  Drama
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With my penchance for discussing war films as of late, I figured I ought to discuss the Vietnam War as depicted in cinema. Even today, the mention of Vietnam still conjures up myriad (and often fiery) emotions. With that in mind, I realized that we should look at a couple aspects of writing that are gleaned from these films. In this issue of the back-to-back series, I'll be taking a look at accuracy in Vietnam War films.
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Amazon's Price: $ 12.95
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With historical and war drama, accuracy is paramount. Without precise attention to detail, readers/viewers might not believe the story being told. However, there seems to be a sort of tunnel vision regarding detail. While many sources emphasize focusing on the little things to evoke mood and explore the depth of character, the larger details are sometimes left in the dust. With that in mind, I would like to discuss these so-called "larger" details and why they should not be forgotten in writing, especially in historical/war drama.
I find that next to World War II, Vietnam is a very popular war for all people involved in filmmaking to tackle. In this case, Vietnam provides and interesting dilemma when it comes to accuracy. To this day, there is still contention regarding what really happened in regard to the war itself and how our government handled it. This factor could challenge the concept of accuracy in writing. However, some general truths can be established, primarily naming specific events and when they occurred. We can all accept that My Lai occurred on March 16, 1968. There are also events that occurred during what is called the Vietnam Era, such as the Kent State shootings on May 4, 1970. The latter incident, however, was not strictly relating to the war in Vietnam. However, I bring it up since it is referenced in some Vietnam-themed films, one of which is Oliver Stone's Born on the Fourth of July.
Some of you may wonder why I bring up an Oliver Stone film in an article about accuracy. I bring it up because it teaches a lesson about accuracy. I had read various reviews of the movie, and many who liked the film praised its attention to the minute details of Ron Kovic's experience. However, I did not come across a review that addressed a continuity issue. When Ron visits Donna in Syracuse, they discuss the events at Kent State. However, they visited in 1969, roughly a year before the Kent State shootings. Given that my father was living in Kent, Ohio during that time, I noticed this error right away. With a personal connection and a knack for boning up on historical events, it's a given that I would catch that. The history buffs aren't the only people that will pick up on such an error. Someone who watches a movie or reads a piece before extensively learning about the time in which the story takes place will first absorb the information in the work. Later on, he or she will come across information that is quite contrary to what he or she initially learned. Such a revelation may change the reader's (or viewer's) habits, and it might not be for the best. The person might be on the lookout for more misinformation (no matter how accidental), which can lead to decreased suspension of disbelief. There's even the small chance the reader may try to blame the author for being misinformed on top of that.
With that in mind, how do you distinguish the "larger" details from the "smaller" details? There's no set formula, really, as each story will have different types of details, and what could be a small detail in one story will be a much bigger deal in another. Still, there are some details that would be considered big and that would be noticed if they were not quite right or omitted altogether. Here's a short list:
 geography
when certain events occur (as seen in the previous paragraphs)
injuries (namely, which ones are fatal and ways to treat non-fatal wounds)
military rank
structure/design of actual places (be it a hospital, base or even civilian buildings)
military protocol
effects of various types of weapons
relevant pop culture references (e.g. popular songs, movies and quotes stemming from the event itself or that epoch)
If any of these details are not accurate, prepare to be hounded. If nothing else, history buffs will have a field day offering up some harsh criticism (and they are about the last people on Earth to suspend disbelief for a great amount of time). Even those who aren't so adamant might have questions while perusing your work. While the details I listed above apply primarily to historical/war drama, they can apply to other genres and subgenres. For example, geography plays a large role in many fantasy stories, and pop culture references can be found in many comedy pieces. To make sure these elements are as accurate as possible, cross check at least three resources (more if possible). If at least three sources contain the same information, treat it as correct once you're certain you will include it in your story.
When it comes to details, don't just sweat the small stuff. There are some rather large details that must be treated with care. If they are not correct or as close to correct as you can discern, you will catch the readers' attentions in a not-so-positive way. Before making a reference to an event that occurred in history or writing a complicated injury scene, check, recheck and triple check your information. Otherwise, your mistakes could be aired for all to see. Just hope you're not Oliver Stone. (And yes, I am aware that Ron Kovic co-wrote the screenplay. Hence, I'm even more surprised by the continuity gaff.)
