Wednesday, March 11, 2015

My Lai Massacre

Good morning everyone! This will be an interesting, but disturbing class. The material is graphic and crucially important to understanding O'Brien's historical context in In the Lake of the Woods.

AGENDA:

EQ: Why is the background of the My Lai massacre so important to understanding O'Brien's novel In the Lake of the Woods?



-We will be watching various sections of a PBS documentary on the My Lai Massacre



-After watching the documentary, you will explore an interview with Tim O'Brien about his experiences in Vietnam

-After viewing the documentary and exploring the interview, answer the following questions (post on the blog):
1. Has watching the documentary and reading the interview on My Lai changed your reading of In the Lake of the Woods by O'Brien? Do you feel as though you can sympathize with Wade on some level, or are his actions completely unforgivable? 
2. What was your prior knowledge of the massacre? Do you think the fact that the My Lai Massacre is somewhat mysterious and unknown to many people adds to the complexity of the novel? How so? Do you think that if something of this caliber is concealed by those involved that the general public will ever know the true story? 
3. How does having some type of historical context incorporated into a fictional text effect you as a reader? What historical events or time periods are you considering for your own writing piece (this can be a list)?


WRITING: Speculative fiction stories due!
HMWK:  Be sure you've read Ch. 8-12 for Friday discussion
Posted by at

12 comments:

  1. UnknownMarch 11, 2015 at 8:55 AM

    1. Watching the film and reading the interview, has changed my view a little. I understand why Wade acts like does. I don’t think his mind has completely left the war, so he still acts like he would in the war. However, it doesn’t excuse him for what he does. He should have went to counseling instead of putting it off.
    2. I never knew or heard of this massacre before today. I think it adds to the complexity because it shows the hidden sections of the war that people don’t want others to know about. I don’t think the general public will lever know what happened that day unless you were there.
    3. I like it because it means that it is not all fiction, only parts. Some events I want to write would be :
    -Nat Turner rebellion
    -WWII
    -Peloponnesian War

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownMarch 11, 2015 at 9:05 AM

    What the men did in My Lai to me was a atrocity. No innocent human lives should be taken to gain the attention of the actual hostiles. To simply kill children, women and elderly shows how much of a spineless and insensitive person you are. Even though the men were ordered to commit such acts, they had a choice to say no and suffer the consequences honorably.

    I believe that the American government purposely concealed the acts in My Lai to stay away from the World Nations opinion since they favor the Americans. America hides alot of things from the American public to keep the idea that we are the patriots and honorable men of the world.

    A fictional perspective can alter the readers perspective. By doing so can make the reader engage to the event other than the historical event.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownMarch 11, 2015 at 9:11 AM

    1.) Viewing these documentaries and reading this interview definitely changed my outlook on the novel. I do sympathize for Vietnam War veterans, actually any war veterans for that matter just because I know the situations and things they witnessed are incomprehensible. Being involved in a war takes tolls on people that they will live with forever so in a sense I do think that his actions stem from somewhere. However I don't think they're unforgivable.
    2.) I honestly have had no prior knowledge on this massacre. When being presented with this topic in class and in the novel I thought it was a Vietnamese person. I think the mystery of this entire event in American history does add to the complexity of the novel because it makes you more intrigued to try and find out how the veterans feel and what they went through. I don't think the general public will ever know the true story.
    3.) It makes the fictional story more effective when you use a historical context. When readers know that something is based off of true events for some reason it makes them feel more connected and interested in the plot. I never was thinking about using any historical events or certain time periods because my speculative fiction is completely fictional and made from an original idea.

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownMarch 11, 2015 at 9:15 AM

    Knowing the background of the My Lai massacre is important in understanding O'Brien's novel In the lake of the woods because we can then understand what the main character experienced and what may have been the cause for his actions. Watching the documentary has changed my opinion slightly because I believe everyone has morals and a standard view of what is right and wrong, the people who chose to participate in such actions simply choose to ignore their moral standards . So when I think about what wade has done I sympathize with him because I know seeing such gruesome things have affected him but also I believe he is not an innocent bystander either. I have never heard of the My Lai massacre until today. I do believe that the My Lai Massacre is very unknown to most people because as Americans we want to ignore the most horrible parts in our history and not acknowledge them if we were the cause, because we are nationalist and like to sensationalize ourselves as the innocent good guys. In having this viewpoint it adds complexity to the novel because we could never view our "Heroes" in such a disgraceful concept such as the My Lai Massacre. Yes this is true in many cases the army will conceal the true facts of what happened overseas in order to hide the stories and protect their image In order to keep receiving constant support from the American population. The historical context helps me to understand the details of what happened in the massacre and what led to Wade's own terrible acts.

    ReplyDelete
  5. xavier lopezMarch 11, 2015 at 9:21 AM

    1. I feel like I can sympathize for Wade's actions because being in an atmosphere that he was in, its almost as if you either kill or be killed. the paranoia can really change you but its only because you want to protect yourself.
    2. I had a pretty strong background on the Vietnam war because I've read The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. I've also met some vets and interviewed them on the raw experiences they've had along with the bitter memories that they have.
    3. having some knowledge based on the historical background that the story was based on helps as a reader because it helps understand what the characters go through and it helps readers walk in there shoes, and feel what they feel.

