Introduction
Any significant historical event impacts society greatly and gives rise to several concerns related to the nature of this very phenomenon and the way it altered peoples mentality. There are numerous examples from the history of our planet that evidence the given statement. War has always been an inseparable fellow traveler of humanity and influenced its evolution greatly. Moreover, social shifts that resulted from any serious military conflict promoted the appearance of numerous artworks devoted to it. Art is another integral part of our society, and it could not but respond to all significant events providing a certain point of view and manifesting the communitys attitude to one or another process. For this reason, it is quite obvious that the Vietnam War as a great social and military conflict conditioned the appearance of numerous artworks devoted to its main peculiarities.
Background
Several main factors turned the topic of the Vietnam War into one of the most discussed issues of all time. First, the unfair character of this conflict and the lack of understanding of its main purposes resulted in the rise of a civil movement against the further development of war and US participation in it. American society blamed the government and soldiers who took part in it. Second, several war causalities and horrible conditions under which people had to survive impacted the psyche and mentality of the main participants and preconditioned the appearance of the so-called Vietnam Syndrome. For these reasons, the majority of the works devoted to the given issue tend to demonstrate the horrors of war and factors that impacted people.
Flashback
At the moment numerous poems are related to the given issue. For instance, David Vancils Flashback is an artwork of the given sort. The author touches upon the theme of war and its impact on common people. However, the poem might be sometimes confusing. It’s beginning introduces the main theme as there is a question about the combat (Vancil, “Flashback” 246). One could guess that the author opposes peaceful life to the horrors of war by comparing impressions of people with different experiences. This approach is rather interesting as it helps a reader to understand the gap between these people better and realize the fact that war does affect people greatly. In this regard, Flashback could be considered a poem that contributes to the improved comprehension of the given topic.
Pulpwood
This authors next poem Pulpwood is also devoted to the same issue. However, Vancil introduces another aspect by emphasizing the fact that war is not a horrible thing when you hear about it from TV or radio. Using a jet that flies over a peaceful picture, the author introduces a strong allusion as he concludes that it could also be the sky of Vietnam of Afghanistan and this very plane might deal with death and destruction (Vancil, “Pulpwood” 246). The last words underline the fact that no one is proof against war and could suffer from its devastating nature. The poem is clear and understandable, and it manages to create the image of war with its unexpected causalities and deaths. People should realize the fact that is should be avoided at any price.
Another word for orange
Finally, Vancils artwork Another Word for Orange provides a reader with the image of a person who is involved in this conflict. The author describes the most noticeable peculiarities of those warlike M16, the scent of napalm, thicket, etc. (Vancil, “Another Word for Orange” 247). The given details help to create a clear image and obtain at least a slight understanding of what was happening in Vietnam. Vancil also introduces the figure of a priest who might be taken as the symbol of faith and religion. Soldiers pray to survive and return home. All these metaphors conditions a readers improved involvement in the atmosphere and recognition of the major concerns related to this military conflict. The author manages to convey his main message and helps us understand the real face of war which is scary and disgusting. Faith and religion remain the only hope for those who fight on another land.
Conclusion
Altogether, the above-mentioned poems contribute to the improved comprehension of the image of the Vietnam War greatly. The author manages to create the atmosphere and helps readers to understand the fact that any war is disgusting and horrible. It comes along with numerous deaths, devastations, and despair. While the poem Flashback might be confusing as Vancil uses complex metaphors and allusions. However, Pulpwood and Another Word for Orange provides readers with clear images and understandable allusions. The author wants to warn readers that a war could come to any state and people will acquire the unbearable sufferings. It should be said that these poems might trigger the reconsideration of an individuals attitude to war and serve as a good basis for numerous discussions related to its nature and a great pernicious impact it might have on people, states, and society. For this reason, a person who wants to obtain at least a slight understanding of the nature of war should be recommended to read these artworks.
Works Cited
Vancil, David. “Falshback.” Viet Nam War Generation Journal: A Tribute to Robert Olen Butler. 2.3 (2003): 246.
—. “Pulpwood.” Viet Nam War Generation Journal: A Tribute to Robert Olen Butler. 2.3 (2003): 246.
—. “Another Word for Orange.” Viet Nam War Generation Journal: A Tribute to Robert Olen Butler. 2.3 (2003): 247.