Summary of Week 1; Look ahead at Week 2

Slothropians in Vietnam,

I was impressed with your performances on the test and it seems to me that everyone now has a basic understanding of the endlessly intricate history of the Vietnam War. I'm also sure that there are many questions still unanswered as far as basic facts and events are concerned. So if something is unclear to you, ask by posting here, and someone will answer. I'm sure of it.

I am also most pleased with all the maps I've received thus far. They are varied and interesting and I hope their creation proved to be a worthwhile learning experience. We'll look at some of them on Tuesday to tease out whatever uncertanties remain. Maps, as I hope you felt, are not "natural" but rather created. There is a deliberate choice by the mapmaker to include or not include places. These choices of creation are part of what we'll be exploring as far as the term "rhetoric" is concerned.

On Tuesday we'll talk about the opening scene of Patton and "The naming of Parts" so bring your course packets. On Thursday we'll discuss Full Metal Jacket.

Please remember to post your experience reading The Tragedy of Vietnam here on the community blog (check out Severin's post below), and write your Introduction post on your private blog. All of you come from different backgrounds and different interests and I'd love to learn as much about you as you are willing to share.

On Thursday your first 1 page single-spaced rhetorical analysis will be due. Here are four topics about which you can write:

1. Compare the structure of "The Naming of Parts" with the structure of Full Metal Jacket.
2. Analyze the last scene in Full Metal Jacket, beginning at 1:51 into the movie. What is Kubrick's point?
3. "The Naming of Parts" was written before the Vietnam War. Full Metal Jacket takes place during the Vietnam War. To what extent does the rhetoric of both texts allow them to be universal? To what extent does the rhetoric limit the scope of the message?
4. Compare Patton's rhetoric whith that of sergeant Hartman the drill-instructor in FMJ. You may find it useful to focus on one scent in particular: Chapter 8 at 23:47 to 26:40 into the movie: "Private Pyle, is that a Jelly Donut?"
5. Your own topic.

Off to get my own jelly donut. A kick-ass weekend to all.

Slothrop