#mediachangeshistory

[taylorferraro3-blog]

Tumblr Post 9 - Course Reflection

1. The Things They Carried: My partner decided to read The Things They Carried which is a piece of historical fiction based upon the life of a solider. The book includes true stories also mixed with exaggerated memoirs. As of currently we have not talked about the Vietnam War since we just covered World War II, but I imagine that it would connect with previous wars based on the type of warfare included. They probably carried similar things and had similar stories like Tim O’Brien did with close friends dying, returning home with these memories, and having to carry loads of guns for long distances. The fright and worry in the book probably would also carry through with any soldier of any war. It was also a war in which not many people supported, just like many Americans being anti-war within World War I and II. Although I am sure when the soldiers came home from those two wars they probably would not have been treated so badly and looked down upon. Since I had to read this book for a previous Literature class, I know that this book is called historical fiction for a reason. Although many of the battles, places they went, and things they actually carried were all facts, many of his stories were completely fiction. He even acknowledges this when he speaks about telling war stories and military memoirs. I learned that people included in these stories did not die or even exist, and at the end where he takes his daughter back to Vietnam and back to the place where one of his closest friends died, that it did not even happen nor does he have a daughter. I believe that this book is probably closer to a work of bad history just based upon the horrible times mentioned throughout the book (even if it is historical fiction). Most of the book recalled death, battles, and gruesome mental images so I have to side with the fact that I think it is bad history. Another thing that plays into this opinion was I know how the war and returning soldiers were treated in the eyes of the American people and it is not a happy part of history. Well I cannot speak for the historic context of the film since my partner picked a book, but the way Tim O’Brien set up the images and setting of the book convinced me and most of my class when we read it, that all of these things actually happened to him.

2. Course Reflection: I think a lot of interesting topics were addressed in this class that I enjoyed (which is strange because I personally become easily bored with history). A big thing that I have always enjoyed learning about was World War II and the events that correlated with it. Being a psychology and criminal justice double major, seeing Hitler and his mindset is a really interesting task for me, as well as looking at all the people that happened to look the other way or be brain washed into assisting him. I also loved hearing about the Civil War because Lincoln is one of my favorite presidents along with FDR and JFK. What I also enjoyed learning about were the things that were not listed in the textbook that the professor brought into the light. Things like the Holodomor, different demagogues, and problems happening all over the country and world. It was scary as well as mesmerizing to learn about things that I never realized were happening or people that I never knew earning power. I know that there is bias in just about anything and clearly there is bias coming from the American side of learning about things. I mean we never learned about how the Nazi’s felt or Josef Stalin possibly being a good guy instead of a terrifying dictator, but I do not think it was necessary to look at things from their point of views. I think the professor did a wonderful job of presenting many different view points when it came to Democrats vs. Republicans and different sides of the wars when the leaders were not thriving off of the death of millions. I honestly do not think there were any blind spots or parts missing from the course. The professor was super in depth and detail with every single topic that I felt like I was properly informed of every piece of American history that we learned. I probably would have liked to learn more about the American culture during each time period, like music, art, and writers, but he covered it pretty well for the most part. I am just biased because I love that kind of stuff and could learn/talk about it for hours. My favorite assignment would have to be my tumblr post about gender equality because I love learning about strong women and the people that stood in their way that they overcame. And to be perfectly honest, I really did not have a least favorite assignment; they all taught me things I never knew and I like that. My understanding of how history is portrayed in the media has changed so much. I know realize how much the media exaggerates every little detail and how much is actually left out of the media that needs to be included.