Exploratory Essay 3: (Un) Seeing
This exploratory essay will analyze Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. On February 23, 1945, Joe Rosenthal captured the photograph of Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. The image illustrates five U.S. Marine and Navy corpsman triumphantly raising the American flag over Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. The history behind this cultural text is extremely critical because it speaks to the bloodiest fight in Marine history, losing around 6,000 marines. The triumph was noteworthy to America since it made Japan surrender, finishing World War II. The Iconic symbol created an extensive disputation over its authenticity whether it was intentionally staged and not taken spontaneously. Nevertheless,
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As a child a can vividly recall experiencing feelings of something significant that these soldiers had accomplished for the United States. As an adult, the visual artwork evoked similar reactions. According to Gerry Brown in his article From Allied invasion to national symbol, he asserts, "During the winter of 1945, in the midst of World War II, the Pacific island of Iwo Jima, part of Japan, was an attractive target for the Allied command" (Infoplease). Brown further indicates "Iwo Jima, well within striking distance of Tokyo, was seen as an ideal staging area for expanded bombing runs with fighter cover and a key location for damaged bombers to land in emergency situations" (Infoplease). This evidence puts into context the history behind the picture and begins to shape visualization for us. Clearly, from the image what is visible in terms of its form, we can see the cultural text is conveying optimism and it evokes the emotions of hope, grit, and determination. What is invisible in the cultural text is the lives lost during this grueling battle between the armed forces of both sides and the lives impacted as result of this
In the middle of Lost in the Pacific 1942, after they crash land the have to get into three rafts they have eight people they have to split up into the rafts, two of the rafts are 3 man rafts and one of the rafts is a two seater raft. So after they split up into the rafts all they have for food is four oranges because, they forgot the thermos and their food on the plane, and their plane is sunk by now so they have to survive off of four oranges and no water.About one week later they manage to get a rain storm and they collect as much water as they can and a couple of days later hey manage to catch a couple of fingerlings, which are fish that are like an inch long.
Much of what is considered modern Japan has been fundamentally shaped by its involvement in various wars throughout history. In particular, the events of World War II led to radical changes in Japanese society, both politically and socially. While much focus has been placed on the broad, overarching impacts of war on Japan, it is through careful inspection of literature and art that we can understand war’s impact on the lives of everyday people. The Go Masters, the first collaborative film between China and Japan post-WWII, and “Turtleback Tombs,” a short story by Okinawan author Oshiro Tatsuhiro, both give insight to how war can fundamentally change how a place is perceived, on both an abstract and concrete level.
When people see “Old Glory” flying, the experience should take their breath away. From the Omaha beaches in Normandy, where over three million soldiers stormed the German Nazis, to Iwo Jima, where the exhausted marines raised the proud flag, to the h...
The Battle of Pearl Harbor was one of the most atrocious events that happened in U.S. history. On December 7, 1941, Japan made a surprise aerial attack on the United States naval base and airfields at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. More than two thousand Americans died and a thousand two hundred were wounded. Eighteen ships were badly damaged, including five battleships. The next day, President Franklin Roosevelt with the support of the Congress, declared war on Japan. It led United States’ official involvement in World War II. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor because of a deteriorating relationship with the U. S. The “New World Order”, expansion and resources, and economic sanctions were factors that conducted to another disaster on the Second World War.
In John Hersey's book, Hiroshima, he provides a detailed account of six people and how the bombing of Hiroshima affected their lives. John Heresy felt it was important to focus his story on six individuals to create a remembrance that war affects more than just nations and countries, but actual human beings. Moreover, the book details the effect the bomb had on the city of Hiroshima. “Houses all around were burning, and the wind was now blowing hard.” (Hersey, 27).
ISBN 0-87021-562-0. Cressman, Robert J.; et al. d. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. "A Glorious page in our history", Adm. Chester Nimitz, 1942: the Battle of Midway, 4–6 June 1942. Missoula, Mont. -. Pictorial Histories Pub.
John MacArthur is a well-known and sometimes controversial pastor that holds a strong conservative viewpoint of the Scriptures. As a graduate of Talbot Theological Seminary, MacArthur’s ministry has covered a wide spectrum of Christian fields including pastor, author and radio host. MacArthur currently serves as the Pastor of Grace Community Church in Sunny Valley, California. For over 45 years his pastoral ministry at Grace Community Church has given evidence of a deep abiding love for the exposition of the Scriptures. Beyond his role as pastor, MacArthur serves as the president of the Master’s College and Seminary, which functions to train men to work in various areas of Christian ministry. As a successful author, MacArthur continues to write many books ranging from culturally and theological relevant issues to New Testament expositional commentaries and study guides. Macarthur also serves as the lead teacher of Grace to You, an everyday radio and television ministry, which centers on verse by verse exposition of Scripture. MacArthur is not known for shying away from controversial topics that Christianity struggles with. He seeks to use scripture to help modern Christians think through these topics.
