FRS 002V — Sec. 001 — (2 unit) — CRN 55922 — M 12:10 – 2:00pm — 70 SSH
Reading Vietnam

Instructor: Andrew Strombeck, University Writing Program, College of Letters and Science

Description: This course considers the Vietnam War’s cultural legacy, including its impact on American self image, its effect on American foreign policy, and its intersection with the social movements of the sixties—as well as its impact on the Vietnamese themselves. We will be watching films and reading books that cover a range of perspectives from American war supporters, war journalists, Vietnam veterans, and Vietnamese citizens, asking what made the conflict unique, and why its legacy continues to shape American culture.

Format: Students will gain an understanding of Vietnam’s cultural legacy, comparing and contrasting different texts on the topic. They will improve their critical thinking, reading, and communication skills while investigating a topic that continues to be crucial for understanding American life. The course will consist of instructor-guided discussions, student response papers, small group presentations, and a longer paper. In addition to the course meetings, students will be required to view two films, either at a scheduled screenings or in the Hart Lab. Grading: Four short response papers (20%), small group presentations connecting two texts (20%); class participation (30%); and a short essay (3-4 pages) on a topic of interest to them written under the instructor’s guidance (30%).

About the Instructor: Andrew Strombeck is a postdoctoral fellow in the English Department, where he has taught courses in composition and literature for the past five years. He has published articles on conspiracy theory and contemporary American literature. His interests include the American sixties, conspiracy theory, and masculinity, and he is currently completing a book called None Dare Call It Masculinity: Conspiracy Theory, Narrative Form, and Male Identity in Postwar America. His aunt worked as a Red Cross nurse during Vietnam.