Learning Module 3 - Summer Session

Activity 2: Vietnam

 

“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 …”

 

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 from August 2 to August 11

  • 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:  

 

 

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.
  • Four Photographs - This is a link to the four photographs listed below
    • 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: 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.

 

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

  • Select a specific photograph shown in the video excerpt. A link to the photographs is included in Step Two of this activity.
     

  • Tell your classmates why you selected this photograph. Then relate to them what more you learned about the photograph and/or the historical context from your research.

  • Reponses: 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.

 

updated: August 2010