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Beyond this mostly factual depiction of the past is something far more powerful. Cinema. The modern movie screen is a medium that recreates all sorts of era’s, landscapes and scenarios, from the daily life of an ant, to the farthest reaches of the universe. In Robert Zemeckis’s Forrest Gump, we are given a look into America during a time of radical change. Through the eyes of a simpleton, Forrest Gump, Zemeckis guides us through the social and political goings on of the 1960’s. Within his depiction of the 1960’s, we are able to form opinions of the time. Forrest is a symbol of the struggle to hold onto 50’s America, during an era marked with race riots, distrust of the government and the Vietnam War. In this essay I will attempt to connect the events of Forrest’s life as we see then in the film, to the collective memory that many American’s have regarding the 1960’s. By encompassing crooked political action, aggressive anti-war movements and the emergence of the counter-culture movement, Forrest Gump has become a strong driver of the perception of the country in the
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Except for all the beer cans and barbeque, it was!”
This quote ties the soundtrack selection into the state of mind in early Vietnam. He arrives to what appears to be a party on the ground; all the while helicopters are flying overhead. It would be easy to be positive and want to, ‘wave the red, white and blue’, as John Fogerty says in his song, while everything seemed so calm. This scene can be juxtaposed with another one that comes shortly after to show the harsh realities of war.
Later we see Forrest walking through the jungle in a heavy down pour. With a stern look on his face and his rifle set and ready, this is clearly a changed man. Now we hear, Buffalo Springfield’s famous anti-war song, ‘For What its Worth’. Forrest is explaining how it rains non-stop in Vietnam when just as the sun comes out, shots fire past his face an explosions ring out. This was the real Vietnam War, the part that the recruiters would never mention to the young men the convinced of the honor of fighting for your country. The piece of propaganda that was given to Forrest at is graduation day read, “Excellent Careers for Excellent Young Men”. This was a far cry from the death that surrounds Forrest and his infantry mates and now, he must run for his
Except for all the beer cans and barbeque, it was!”
This quote ties the soundtrack selection into the state of mind in early Vietnam. He arrives to what appears to be a party on the ground; all the while helicopters are flying overhead. It would be easy to be positive and want to, ‘wave the red, white and blue’, as John Fogerty says in his song, while everything seemed so calm. This scene can be juxtaposed with another one that comes shortly after to show the harsh realities of war.
Later we see Forrest walking through the jungle in a heavy down pour. With a stern look on his face and his rifle set and ready, this is clearly a changed man. Now we hear, Buffalo Springfield’s famous anti-war song, ‘For What its Worth’. Forrest is explaining how it rains non-stop in Vietnam when just as the sun comes out, shots fire past his face an explosions ring out. This was the real Vietnam War, the part that the recruiters would never mention to the young men the convinced of the honor of fighting for your country. The piece of propaganda that was given to Forrest at is graduation day read, “Excellent Careers for Excellent Young Men”. This was a far cry from the death that surrounds Forrest and his infantry mates and now, he must run for his