The Contributing Factor to a Divisive Society After the Vietnam War

Abstract

The Contributing Factor to a Divisive Society After the Vietnam War The Vietnam War, which lasted for nearly two decades, was documented in over five thousand pieces of music. These lyrics contained various themes, ranging from patriotism to anger; the complexity behind this popular music recorded and revealed the intricate nature of the U.S citizensƒ?? struggle. There has been a good deal of scholarship already on music and the Vietnam War. For example, Anne Meisenzahl and Roger Peace has investigated protest music on the home front, and Doug Bradley and Craig Werner has analyzed the consumption habits of soldiers in the field. What has not been done, however, is a systematic comparison of the two themes. A holistic portrayal of music in this crucial era, therefore, has not been available. With technological innovation, Vietnam was the first war in which soldiers could bring their personalized music to the frontlines. Their playlist was rather different, and thus contributing factors to this difference is worth highlighting. While students back home used music to protest the war, soldiers in the field used music to escape it.

Keywords

NA

  • Research Identity (RIN)

  • License

    Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

  • Language & Pages

    English, 21-26

  • Classification

    FOR code: 169999