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.