University of Hong Kong
Faculty of Education
Common Core Course 2012-2013, Semester 2
Reflecting on Human Experience through Literature
Session 2 6th February, 2013: Images of War in Popular Culture
Definitions:
Propaganda
Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point
of view.
The dissemination of such information as a political strategy.
Satire
The use of humour, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to expose and criticise people’s stupidity or vices.
A play, novel, film or other work that uses satire.
Parody
An imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect
Produce a humorously exaggerated imitation of (a writer, artist, or genre)
Picasso’s Guernica
Guernica is grey, black and white, 3.5 metres (11.5 ft) tall and 7.8 metres (25.6 ft) wide, a mural-size canvas painted in oil.
This painting can be seen in the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid. Picasso's purpose in painting it was to bring the world's
attention to the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica by German bombers, who were supporting the Nationalist forces
of General Franco during the Spanish Civil War. Picasso completed the painting by mid-June 1937. Picasso exhibited his
mural-size painting at the Spanish display at the Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne
(1937) (Paris International Exposition) in the 1937 World's Fair in Paris and then at other venues around the world. The
San Francisco Museum of Art (later SFMOMA) gave the work its first public, free appearance in the United States from
27 August – 19 September. The Museum of Modern Art in New York City then mounted an important Picasso exhibition
on 15 November 1939 that remained on view until 7 January 1940, entitled: Picasso: 40 Years of His Art, that was
organized by Alfred H. Barr (1902–1981), in collaboration with the Art Institute of Chicago. The exhibition contained 344
works, including Guernica and its studies.
Guernica shows suffering people, animals, and buildings wrenched by violence and chaos. The overall scene is within a
room where, at an open end on the left, a wide-eyed bull stands over a woman grieving over a dead child in her arms.The
centre is occupied by a horse falling in agony as it had just been run through by a spear or javelin. The large gaping
wound in the horse's side is a major focus of the painting. Two "hidden" images formed by the horse appear in Guernica:
A human skull overlays the horse's body. A bull appears to gore the horse from underneath. The bull's head is formed
mainly by the horse's entire front leg which has the knee on the ground. The leg's knee cap forms the head's nose. A horn
appears within the horse's breast. The bull's tail forms the image of a flame with smoke rising from it, seemingly
appearing in a window created by the lighter shade of gray surrounding it. Under the horse is a dead, apparently
dismembered soldier; his hand on a severed arm still grasps a shattered sword from which a flower grows. On the open
palm of the dead soldier is a stigma, a symbol of martyrdom derived from the stigmata of Christ.
A light bulb blazes in the shape of an evil eye over the suffering horse's head (the bare bulb of the torturer's cell). Picasso's
intended symbolism in regards to this object is related to the Spanish word for lightbulb; "bombilla", which makes an
allusion to "bomb" and therefore signifies the destructive effect which technology can have on society. To the upper right
of the horse, a frightened female figure, who seems to be witnessing the scenes before her, appears to have floated into the
room through a window. Her arm, also floating in, carries a flame-lit lamp. The lamp is positioned very close to the bulb,
and is a symbol of hope, clashing with the lightbulb. From the right, an awe-struck woman staggers towards the center
below the floating female figure. She looks up blankly into the blazing light bulb. Daggers that suggest screaming replace
the tongues of the bull, grieving woman, and horse. A bird, possibly a dove, stands on a shelf behind the bull in panic. On
the far right, a figure with arms raised in terror is entrapped by fire from above and below. The right hand of the man
suggests the shape of an airplane. A dark wall with an open door defines the right end of the mural.
Synopses of Starship Troopers
1. The novel
Starship Troopers is a military science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, first published (in abridged form) as a serial
in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (October, November 1959, as "Starship Soldier") and published hardcover
in December 1959.
The first-person narrative is about a young soldier from the Philippines named Juan “Johnnie” Rico and his exploits in the
Mobile Infantry, a futuristic military service branch equipped with powered armour. Rico's military career progresses
from recruit to non-commissioned officer and finally to officer against the backdrop of an interstellar war between
humanity and an arachnoid species known as "the Bugs ". Rico and the other characters discuss moral and philosophical
aspects of suffrage, civic virtue, juvenile delinquency, capital punishment, and war.
2. The film
Starship Troopers is a 1997 American military science fiction thriller film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by
Edward Neumeier, loosely adapted from Starship Troopers, the novel by Robert A. Heinlein.
In the future, humans are a space-faring Federation and contend for planets with a hostile species of large insects known
as the Arachnids or "Bugs," whose home-world is the distant planet Klendathu. In the Federation citizenship is not a
birthright, but a privilege earned by those who serve society through such activities as military service; citizens are
granted many opportunities prohibited to non-citizens. Athlete John “Johnny” Rico, his girlfriend Carmen Ibanez, and
best friend Carl Jenkins attend high school in Buenos Aires. Fellow student Dizzy Flores is in love with Rico, but he does
not return her affections. After graduation all decide to enlist in Federation service. Carmen excels academically and
becomes a spaceship pilot while Carl, who is psychic, is assigned to Military Intelligence for scientific research on the
Bugs. Rico enlists in the Mobile Infantry mainly to see Carmen, but is surprised to see Dizzy, who has enlisted there to be
near him.
