War & Men; Historical Fiction; War Poetry Draft(s)

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Period 1: Lab

 There will not be a test on Maurice after all. Sorry about that. Instead, let's press on.

Although women may serve (and serve well) in the armed forces, military and fighting wars tends to be something we expect men to do, rather than women. This is a socially constructed gender bias, just like issues involving employment, funding, and equal protection under the law. Males, for example, are required by law to register for selective service. Females don't, although many would consider them both to be capable of serving their country. Recently, as you are probably aware, transgender citizens are banned from serving (males transitioning into women are required to register--women who transition to male are not).

Let's take a closer look at the military in popular culture.

 War & Men: (25 minutes)

Please read the essay:

Then click on the links below and compare/contrast the different honor codes. How do these codes serve as a guide for male behavior in our society? Can you relate? Do you know anyone who might follow parts of this code (even accidentally)? How "male" or "masculine" are these codes/behaviors in our society/culture? How positive or negative are they, in your opinion? How might you use the code in your own life or future?

Army Values (Soldier Code)

After reading the article and examining the codes at the links, please submit a comment on this blog post reacting to what you have learned. If you do not finish this in the lab, please complete as homework.

We will use what we've learned here when reading/choosing our next novel:
  • All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque (x4 copies) - World War I (fiction, 1929)
  • Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers (x3 copies) - The Iraq War (fiction, 2009)
  • Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (x4 copies) - World War I (fiction, 1929)
  • Hiroshima by John Hersey (x3 copies) - World War II (new journalism, 1946)
  • When Heaven & Earth Changed Places by Le Ly Hayslip & Jay Wurts (x3 copies) - The Vietnam War (memoir, 1989)
Historical Fiction Prep: (15 minutes)

Use the lab this morning to brainstorm an original historical cultural setting. Your task is to create a historic setting through your research in which to set a fictional story, much in the same manner as E.M. Forster or Erich Maria Remarque* or Hemingway* or other historical fiction authors do. Keep your notes, not only for your story but also to turn in with the completed project. Use your class notes to help you brainstorm ideas.

Your setting will require you to consider key cultural aspects such as traditions, history, art or artifacts, religion, government, economics, cuisine, entertainment, language, and a whole host of other ideas.

Refer to this linked article from the Writer on tips for writing historical fiction.

If you are having trouble coming up with an idea, try an alternate history. Here's some info about it, some advice about certain challenges you might face as a writer, some ideas for stories, and how to do it:
  • 1. Choose a time period that you find interesting or know something about. 
  • 2. Research some key events in that year. A good place to look for the 20th century is here.
  • 3. Select a country, town, village, geographical area.
  • 4. Brainstorm, freewrite, doodle, etc. a list or chart of all the possible events you care to brainstorm.
  • 5. Begin changing them one at a time and consider (speculate) how the change would affect the culture of you setting.
  • 6. Write notes. Make decisions regarding plot, setting, character.
  • 7. Imagine.
  • 8. Write.
  • 9. Repeat as necessary. 
Period 2: Classroom

On your way to our classroom, please pick up one of the books listed above as your next scheduled long read. Be prepared to summarize the book, critique it, and research a critical response to the novel. There will be a test and a discussion with your reading group as well. The book will be due in about 2 weeks. 

Together: Poetry Reading: War Poetry - Part 1:
  • Wilfred Owen "Dulce et Decorum Est" (1920, pg. 675)
  • Randall Jarrell: "Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" (1945, pg. 730)
  • Henry Reed: "Naming of Parts" (1946, pg.731-732)
  • Howard Nemerov: "The War in the Air" (1977, pg. 759)
  • Kenneth Koch: "Men at Forty" (1967, pg. 772-773)
  • Robert Creeley: "I Know a Man" (1962, pg. 776)
Individually: War Poetry - Part 2: poet as visionary; poet as eyewitness
  • The Prayer
  • The Farewell
  • The Tribute
  • The Invective
  • The Historical
  • The Memorial
  • The Character Study
  • The Chronicle
  • The Elegy
  • The Protest
Choose one poem option and write. Use your time today as well to read your chosen novel silently. Annotate the book as you go. Summarize and prepare to critique the book, using a standard method of literary critique. You will be required to research, evaluate and cite at least 1 secondary source. More details to follow.

HOMEWORK: Please read your chosen novel in the next two weeks. Write the first draft of your war poem; revise your men, masks, and mythology draft from last class.