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownMarch 11, 2015 at 9:30 AM

    1. It has changed my view on reading In the Lake of the Woods, because now I know way more about it. I think that Wade’s actions were completely unforgivable and horrible.

    2. I’ve heard about the massacre, but I didn’t really know much about it. It does add some complexity to the novel, because it adds some mystery. Maybe the public will know the story someday, and maybe not.

    3. Having historical text helps me as a reader because it helps me understand what’s happening in the story better. I don’t know what time period I would choose yet.

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownMarch 11, 2015 at 9:31 AM

    1. After watching the documentary and reading the interview on My Lai, it is easier to rationalize Wade's decisions. Although it is impossible to truly comprehend the severity and trauma of this, it allows the reader to understand where John is coming from.
    2. I was previously unaware of this tragedy. It does add complexity and mystery to the novel, in that is it so obscure and not as well known as other tragedies, causing an even deeper misunderstanding of Wade.
    3. Having historical background helps the reader to understand the novel better as it allows them to recognize the significance of the time period and how this effects the characters.

    ReplyDelete
  8. jaymeeMarch 15, 2015 at 4:46 PM

    1. After viewing some of the documentary footage and interviews of the veterans it makes it easier to see how such terrible things like war twists ones senses and distorts their mind, their rationality changes. To see some of the vets in those videos smiling through their re-tellings of what happened was eerie and unsettling. My grandfather was in the Vietnam War and its something he has never, ever talked about, and after discovering some of the atrocities like the massacre at My Lai, I know why.
    2. I knew a little bit about it from perviously reading O'Brien's "The Things They Carried" and through Ms. Gamzon relaying the knowledge in AP Lang. However, I didn't know that it was so terrible in scale. It's terrible to think, but civilian deaths happen by the hands of American soldiers in every war, but to destroy and completely decimate an entire village of innocent people is sadly sickening. It's shocking that the massacre is something so many people do not know about, and I personally feel that the United States government/military owes a public apology to Vietnam for that tragedy. If it was committed by any other country other than the U.S, the whole world would have knowledge of the event.
    3. Having knowledge of the historical happenings of the time O'Brien is writing about helps me to see the bigger picture come together sharper and more cohesively as the novel progresses. I am interested in the changes that have occurred in the 1920's in America or the emergence of Punk Rock in England.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Austin HammondMarch 25, 2015 at 9:05 AM

    1. Watching the documentary did not change my opinion on the book. I do feel like i can sympathize with John Wade, and I do think that I can forgive him. He was clearly scared and didn't completely understand what he was doing.
    2. I knew very little about it. I do think that the fact that very little is known about it adds to the complexity because nobody can completely understand the circumstances, besides those who were there. Something that is concealed will never allow the true story to arise to the public. Only those who partook in the activity truly know the original story.
    3.Having historical context greatly contributes to the understanding and involvement of the novel. It is comprehensible to the reader because If they know something about the event prior to the reading i believe it was effective.

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownMarch 25, 2015 at 9:24 AM

    1. After watching the documentary I see know more than ever how terrible this event was. I cannot sympathize with John Wade, or the real soldiers at My Lai. Watching this just made me angrier.
    2. I knew nothing about the My Lai Massacre before we started to read "In the Lake of the Woods". I don't think that the public will ever know the real story behind the massacre. It has too many biased view points and happened to long ago.
    3. Having historical elements in a fictional story makes the story more realistic and makes it easier for the reader to enter the world of the story.

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownMarch 27, 2015 at 9:18 AM

    1) Watching this documentary has given me more insight into the terrors of war, not just for soldiers, but for the opposing side as well. After the viewing, I do feel as though I can sympathize with John Wade. The emotional and psychological trauma that the war imbues within those affected by it.
    2) Prior to the video, I did not know about the My Lai Massacre. The fact that little is known about the massacre adds a bit to the the novel's complexity, as the motives and effects of the occurrence are far too unknowable and difficult to understand, thus leading us to speculate about those involved and the event itself. If the operation was concealed well enough, it is very possible that only those who were at the incident when it took place would know the true story. Form that point, it is only up to them whether or not it will be released to the public.
    3) The historical elements combined seamlessly with the fictional text offers a point of reference for to look out toward whilst the story develops. The events seem more realistic and somewhat easier to understand when connections can be made with details from a real-life similarity. I think an interesting time period to write about would be the time of Native American removal and persecution during the post-Civil War period.

    ReplyDelete
  12. izziApril 9, 2015 at 8:58 AM

    1.I didn't know about My Lai before the screening, but it did not change my view. I still feel sympathetic for john; he wasn't in a right state of mind when he did the killings.
    2. I didn't know anything about the massacre. I think if it is hidden long enough and has a cover-up, the general public will know little of what really happened.
    3. Having some time of historical reference, makes it more relate-able for the reader. Salem witch trials, early native american people, 9/11 are some of my ideas for writing a story.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)