At Mobile Infantry training the brutal but effective Career Sergeant Zim heads the recruits. Rico is promoted to squad
leader and finds a friend in Ace Levy, but his hopes for continued romance with Carmen are dashed as she desires a career
with the fleet and serves under Rico's high school sports rival, Zander Barcalow. After a incident that results in the death
of one of Rico's squad, he is demoted and publicly flogged. He decides to resign and calls his parents, but the call
unexpectedly drops; an asteroid launched by the Arachnids has obliterated Buenos Aires, killing millions including Rico's
family. Rico rescinds his resignation and remains with the Infantry as an invasion force is deployed to Klendathu.
The first strike on Klendathu is a disaster, with heavy casualties. Rico himself is wounded and mistakenly labeled killed in
action, causing Carmen to believe he is dead. Rico, Ace, and Dizzy are reassigned to the Roughnecks, commanded by
Rico's high school teacher Lieutenant Jean Rasczak. Dizzy and Rico begin a romance and the Roughnecks respond to a
distress call from Planet "P", where they discover a deserted outpost that had been overrun by Bugs. The distress call is a
trap by the Arachnids, who swarm the outpost. Rico euthanises a mortally wounded Rasczak at his own request and Dizzy
is fatally wounded, dying in Rico's arms as they are retrieved by a rescue ship piloted by Carmen and Zander. Rico and
Carmen reconnect at Dizzy's funeral, where they encounter Carl, now a high-ranking Intelligence officer. Carl reveals that
the reason for the ill-fated mission on P was to confirm the existence of an intelligent "brain bug", directing the other Bugs
and showing that the Bugs have a desire to learn about their human enemy. He field-promotes Rico to lieutenant and gives
him command of the Roughnecks, ordering the infantry to capture the brain bug.
As Rico's Roughnecks join the mission on the planet, the Fleet encounters fire from the Bugs, and Carmen's ship is
destroyed. The dying Captain Deladier orders them to abandon ship. Carmen and Zander leave in an escape pod but crash
into the Bug tunnel system near Rico's location. Rico, unknowingly guided by a psychic suggestion from Carl, takes Ace
and teammate Sugar Watkins into the tunnels to rescue Carmen. They find a wounded Carmen and Zander disarmed in a
cavern with several Arachnids, including the brain bug, which drains the contents of Zander's brain cranial with a
proboscis. Before it can do so to Carmen, she severs it with a knife. Rico threatens the Bugs with a small nuclear bomb, so
the brain bug reluctantly allows them to escape. When Arachnids pursue them, Watkins is mortally wounded and
sacrifices himself by detonating the nuke while the others escape. After returning to the surface, they find that former
Sergeant Zim, who had demoted himself to private so that he could serve, has captured the brain bug. Carl congratulates
Rico and tells him and Carmen that the humans will soon be victorious, now that Intelligence can study the brain bug.
There are many differences between the original book and film. While the original novel has been accused of promoting
militarism, fascism and military rule: the film satirizes these concepts by featuring news reports that are intensely fascist,
xenophobic and propagandistic. Also, the characters debate some interesting ideas about war and peace, for example:
Starship Troopers - "The Failure of Democracy"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsR4O4W0w&feature=endscreen&NR=1
Jean Rasczak: All right, let's sum up. This year in history, we talked about the failure of democracy, how the
social scientists of the 21st Century brought our world to the brink of chaos. We talked about the veterans, how
they took control and imposed the stability that has lasted for generations since. We talked about the rights and
privileges between those who served in the armed forces and those who haven't, therefore called citizens and
civilians. [to a student] You. Why are only citizens allowed to vote?
Student: It's a reward. Something the federation gives you for doing federal service.
Jean Rasczak: No. Something given has no basis in value. When you vote, you are exercising political authority,
you're using force. And force, my friends, is violence. The supreme authority from which all other authorities are
derived.
Dizzy: My mother always told me that violence doesn't solve anything.
Jean Rasczak: Really? I wonder what the city founders of Hiroshima would have to say about that. [to Carmen]
You.
Carmen: They wouldn't say anything. Hiroshima was destroyed.
Jean Rasczak: Correct. Naked force has resolved more issues throughout world history than any other factor.
The contrary opinion that violence never solves anything is wishful thinking at its worst.
Truth and Reality: The Power of Propaganda
Triumph of the Will rapidly became one of the best-known examples of propaganda in film history. Riefenstahl's
techniques, such as moving cameras, the use of long focus lenses to create a distorted perspective, aerial photography, and
revolutionary approach to the use of music and cinematography have made the film widely-known.
It was very important to Adolf Hitler that his propaganda messages carry a unified theme. If a country isn't unified in
saying the enemy is bad, the audience starts to have doubts. Unity is seen throughout Triumph of the Will, even in the
camps where soldiers live. The camp outside of Nuremberg is very uniform and clean; the tents are aligned in perfect
rows, each one the same as the next. The men there also make a point not to wear their shirts, because their shirts display
their rankings and status. Shirtless they are all equals, unified. When they march, it is in unison and they all carry their
weapons identically, one to another.