Comments

Vicka safira said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
April 23, 2018 at 10:26 PM
Unknown said…
War and the concept of a soldier has immensely evolved throughout ancient and modern history. Olden civilization examples are the Japanese samurai with the Bushido Code and Medieval Knights with Chivalry, which both stress the same core values: loyalty, courage, honor, candor, etc. More importantly, both codes stress the protection of and attention to women. While the U.S. Army Values don’t specifically state “women,” the image of a U.S. soldier saving women and children is constantly broadcasted. As shown through the Bushido Code, Medieval Chivalry, and Army Values, the perception of always-strong men saving women and being the hero is a constant similarity. On the contrary, war has tremendous effects mentally, beginning with “shell shocked” in World War I and developing into present-day Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Right as the phenomenon begun, however, it was deemed illegitimate and not entirely recognized as an injury, putting the dangerous cycle of evasion in veteran medicine into motion and leading to higher rates of suicide and criminal actions among veterans. All of this avoidance can be blamed on perceptions of masculinity: forcing men as a society to be strong in the face of outside danger and inner demons.
April 24, 2018 at 8:07 AM
Unknown said…
The different honor codes from cultures throughout history tend to contain many of the same values and practices. The Bushido Code, Code of Chivalry, and Army values all subscribe to the ideas of courage, protection, loyalty, doing what is right or true, and acting in a manner that is polite and generous. They all correlate with some sort of hierarchy, such as feudalism. The main difference between these codes is the fact that they ruled in different areas at different times, and therefore the applications contrasted. In addition, some of the practices related to these systems, such as seppuku or minstrels, were specific to the code. These codes are highly masculine because they either directly or indirectly speak of protecting women and associate their values with the actions of men. being courageous corresponds with masculinity while weakness corresponds with femininity. While in theory these codes present positive values, the practice that they are encouraging, sending men to war and violence, is highly negative to society. It also promotes the patriarchy and male supremacy because of the connotations. In my own life, I believe that the symbolic values of these codes will be helpful and the negative connotations will help put the world in perspective.
April 24, 2018 at 9:27 AM
Anonymous said…
The honor codes are very similar in what they promote, being justice, loyalty, and courage, but the individual codes have specific characteristics that reflect the society in which they exist. The Bushido Code of the Samurai has a large focus on honesty and self-control, intrapersonal aspects of life being prominent themes of Japanese culture. The Knights Code of Chivalry has a much greater focus on religion, specifically serving and fearing god, and mentions protecting those who are defenseless, and includes specific protection of women. This may revolve around the European belief of the inferiority of women. Army Values are more adjusted to modern America, lacking any outwardly sexist or discriminatory references. The army also emphasizes integrity, integrating a moral aspect to the code.
April 24, 2018 at 12:58 PM
Unknown said…
Throughout history, there's seemingly a cycle in the main principles of the main empire's warriors, or similar structures, or even events. There's a lot of commonalities between different empires, and when specifically analyzing the warrior code of several cultures, one can come to understand that one of these cyclic ideals is within the realms of the perceived thought of masculinity. Take, for example, the commonalities between the Bushido Code, the Code of Chivalry, and the Army Values we see today. They all have in common with the idea that one must remain loyal to their country, to be brave in their actions and to never falter. However, when dealing with specifics, one can see that they diverge based on what was culturally significant within their countries. For example, Bushido Code is more focused on the loyalty of the warrior to his lord, and to keep steadfast to keep such a lord alive, while at the same time not belittling the warriors as simply pawns to these higher powers; the Bushido Code enlists many samurai (women samurai included!) to remain honorable even when faced with death. Then there's the Code of Chivalry, which focuses more on the individual self rather than devoting one's self to a lord. It is within one's journey, their legacy, that knights primarily focus on. To remain chivalrous, honorable, and very much a gentleman (which is reflective on the ingrained sexism within culture). Finally, there's army values which is reflective on the honor reflected by both former codes, while also not pressuring someone to be a gentleman or anything like that. It's to remain alive, while also accepting that one is serving their country when they die.
April 26, 2018 at 7:48 AM
Dannaeplamer@blogpsot.com said…
Both honor codes relate to each other I️n a similar way. They all deal with topics regarding being loyal and having courage . The main difference with the two codes are they both are in acted at different times . Both codes specifically focus on the importance of women I️n society and the protection they should be granted . The Bushido code focus more on loyalty to the lord and the Knights code focus more on he importance of religion . Overall , even though they are different codes from different places they all have I️n common the same practices .
April 27, 2018 at 10:43 AM
Anonymous said…
The Bushido code has more loyalty to morals rather than a tangible person or establishment. The Knight's responsibility is to their lord and the soldiers is to the army and fellow soldiers. The Bushido seems more humble, it is stated that it is important to know when to act and how to act not depending on the situation action may not be needed.Knights on the other hand are to never turn down a challenge or dual from an equal. The Knight's code for this reason seems more superficial, they are meant to be the face of masculinity and never be afraid or defeated. In the Bushido code it is an honor to die for what is moral and right.Bushido code is also more rigid in the way that their code is not up for debate or meant to be translated loosely, it is meant only to be followed. The code of the Army is up for interpretation due to our modern way of separatism religion is not a framework for this code. The Army code may have once been a way of masculinity it is now a way to create a united and moral military that is seen as effective no matter the gender of the soldier.
May 3, 2018 at 10:25 AM
Anonymous said…
The Bushido and Knight/Chivalry Code both dealt with the loyalty, courage, and protection of the weak. Bushido and the Knight codes are more tied into culture while the Army's code of conduct is loyal to the country and the higher powers involved. The difference between the two is that the Bushido is less materialistic than that of the Chivalry and Army codes. The Chivalry is more about appearance and religious behavior towards the popularity of the code, while the Bushido and and Army codes of conduct is revolved around the integrity and loyalty to the people of the country you serve, despite the circumstances. The differentiation of timing for these codes reflected upon the culture, beliefs, and religious values of the people of that time and continuously echoed the ideals of loyalty and integrity for these codes.
May 14, 2018 at 7:25 PM
Deja Simmons said…
Although the codes are all different they are also similar. They want similar things to be represented through the people that follow these codes such as being a courageous and loyal person, especially to their own country/people. These codes also slightly hint about masculinity being ranked by how well you protect the women etc. If you are not masculine and strong then you are feminine and weak. In some ways these codes can be positive but also negative in the way that they believe women are weak. Some of the positive aspects are how the codes encourage compassion and self control. In my own life, I don't really feel as if I can relate or use these since these codes seem to be geared towards a man.
May 20, 2018 at 5:53 PM
Anonymous said…
I read this awhile ago but forgot to post, but I remember being impressed with the honor codes because, while they are somewhat thought of today, they are not as well enforced in either laws or culture. However, I believed that the Bushido was less materialistic than the others, while Chivalry tended to focus on appearance. However, they all emphasize loyalty, honor, and courage. They were also all essential in creating a unified appearance and group.
June 11, 2018 at 2:27 PM
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