Blog 6 Ryan L

The first part of Full Metal Jacket takes place in the Marine Corps training facility on Paris island. The film provides an insight on the intensity of the Marines training, and the brutality taken out on the recruits. Here we get a glimpse on the damaging psychological effects of the training, as well as the lack of concern for the soldiers well being. We see how the government attempted to turn these kids into tools of war. As stated in the film, they lost control of the Marines and released them so they may act on their own as a destructive force. After the beating Pyle takes from his fellow recruits, he snaps and is no longer controllable. This reflects the need for companionship that all soldiers sought for. The soldiers went not to kill but to survive, and save their comrades, but when Pyle felt betrayed, he became unstable and could no longer cope.

The second part takes place at a supply base, where Joker works as a reporter for Stars and Stripes. We see the propaganda that was used in order to defend the war. The editor informs him to go back and rewrite the story so there are dead, rather than writing the truth. This seems similar to the idea of the award medals which were given out. It is a form of rationalizing a war to those who have lost the most. They both seem as a way to rationalize to the soldiers that they are not suffering and dying for nothing. It makes this war easier to swallow. Furthermore, we see the prostitution that took place across Vietnam. It was odd that the film brought this up not once but twice. Clearly, it was to emphasize the impact this had on the soldiers.

The third part depicts the actual fighting in Vietnam. The scene with the female sniper embodies the care and devotion for their fellow soldier. They all risked their lives at an attempt to save those who had already been lost. This seems similar to the idea that the soldiers just felt like they were doing their job. In addition when Joker is faced with the choice of killing the sniper he executes her but only after prompting from fellow soldiers. This is reminiscent of the idea from The Things They Carried when Tim O'Brien put forth that the soldiers kill not because they want to, but rather they were afraid not to.

Lastly, we see the soldiers marching to the sound of the Mickey Mouse song. Clearly, the Mickey Mouse song comes across as a young innocent song, one that many of the soldiers experienced when they were young. This march of the Mickey Mouse song is a endless memory of their childhood, of their home life, one to which they will never fully return. Consequently, they will never fully be able to leave Vietnam.