War has played a very important role in the shaping of our history. It is a big part of us. It is what makes the United States today. Throughout history, war has been portrayed in many different ways and forms. Art plays a significant role when it comes to depicting the subject of war. Artists, writers, poets, have all expressed what they truly feel about the effects of war. There’s numerous of artistic works that depict war in various ways. Songs, paintings, drawings, poems, films, photographs, graffiti, artworks, and posters are all examples of artistic forms that can portray war. As we visualize a painting or listen to a song, we have to deeply try to understand what it is the artist wants us to comprehend. Artists have different beliefs and ideas about war, and each of their art has a significant meaning or a response to war.
As I was deciding which artistic piece I was going to analyze for this assignment, I came across a lot of interesting works. I saw a variety of political cartoons, photographs, paintings, and posters. I honestly did not know what I was going to analyze. After listening to a lot of songs about war, I came across one, whose name caught my attention. The song is titled “This is My Rifle” by Mark Maysey. It is an anti-war song. I thought it was interesting because Maysey actually fought in Vietnam in 1969, so this song is told from a soldier’s perspective. He lived through the horrible experience of the Vietnam War. Maysey wrote the song in 1999. This “ballad”, as he calls it represents the effects of war. Maysey says that after returning home, he still had recurring images about the war that played in his head.
The song starts out with “Back in 69, I didn’t have a care.” Maysey is telling us that when he enlisted, he really didn’t care about much. He was young, and it basically did not matter what he did. The average age of a soldier in Vietnam was nineteen. Most 19 year-olds are still young, and they tend to go with the flow of life. This was the reason he enlisted. He didn’t know what he was getting himself into. Later on in the song, it says, “So until this war is over or until your time is done this is your rifle.” This means that the rifle was going to be his only friend throughout the war. He was going to depend on that rifle for killing. The rifle symbolized mass murder and violence. “Until your time is done” can mean that he will keep that rifle until he completes his serving or until he is dead. Maysey expresses how he feels about the war when he addresses “Thirty years have passed since I stepped off that plane, the nightmares haven’t ended and neither has the pain, I’ve drank my share of liquor and smoked my share of grass, But I can’t unload the memories or these few words from my past.” These lines of the song portray the effects of the war on Maysey’s life. He wants us to understand that Vietnam was a horrible place. It was an experience that he wants to forget, but never will. He has memories that keep reminiscing in his head. To try to forget, he has tried to drink and smoke, but it hasn’t worked. He has been scarred for life.
The song starts out with “Back in 69, I didn’t have a care.” Maysey is telling us that when he enlisted, he really didn’t care about much. He was young, and it basically did not matter what he did. The average age of a soldier in Vietnam was nineteen. Most 19 year-olds are still young, and they tend to go with the flow of life. This was the reason he enlisted. He didn’t know what he was getting himself into. Later on in the song, it says, “So until this war is over or until your time is done this is your rifle.” This means that the rifle was going to be his only friend throughout the war. He was going to depend on that rifle for killing. The rifle symbolized mass murder and violence. “Until your time is done” can mean that he will keep that rifle until he completes his serving or until he is dead. Maysey expresses how he feels about the war when he addresses “Thirty years have passed since I stepped off that plane, the nightmares haven’t ended and neither has the pain, I’ve drank my share of liquor and smoked my share of grass, But I can’t unload the memories or these few words from my past.” These lines of the song portray the effects of the war on Maysey’s life. He wants us to understand that Vietnam was a horrible place. It was an experience that he wants to forget, but never will. He has memories that keep reminiscing in his head. To try to forget, he has tried to drink and smoke, but it hasn’t worked. He has been scarred for life.
The Vietnam War was a very deadly one. A lot of American soldiers, as well as innocent civilians lost their lives. Many soldiers witnessed the plague of death; they witnessed their friends’ fall right in front of them. Maysey writes “Well, a dear friend of mine finally called it quits, they found him one cold morning laying in a ditch, a bullet through his brain, his rifle at his side.” Once again, he is telling us that your rifle was your friend until you died. The rifle was beside his friend, along with his dog tag. Like Maysey, many veterans were greatly affected by the war. Many have lost their families, friends, and jobs. Their world has turned upside down. They will never be the same. The images they experienced in Vietnam will be carried with them for the rest of their lives. This is why we see numerous homeless that are veterans. It is important that we recognize them as heroes that fought for our country and us. Artistic responses to war often symbolize or convey a powerful message. In his song, Maysey conveys to us the experience that a soldier goes through and the everlasting effects that a war causes. He believes that war is unnecessary.
Uncle Sam dates back to the origins of the War of 1812. But it was not until the beginning of World War II when it becomes popular. The propaganda poster above by James Montgomery Flagg was used to recruit young men into the U.S. Army. Uncle Sam symbolizes the United States. The creator of this image wanted to make Uncle Sam appealing to the eye. He looks intimidating, sharp, and full of authority. His finger is pointing at the viewer. In this image, Uncle Sam is in urge to go to war, and he wants a lot of soldiers to join. It is motivating and convincing.
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Ironically, years later, Unlce Sam wants out. He no longer wants to fight. I the picture above by a committee to help unsell the war, it shows Uncle Sam badly wounded. He is bleeding from the head. He looks like he's going through a severe pain. Also, he is no longer wearing his head with a firm and pride manner. Instead, he is holding it in his arm, and with the other hand he is reaching out towards the viewer. Uncle Sam seems to be asking for help, and is no longer demanding.
This is an anti-war poster during the Vietnam War. The United States was seeing bad times. A lot of soldiers were loosing their lives in Vietnam for no reason. People were against the war. Riots and protests emerged. I thought this picture was really interesting because I had never seen it. It also relates to my song analysis of "This is my Rifle" because they are both against the Vietnam War. |
This Works Cited
http://backspace.com/notes/2003/10/uncle-sam.php
http://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=548
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISRSE-4q7e4
http://backspace.com/notes/2003/10/uncle-sam.php
http://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=548
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISRSE-4q7e4