Until next time,
(sig by kiyasama, a gift from salliemoffitt) |
A lot of items come up when I type "Vietnam" in the search box. Here's a sampling of what I found. If you end up liking my selections, I will be happy to serve up more in the next issue. 
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#1391012 by Not Available. |
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#1307597 by Not Available. |
|  | Constellation (13+)
July 1, 1970, was the date of the second draft lottery for the Vietnam War.
#1212561 by Lorien  |
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#1176812 by Not Available. |
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#1082002 by Not Available. |
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#446544 by Not Available. |
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#1426879 by Not Available. |
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Hooray research? Well, I wouldn't go that far, but some of you liked my ideas. Sure, some of them were a little offbeat, but sometimes breaking from convention is the best way to get the information you need. Let's take a look at ye olde comments.
From bazilbob: Thanks for another great newsletter, with loads of suggestions for different research methods. However, I'm not too sure on the procedure for getting hold of certain materials for research. For example, how do you get hold of archives? Do you just call up the museum/library and ask if you can come in and browse, or can you just turn up, or do you need to give them specific details of what you're interested in beforehand? As for interviews, how do you find people that would be useful to interview in the first place? (Maybe I'm just a little worried about graduating and losing my university library!)
Well, Louise, it all depends on where you want to do your research. Different venues have different rules. Thus, it's best to handle each area individually. Calling them and briefly explaining your research goals will be your best bet. If the venue you have in mind does not permit research by the general public, they might be able to point you in the right direction. As for losing your university library access, some schools offer alumni access. Be sure to ask before graduating. You may have to pay a yearly fee, but if you like your library, you might find it to be a worthwhile investment. Otherwise, you can call other university libraries and see what services they might offer to the general public. Universities are a bit like snowflakes in regards to policies; no two are exactly alike. With museums and general libraries, call ahead to schedule an appointment, especially if you wish to look at items not on display or publicly available. Some museums and libraries offer supervised research opportunities. When I say supervised, don't take it to mean they don't trust those who a researching. They just want to make sure their collections are kept in tact. As far as interviewing people, well, you might be able to find some help at the library!  Otherwise, try to find places and organizations that are relevant to your topic. Some examples include veterans' groups, professional unions and community advocates. The people in these groups. can help you find interview subjects or even be willing to be interviewed themselves.
From esprit : Elisa, this is a good NL. I enjoy research and tend to do most on the internet for general, everyday writing; but old non-fiction books are my favorite source for new ideas. Knowing their fiction contains the correct info will give the author a sense of confidence like no other. It will be a big step in bringing the story to life. There isn't enough said about research or why it's so important; thanks for the topic.
You're welcome. Interesting concept you've suggested there, using old non-fiction books to get new ideas. Perhaps it's because some of the information contained within has been shifted to myth status? In any case, I like that idea. I have been an avid non-fiction reader as of late. Maybe it will help me get back into fiction writing. I know I'm weird. It's a matter of being wired incorrectly at birth. 
From Joy  : Great newsletter, Stik.
Reading research studies is a very helpful advice. Thank you.
It's amazing where you can find information. Isn't it? One of the books I read in college (for a history class) was actually a sociological survey of German citizens who were alive during Hitler's reign, and it was very fascinating to learn of their experiences. When the right questions are asked, research studies are a wonderful and perhaps underused source of information.
Hey, look! June is here, and you know what that means. I'll be back next week! *watches everyone run for cover* Next week, I'll address the agenda of Vietnam War films (and, perhaps more specifically, the effects of agenda in our own writing). Bias does have its place in writing, but what that place is remains a controversial topic. That said, I'll take a stab at it. If that doesn't float your boat, next month will be devoted to angst. Trust me when I say I have quite a bit to discuss about angst.
And if you happen to miss or misplace a newsletter, feel free to stop by "The Drama Box" [13+]. |
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Drama: June 04, 2008 Issue [#2433]
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