet Offensive (1968)
  • Newseum War Stories Eddie Adams – Adams was the photographer
  • VN Wars Tet Offensive and its Aftermath
  • Vietnam - The Tet Offensive
  • The History Channel – Audio & Video – Search “Tet Offensive”
    
    

• Phan Thi Kim Phuc & Napalm (1972)
  • Napalm
  • Phan Thi Kim Phuc
  • The Photographer: Huynh Cong (“Nick”) Ut

 

• Mary Ann Vecchio & Kent State (1970)
  • Cambodia
  • Kent State, May 4, 1970 America Kills Its Children
  • Eyewitness Account of Kent State – Audio Recording.  – Search “Kent State”
  • The Anti-War Movement in the United States

 

Step Four: Online Threaded Discussion

 

The discussion is posted in Class Discussion.  It includes two topics. The topics for each of these threads are shown below

 

Topic One:  Initial Impressions

 

• Share your initial impressions about the four photographs.  You might want to focus your comments on one or both of the following:
  1. Do you believe that photographs changed the minds of American citizens about US involvement in the war? 
  2. What was your emotional reaction to one or more of the images?

 

• Requirements:  Post your comments and respond to one or more of your classmates

 

Topic Two: Specific photograph – in the discussion forum, there will be four threads, one for each photograph.

• Each of these will have the same focus:

 

• Your comments: Tell your class mates why you selected this specific photograph.  Then relate to them what more you learned about the photograph and/or the historical context from your research.

 

• Responses:  Respond to one comment made by a classmate who selected the SAME photograph.  Respond to a comment made by a classmate who selected a different photograph.

 

Example: 

 

• You select Mary Ann Vecchio/Kent State

 

• Initial Comment: more about what happened at Kent State and/or the student protest movement

 

• Response One:  to a classmate who also did additional research on Mary Ann Vecchio/Kent State
  
  
• Response Two: to a classmate who selected one of the other three photographs.