The bombing on Pearl Harbor impaired America, which brought an increase to racial tension. However, this impairment brought all nationalities together. “Thirty-three thousand Japanese Americans enlisted in the United States Armed Forces. They believed participation in the defense of their country was the best way to express their loyalty and fulfill their obligation as citizens” (Takaki 348). Takaki proves to us that the battle for independence was grappled on the ends of enslaved races. The deception of discrimination within the military force didn’t only bewilder Americans that sensed the agony of segregation, but also to the rest of world who honored and idolized America as a beam of freedom for
Louis R. "Lou" Lowery (July 24, 1916 – April 15, 1987) was a United States Marine Corps captain. He was the only Marine Corps combat photographer to cover six major campaigns during World War II. He is best known for taking the first photographs of the first American flag that was raised on top of Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima on the morning of February 23, 1945.
On September 15 1944 the battle of Peleliu was fought between the United states and imperial Japan. General Douglas MacArthur wanted to return to the Philippines to keep good on his promise to liberate that country but a general with the name Chester W. Nimitz wanted to capture Formosa and Okinawa as these islands would help plant a strong base of operations for the US to conduct further operations. President Franklin Roosevelt later met with the two commanders and discussed their plans this led to FDR telling them to capture Peleliu located in Palau islands this would give the allies a strategic advantage because it would secure their right flank. The allied commanders involved with this operation where, Major General William Rupertus and
World War II consisted of many devastating battles in both the European and the Pacific Theater. The Battle of Okinawa was fought in the Pacific theater. In the beginning of the battle there was little opposition from the Japanese soldiers but as the American troops traveled more inland the more resistance they met. Eventually, the 10th Army came against the fierce challenge of the intricate defense lines the Japanese held up. Many caves and pillboxes in the hills created a formidable challenge for American troops. Slowly though the Allies gained ground and continued to push back the defensive lines of General Ushijima and his troops. The Japanese tried to use kamikaze air and land attacks as successful offensive measures, these continued to produce little effect and failed each time. Finally, the Allies started to gain ground quite quickly. The Japanese had to move their defensive lines several time because the Americans were boxing them in. At las,t General Ushijima ordered everyman to fight till the death and the fighting became very disorganized. On June 21, all the loss ends were tied up. America had won Okinawa.
Yet in comparing the high level of propaganda in Rockwell’s Willie Gillis series to Rockwell illustrations depicting returning American soldiers after V-E Day, the viewer can read an absence of propaganda as Rockwell hints at the difficult struggles soldiers felt in returning home. In comparing works from the Willie Gillis series to Rockwell’s Homecoming GI and Homecoming Marine this paper will examine the role of propaganda in WWII and Rockwell’s move to a more honest depiction of everyday American life in the postwar period of his career.
Collective memory plays a huge role in this story because as it was looked at earlier, this public, complex, unstable symbol is just a photograph. The story passed on from mouth to mouth is what can be complex and maintained by society. Most people have heard the idiom “bad news travels fast”, well some like to say so does collective memory (not really but for the purpose of this paper let’s go with it). Think about how much more interesting it is to talk about how Joe Rosenthal’s photograph was really staged, and not authentic at all. It’s so much more interesting to gossip about the latest wartime photograph than what is going on in the lives of celebrities anyway. In the journal article on collective memory, it is pointed out that “conversations may promote the formation of a collective memory as much as, if not more than, a textbook, a memorial, a commemoration” (Coman et al.). In the instance of the raising of the flag of Iwo Jima, social contagion, “the spread of a memory – true or false – from person to person through social interaction” (Coman et al.), was just as popular as the printing of the picture. Rumors were circulating all around and in his book “Flag of Our Fathers” John Bradley explains how this myth began to enter the mouths of Americans to begin
This paper will compare Gordon W. Prange's book "At Dawn We Slept - The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor" with the film "Tora! Tora! Tora!" directed by Richard Fleischer, Kinji Fukasaku, and Toshio Masuda. While the film provides little background to the attack, its focal point is on the Pearl Harbor assault and the inquiry of why it was not prevented, or at least foreseen in adequate time to decrease damage. Prange's book examines the assault on Pearl Harbor from both the Japanese and American viewpoints to gain a global view of the situation and the vast provision undertaken by Japanese intelligence. The film and book present the Japanese side, the American side, the events that lead up to the attack, and the aftermath.
Hasegawa, Tsuyoshi. “Racing the Enemy: Stalin, Truman and the Surrender of Japan.” Taking Sides: Clashing View in United States History. Ed. Larry Madaras & James SoRelle. 15th ed. New York, NY. 2012. 289-298.