19 - Paul Hardcastle
In 1965 Vietnam seemed like just another foreign war,
but it wasn't.
It was different in many ways, as so were those that did the fighting.
In World War II the average age of the combat soldier was 26...
In Vietnam he was 19.
In inininininin Vietnam he was 19.
(TV announcer's voice)
The shooting and fighting of the past two weeks continued today
25 miles west of Saigon
I really wasn't sure what was going on (Vet's Voice)
Nininini Nineteen, 19, Ni-nineteen 19
19,19,19,19
In Vietnam the combat soldier typically served a twelve month tour of duty but
was exposed to hostile fire almost every day
Ninininininininininin 19 nininininninin 19
Hundreds of Thousands of men who saw heavy combat in Vietnam were arrested
since discharge
Their arrest rate is almost twice that of non-veterans of the same age.
There are no accurate figures of how many of these men have been incarcerated.
But, a Veterans Administration study concludes that the greater of Vets
exposure to combat could more likely affect his chances of being arrested or
convicted.
This is one legacy of the Vietnam War
(Singing Girls)
All those who remember the war
They won't forget what they've seen..
Destruction of men in their prime
whose average was 19
Dedededededede-Destruction
Dedededededede-Destruction
War, War
Dededede-Destruction, wa-wa-War, wa-War, War
Dedededededede-Destruction
War, War
After World War II the Men came home together on troop ships, but the VietnamVet often arrived home within 48 hours
of jungle combat
Perhaps the most dramatic difference between World War II and Vietnam was
coming home...none of them received a hero's welcome
None of them received a hero’s welcome, none of them, none of them
Nenene Nenene None of them, none of them, none of them
None of them received a hero's welcome
None of them received a hero's welcome
According to a Veteran's Administration study
Half of the Vietnam combat veterans suffered from what psychiatrists call
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Many vets complain of alienation, rage, or guilt
Some succumb to suicidal thoughts
Eight to Ten years after coming home almost eight-hundred-thousand men are
still fighting the Vietnam War
(Singing Girls)
Dedededededede-Destruction
Nininininininininin Nineteen, 19, Ni-nineteen 19
19,19,19,19
Nininininininininin Nineteen, 19, Ni-nineteen 19
19,19,19,19
(Soldiers Voice)
When we came back it was different.. Everybody wants to know "How'd it happen to those guys over there
There's gotta be something wrong somewhere
We did what we had to do
There's gotta be something wrong somewhere
People wanted us to be ashamed of what it made us
Dad had no idea what he went to fight and he is now
All we want to do is come home
All we want to do is come home
What did we do it for
All we want to do is come home
Was it worth it?
I Should Be Proud sung by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
I was under the dryer when the telegram came:
"Private John C. Miller was shot down in Vietnam"
Through my tears I read: "No more information at this time
He's missin' in action somewhere on the Delta Line"
And they say that I should be proud; he was fightin' for me
They say that I should be proud, those too blind to see
But he wasn't fightin' for me, my Johnny didn't have to fight for me
He was fightin' for the evils of society.
Now I prayed night & day that my Johnny wouldn't die
Love, faith and hope was all that kept me alive
Then six weeks later came that cold & heartless letter:
"Private Johnny was killed in action, number 54327"
And they say that I should be proud; he was keepin' me free
They say that I should be proud, those too blind to see
But he wasn't fightin' for me, my Johnny didn't have to die for me
He was fightin' for the evils of society.
(instrumental)
(spoken):
They shipped him home with medals of honor & glory
Even our local paper ran a front-page story
But the whole time gave him praisin' and said how honored I should be
But I don't want no superstar, just the good man they took from me
& they tell me I should be proud; he was fightin' for me
They say that I should be proud, those too blind to see
But he wasn't fightin' for me, my Johnny didn't have to die for me
He's a victim of the evils of society
I should be proud of my Johnny
They tell me that I should be proud; they just don't want Johnny for me
They tell me that I should be proud of my Johnny.
Clips for today’s session
‘Starship Troopers – I’m doing my part’ (2 min 12 secs)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMTz9nIUkGc
‘Starship Troopers 3 – Go Fleet’ (55 secs)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpwukbCso-8
Triumph des Willens (1935) – Triumph of the Will
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHs2coAzLJ8
(from 2: 18 to 2: 28 as an example)
Starship Troopers - WAR (2 mins 20 secs)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faFuaYA-daw&NR=1&feature=endscreen
BBC Ten O Clock News 2003 - War in Iraq
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CHgm8Bc0_Q
Ride of the Valkyries - Apocalypse Now (3/8) Movie CLIP (1979) HD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30QzJKCUekQ (from beginning to 1: 10)
Starship Troopers - March to Victory (51 secs)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPDmJxLkh1o&feature=endscreen&NR=1
Troy-Epic Battle Between Trojans and Greeks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f57Ohgh82c
Paul Hardcastle – “19” (3 mins 39 secs)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3LdMAqUMnM
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas “I SHOULD BE PROUD” (4 mins 8 secs)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OByFHmY_-j0