American Film (7/9)

Today in film club we watched "Full Metal Jacket"(1987) by Stanley Kubrick. This film follows a group of soldiers being trained to enter battle during the Vietnam War, and later their experiences in combat. The protagonist of the film is Joker, who tries to help Pyle, but eventually witnesses his downfal in the bathroom scene. The second half of the film follows Joker as a war journalist in Vietnam just before and after the Tet Offensive (1968). Joker is repulsed by the atrocities of war and disillusioned with the American involvement in Vietnam, which culminates in his murder of a female sniper at the endo the film. Kubrick brings up many complicated and important themes in this film, such as: imperialism, masculinity vs. femininity, dehumanization,  and patriotism, the "other" and identity.

Key Terms:
-Cold Wa r (1945-1989): unoffical war between Russia and the United States that dominated the political, economic, military and cultural policies of both countries until 1989.
-Vietnam War (1955-1975):  a Cold War conflict pitting the U.S. and the remnants of the French colonial government in South Vietnam against the indigenous but communist Vietnamese independence movement, the Viet Minh, following the latter's expulsion of the French in 1954.
-proxy war: A war that results when opposing powers use third parties as substitutes for fighting each other directly
-Tete Offensive (1968): A Vietcong attack
-Draft: when men are forced to join thar army at the government's orders.
-Vietcong: Vietnamese communists and guerilla fighers



Discussion question: 
Do you think the United States has the responisiblity (responsabilidade) or right (direito) to invade another country to protect democracy (democracia) or the safety (seguridade) of foreign citizens?