The Things They Carried: Films & Stories of the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War has been depicted in countless films for the last 40 years. Often, the films are gruesome and gory to depict the horrors and pointlessness of the events and deaths of the Vietnam War, as well as its aftereffects. As you know, Tim O’Brien tries to reveal similar ideas in his collection of stories The Things They Carried, using imagery to paint vivid scenes in readers’ minds, instead of images on screen. Vietnam war films can help shed light on O’Brien’s stories and give us a deeper understanding of his themes and characters.
As a review of TTTC and its themes, you will do a presentation comparing a Vietnam war film and O'Brien's story collection.
STEP 1) Working alone or with a partner, you will need to watch a film related to the Vietnam War.
Notable films from which to choose include:
Good Morning, Vietnam
Apocalypse Now
Full Metal Jacket
Platoon
Born on the 4th of July
The Deer Hunter
We Were Soldiers
The Green Berets
*any other ideas...?
STEP 2) You (and your partner, possibly) will become experts on one of the assigned stories and note their main developments in terms of themes, characterization, conflicts, literary and stylistic devices (all supported with key quotations).
Fill in this document as you review your story:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_Fg6dKON4wQAaM5XA7LLH2bBGwWVniMmyQ1thNKzyPM/edit?usp=sharing
You will then consider the links between the film and your story.
Step 3) You will present your ideas to the class, discussing key issues and developments, including themes, characters, and conflicts that link the story and the film. Remember that your main goal is to show a deep understanding of O'Brien's stories, so support links with textual evidence.
You should show 2-3 short clips from the movie to emphasize your points, and include key quotations from your story that you think are particularly meaningful in conveying ideas about characters and thematic concerns.
Presentations should be about 10ish minutes person (so 20ish minutes per pair) - including film clips, and should be organized in any way you deem appropriate.
The Vietnam War has been depicted in countless films for the last 40 years. Often, the films are gruesome and gory to depict the horrors and pointlessness of the events and deaths of the Vietnam War, as well as its aftereffects. As you know, Tim O’Brien tries to reveal similar ideas in his collection of stories The Things They Carried, using imagery to paint vivid scenes in readers’ minds, instead of images on screen. Vietnam war films can help shed light on O’Brien’s stories and give us a deeper understanding of his themes and characters.
As a review of TTTC and its themes, you will do a presentation comparing a Vietnam war film and O'Brien's story collection.
STEP 1) Working alone or with a partner, you will need to watch a film related to the Vietnam War.
Notable films from which to choose include:
Good Morning, Vietnam
Apocalypse Now
Full Metal Jacket
Platoon
Born on the 4th of July
The Deer Hunter
We Were Soldiers
The Green Berets
*any other ideas...?
STEP 2) You (and your partner, possibly) will become experts on one of the assigned stories and note their main developments in terms of themes, characterization, conflicts, literary and stylistic devices (all supported with key quotations).
Fill in this document as you review your story:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_Fg6dKON4wQAaM5XA7LLH2bBGwWVniMmyQ1thNKzyPM/edit?usp=sharing
You will then consider the links between the film and your story.
Step 3) You will present your ideas to the class, discussing key issues and developments, including themes, characters, and conflicts that link the story and the film. Remember that your main goal is to show a deep understanding of O'Brien's stories, so support links with textual evidence.
You should show 2-3 short clips from the movie to emphasize your points, and include key quotations from your story that you think are particularly meaningful in conveying ideas about characters and thematic concerns.
Presentations should be about 10ish minutes person (so 20ish minutes per pair) - including film clips, and should be organized in any way you deem appropriate.