Cluster of landmine texts
From: Dan Duffy <dduffy@email.unc.edu>
Date: May 12, 2006 8:22 AM
Subject: [Vsg] cluster of landmine texts
Hi all, Greg Lockhart called the other day and mentioned that his book
The Minefield is approaching publication. He tells the story of an
immense minefield laid in Phuoc Thuy by an Australian unit, with
devastating consequences for all concerned.
A documentary film has already been made from Greg's research, and there
is an excellent teaching guide the film on the web at
<http://www.enhancetv.com.au/guides/vietnam.pdf>
Mines capture the imagination. They certainly caught mine as a kid,
when my brothers and I were reasonably convinced that we were going to
be walking around Viet Nam like our cousins.
The critic Kali Tal (Words of Hurt, CUP) has pointed out the
significance of mines to understanding the narrative structure of war
stories, which relies on interrupted expectations. Nobody takes a walk
to lose a leg.
So Greg's book, plus the movie, plus the website, would add up to a
provocative teaching unit.