It is the first time for me to read a graphic novel in such formal class. It is one of the most impressive, detail-driven “comics” I have ever read. It used a more leisurable way to memorize the family history and showed it to the public. The plot itself is very easy, but the story behind author’s parents were quite tough and sometimes unbelievable according to my own knowledge. Since this is a whole year course, everything that was included in the teaching materials must have some connections. First, the work I have read from Marita Sturken proved this logic is right. In the work of Sturken, it have mentioned memories. Different kinds of memories and the way to record or technology of memories are included. Unfortunately, it only covered American perspective in an event that happened. Therefore, memory forgetting shown up. Luckily, it was one of the concept Sturken have mentioned. In the Vietnam War, this part just covered the memory from Vietnamese especially civilian perspective. Sturken is a good author who didn’t only cover the side of giants but also the part of “ants”. The war made both side suffered great loss. Americans lost their soldiers, it’s sons from families. For Vietnamese, their home was devastated no matter if Vietcong or South Vietnam won the war. Also, this graphic memoir can related to the book of “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” we have read last semester. Because that book described a Pakistani’s experience when he was studying abroad and work in United States. Their ends are quite different, one finally leaves U.S went back to home nation another one settled down in U.S and seen themselves as U.S citizens. Like what the author Thi Bui said, when Vietcong won the war their nation is gone. The reason is because his father really experienced the “red terror” in North Vietnam. They went to U.S as refugees not international students in TRF. The unfairness and racism are something in common for what they have experienced in the book. Especially people were not that friendly in U.S. Additionally, this graphic memoir is actually about history. Not only the family history, but also it combined with the “big history” we have known today. The way of how the big history goes really changed many people’s fate. No matter if it’s real Thi Bui or made up character Changez. I believe the made up character in TRF is also something the author have found and created the protagonist according to the real experience of specific group. It is amazing to see the connections of the work in the first semester to connect with this meaningful “comic”.
4 thoughts on “The Best We Could Do’s Connections”
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Mark, I like how you tied into you discussion post the different books from last semester’s class. Your point about how Sturken’s book showed us cultural memory and technologies of memory helps us understand the Vietnam War from the perspective of actual Vietnam citizens is powerful and gives the whole idea of examining trauma a new meaning. Particularly, I like how you were able to raise valuable questions about how we examine different traumatic events from different perspectives, as many times we only focus on the American point of view or a perspective that is more oriented around people similar to us. Overall, great blog post, Mark!
I enjoyed reading your post Mark! I now realize just how similar and related to in some regards, The Best We Could Do is with Sturken’s work on memory and some core ideas of The Reluctant Fundamentalist thanks to your post. I appreciate how you linked Sturken’s ideas of memory to how The Best We Could Do’s portrayal of memories. Especially in highlighting the memories of the Vietnamese civilians during the war which showed great suffering. Thus, this shows that not only did Americans suffer during this war but also Vietnam itself and its people which you point out well in your post. Your link to TRF with The Best We Could Do with the idea that foreigner in different land face discriminations in both texts and also how both are set during significant historical events.
Hi, Mark! I like the way you see the connections between The Best We Could Do and the text that we have read in the first term. Maria Sturken talks about cultural memory and how it is produced through images and representations. Like what you have mentioned, the Best We Could Do, which is presented as an illustrated memoir, is a kind of technology of memory to showcase the other side of the Vietnam War with a civilian perspective. I especially like how you use the metaphor “ants” to represent how powerless they are when comparing to the powerful ones. It is also great that you see the characters in TRF and TBWCD also face issues of discrimination. It is always interesting to see the interconnections between works written by different scholars. — Bertie
I think your connection between TBWCD and other work we have read in ASTU is an interesting analysis. The idea of technologies of memory used to showcase the lesser known about Vietnamese side of the war is a good way to remind us that even though we know less about what they suffered through, it was still horrific and not something that should be forgotten about. At the same time I think it’s equally as important that you didn’t try to invalidate what the Americans went through – rather looking at how everyone was impacted. Overall I think the ability to link different things from the class together is a valuable skill and your blog post has reminded me that it is something I should continue working on as it seems quite important to see the bigger picture.