Misunderstanding Through Misleading Representation

In class we just finished our discussions about ad representation. We talked about whether or not the ad being shown projects the product being sold as something different than what it is. In other words, does the advertisement give a false depiction of that specific item? Through these possibly misleading messages, an incorrect image or idea could be conveyed rather than the real or correct message. Concerning war films, do you think that the way that specific wars are portrayed in movies, actually capture the real life occurrences and experiences that really took place? Are war films drastically dramatized and therefore be misinterpreted? Are necessary details emphasized too much or too little? All these questions are very important in order to determine whether or not certain war films should be relied on for an accurate account of history.

I personally do not know very much about the Vietnam War. I know that it occurred from the mid 1960s through the middle of the 1970s. There was a lot of controversy about how long the American troops should have stayed in Vietnam. I am aware that the majority of the American soldiers were very young; many in their early twenties if not younger. Unfortunately, the American death toll from the war reached numbers above fifty thousand and the Vietnamese casualties more than one million. Also, I know that many people today are making comparisons between the war in Iraq with the Vietnam War. I really have not formerly learned about The Vietnam War but I would like to. I have seen the movie Forest Gump, which although was fictional, did include scenes relating to Vietnam. Due to my lack of knowledge about this topic, I do look forward to learning more.