HC 30: The Vietnam War and American Culture

Engagement by the United States government in a prolonged, undeclared war in Southeast Asia has had profound effects on American politics, global strategy, foreign policy, and culture. The cultural focus in the seminar will be manifold, with examples of the impact of the American war in Vietnam (1961-1975) taken from photography (LIFE magazine, Tim Page), journalism (Michael Herr, articles in Reporting Vietnam), personal narrative, American politics, poetry (Yusef Komunyakaa, Bruce Weigl), and fiction (Graham Greene, Tim O'Brien, contemporary fiction from Vietnam).

PRIOR to the first meeting of the seminar, it is highly RECOMMENDED that students read the following material in Reporting Vietnam: American Journalism 1959-1975 (the one volume edition):

1. the chronology and maps at the back of the book.
2. the first seven articles (by Time, Browne, Bigart, Fall, Browne again, Karnow, and Halberstam) in the volume.

Admission is by application:
For enrollment information e-mail Professor Goodwin at jamesg@humnet.ucla.edu by Friday, March 9.