Ken Burns' "The Vietnam War" (1 Viewer)

The New York Historical Society Museum in NYC is having a major exhibit on the Vietnam War starting the end of September.
Working with some of the curators for the current World War One exhibit I was told that it will be quite revealing and t o some
very controversial.
 
The 10,000 day war series, to me remains the best on this subject. Not quite world at war but was is...
 
I'm not familiar with that one (and will check it out) but I like the one PBS did back in the 1980s, Vietnam: A History.

By the way, if anyone is looking for a good history of Vietnam, and not just the War, the companion book to the 1980s series by Stanley Karnow is excellent.
 
It is a Canadian production that was also seen in the US. The full episodes are on you tube. Highly recommend
 
Vietnam is one of those topics so colored by bias that it has been thus far been almost impossible to make any objective analysis of the events. And Burns with his sappy nonsense is probably the last person for the job of deconstructing the complex and grim events of that war. So I have low expectations. But it is still a fascinating part of modern history so I will probably watch it. At the very least, it can't be much worse than his awful WWII series.
 
I'm looking forward to this series and am hoping for good war footage that I haven't seen before. I agree Burn's WWII documentary wasn't good, but hopefully this one will be much better.
 
I think the PBS version done in the 80s was excellent and similar to the 10,000 day war, it's on You Tube.
 
One of my professors was the principle historical consultant to the series. I have seen some snippets, and it looks amazing.
 
The series starts the 17th of September.

There is also a companion book that will be available on September 5.
 
Can't wait! Don't like Burns as an individual, too liberal, but he does excellent work.
Gary
 
I expect that Burns will edit the film clips and interviews
to support his personal point of view.
I have no interest in Burns' point of view.
I will not watch his presentation.

Many many books have been written about the Vietnam War.
Reading them will provide a better understanding of that time.
Also, asking questions and listening to Veterans in your area
will increase your understanding.
 
I don't really think that will be the case Denver but I will let you know if I detect that after the first show. I just think he will let people talk.

Brad
 
Looking forward too. I'm not interested in the politics (the who's and whys) of war. I'm interested in platoon/squad level action, the individual soldier and their experience.
 
I don't think you can tell the story of the War, which goes back to 1945, without talking about the politics. For example, had Diem not reneged on having elections (as he was supposed to under the 1954 Geneva accords), we wouldn't be having a discussion today. Moreover, had the US accepted the Russian offer in the late 50s to agree to a partition a la Korea, we likewise wouldn't be having a discussion today. This war is all about politics. You can't understand it without it. As Clausewitz said War is politics by other means.
 
Apologies if I came off a little strong. I just don't think any war, but particularly this one, can be understood without reference to its politics and Vietnam's long history in resisting outsiders, from China to the United States.
 
Not strong at all Brad. I just prefer to learn about the soldier's individual experience, the heat, boredom, fear, confusion of literally hell on earth. I'm more interested in the Vietnam war, because we still have many combat veterans alive to give firsthand accounts of their experience.
 
I agree with you. I hope to see that principally. I always find first person or eyewitness accounts the most interesting because it's as if that person is talking directly to you.
 
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