Kommentar |
“All wars are fought twice, the first time on the battlefield, the second time in memory." - Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Sympathizer (2015)
Almost 50 years after its official end, the Vietnam War continues to spark debate and controversy. De-centering (hetero-)normative American heroic narratives of the war, the course readings will include literature, academic and journalistic texts, film, and entertainment shows. Short lectures will provide students with the politics of the war, and other necessary historical and theoretical background. We will focus on cultural productions, memory culture, and political movements, and discuss theories of Vietnamese-American studies, aesthetics, queer critique, ethnocentrism, refugee studies, and archives in regards to the Vietnam War, as well as its legacies.
Credit for the course requires regular attendance, co-organizing one of the sessions, and submission of assignments (e.g. response papers, and creative projects). Accessibility: Students with accessibility needs are urged to contact me at least two weeks before the start of the seminar: hodacmit@hu-berlin.de. |