Comparing Full Metal Jacket And Anderson's Theory Of Utilitarianism

Feelings of national consciousness have been a product of societal institutions to try and portray their nation in a positive light in order to promote a sense of a moral, secure society. Morality, an essential principle underlying ethical theories, and the desire to kill have been placed at polar ends of the spectrum when, in reality, they are entangled. Gyori and Anderson propose theories they believe are fundamental to society’s ability to function. Gyori proposes the theory of the moral and killer codes as foundations to society’s harmony as individuals give designated officials the right to kill on their behalf. Anderson argues that remembering and forgetting is integral to society as he believes the organization of memory requires organized forgetting. Both Gyori and Anderson’s reasonings are illustrated in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, an American war film centered around the Vietnamese …show more content…
Full Metal Jacket features a prostitution scene that represents Vietnamese women as promiscuous. In the film a hooker approaches Joker in attempt to make negotiations, such as allowing him to do everything he wants for ten dollars. This negatively portrays Vietnamese women in the obvious degradation of their worth, but also represents the country as one with a low living standard where people are willing to do anything for money. Massacres were also committed during the war. This is especially shown as an American soldier indiscriminately guns down Vietnamese civilians in the film. Though the Vietnam War was fought using guerrilla warfare, this scene is still unsettling. These are forms of atrocities committed by the Americans during the Vietnam War which were overlooked in America’s media in order to promote a positive narrative. The film Full Metal Jacket serves as a form of media used to shape the American-formed narrative of the Vietnam