In the early 1970’s more youth magazines were developed which were student centred and radical. They were likely to be opposed to the war and supportive to those who were involved in the antiwar demonstrations.
Another way opposition was shown was through contemporary film. Film at the time consisted of newsreels of footage of the conflict. It also showed the violent nature of conflict and the bitter, cruel side of war. This brought the harshness of war back to Americans at home and increased opposition to the war greatly.
The cinema also played a major part in the opposition to the Vietnam War. The first films released about the Vietnam War were all very pro-war. This was influenced by the pro war feelings at the start of the war which were shared by many Americans. One of the main films of this time was a movie called the “Green Berets” in 1968, starring John Wayne as a commander of a resident on a mission in Vietnam. The movie was very anti- communist and was a film success. An 8million majority supported containing communism at the time as the movie was released before people hated the war.
However when views on the war changed and Americans became more opposed of the war media began to concentrate on more antiwar themed material. Movie producers began to release more antiwar movies such as MASH in 1970 which was a dark comedy film portraying humour but also showing the cruel harsh side of the Vietnam War. The Taxi Driver in 1976 was a movie sat in New York soon after the Vietnam War. It was strongly anti war and stared Robert De Niro. The Deer Hunter in 1978 was also a strong antiwar movie starring Robert De Niro. It focused on how the Vietnam War was not at all what anyone expected and the effects it had on people and how it changed them. It shows how soldiers were changed mentally and the effect it had on people at home. Apocalypse Now in 1979 was an antiwar film which depicted the slow breakdown and bitterness of war. In many scenes it was truly horrific and focused on the darkness of war and the effect it has on people mentally. A comedy TV show called “MASH” based on the film was released in 1972. Like the movie it was a Dark comedy which was antiwar and displayed the harshness of the Vietnam War.
In 1968 a documentary called, “The Year of the Pig” was released. This documentary composed archived footage and interties. It showed solider legless and bloody, being carried off the battle field. The song “Old Glory” played in the background throughout the documentary. The documentary was strongly antiwar however most film producers didn’t want antiwar material.
There was also many images which seem to have the same or even more of an effect on the antiwar views of America. An example was the image of Napalm victims. The image displayed several children running from napalm attack. The children can be seen crying as their flesh is burning due to the napalm. The main focus in the picture is a naked girl running with her arms out crying. What can’t be seen in the picture is that her back is completely burnt due to napalm. The picture helps to depict the bitterness and cruelty of war. The fact the girl is naked, burnt and hasn’t anyone with her to look after her builds up how unmerciful war is. This image helped greatly to build support for the opposition if the Vietnam War.
Another image which had a great effect on America was an image of a VC prisoner being shot. The image shows an American soldier holding a gun to the VC’s head and makes the VC look very helpless. The American solider shows no signs of hesitation or regret in his actions. The actual image was taken when the bullet had entered the VCs head and so horror and shock is built in US citizens viewing this picture.
Finally there was the image of the, “My Lai” massacre. The image shows a mass of bodies that had been shot and massacred lying dead distributed over a road. The bodies consist of women and babies as well which shocked and horrified American citizens. The fact there was so many dead and not one had even been moved or even pulled aside of the road was shocking. This greatly enhanced the support for the opposition of the Vietnam War and built a clearer picture of what was happening in Vietnam.
Finally contemporary song was used to display opposition and negativity to the Vietnam War. Songs wrote were often about the Vietnam War and were mostly against it. The Vietnam War affected many and because of it many artists felt it necessary to write about it and its evil. This influenced people to protest and fight for peace and the War to end.
Johnny Cash wrote the song called, “Drive On” which had great psychological effects on many. Many of the lyrics showed feelings of negativity to the Vietnam War such as, “tremor when I walk” “Many a good man I saw fall” “I hear the men and the monkeys and the jungle scream.” The song itself is obviously against the Vietnam War. It reflects the horrific nature of the war by making out that all that can be hear are the screams of men dying. The fact that good men are dying out in Vietnam makes it all seem much worse. The song reflected the mood of the public and the opponents.
Another artist was Loretta Lyn who wrote the song, “Dear Uncle Sam”. The song is strong opposed to the Vietnam War the whole way through. The song is about a mother writing to Uncle Sam about her son’s death. Throughout the song the mother seems to still be in favour of Uncle Sam despite it being his fault that her son is dead. This makes out her to be the good person and Uncle Sam to be the bad person. It describes the effect the War has on people back home and persuaded people to be more opposed of the War. The lyrics are a letter written to Uncle Sam and tell us how men are dying for him, “He proudly wears the colors of the old red white and blue. While I wear a heartache since he left me for you”
Another example would be Perry Friedman who released the song “I Don’t Stand Alone” in 1968. The song told the public to not fight in Vietnam and that those who do not fight are not alone. It displays the American’s role in the War as being evil and inhumane and is an extremely antiwar song. This helped the opposition to the war increase.
The opposition to the Vietnam War was not displayed through violence, but rather song, film and literature. All methods played an equal part in increasing antiwar awareness and encouraged the public to be more opposed of the Vietnam War. They were a major contribution to the opposition and displayed how the public felt. Without them there may have been a lot less numbers fighting to stop the Vietnam War and people opposing it may not have felt as strong and brave. A lot of the methods brought truth to the public and opened their eyes to what is really going on in war. It was mostly the truth that shocked the Americans and brought them to opposing the war. The power of the media to this present day sees people to government.
