Podcast Summary
A new documentary by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick on PBS about the Vietnam War: The 10-part, 18-hour documentary 'The Vietnam War' by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick offers new insights on the war and is a must-watch for anyone interested in the topic, available now on PBS.
Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, the acclaimed documentary filmmakers, have released their latest work, "The Vietnam War," a 10-part, 18-hour series premiering on PBS. Their extensive body of work includes beloved miniseries like "The Civil War," and "The Vietnam War" is no exception. Sam Harris, the podcast host, highly recommends the documentary, which took 10 years to make and offers new insights on the war even for those who lived through it. Harris emphasizes that the documentary is a remarkable piece of work and a must-watch for anyone interested in the topic. The documentary is now available on PBS and will soon be released on DVD and Blu-Ray. Burns and Novick's films have changed the way documentary films are made, and their dedication to creating immersive and informative content continues to captivate audiences.
Exploring the parallels between the Vietnam War and current events: The Vietnam War documentary 'The War' provides a unique perspective on the past and present, highlighting the timeless themes of mass protests, political instability, and foreign interference in elections.
The Vietnam War documentary "The War" is a unique and timely piece of history that resonates strongly with current events. With an unprecedented amount of footage and interviews from people who lived through it, this documentary provides a perspective that is both a look into the past and a reflection of the present. The war's themes of mass demonstrations, a White House in disarray, and accusations of foreign interference in elections were all present during the Vietnam War and have striking parallels to today's world. The documentary's relevance is not intentional but serves as a reminder that human nature and the complexities of war never change. The War is a valuable gift of history that sheds light on the past and offers insights into the present. Its release now, 50 years after the events, adds an extra layer of resonance and relevance that might not have been felt if it had been released at a different time.
Political manipulation and deceit in the Vietnam War: Russian operatives influenced the anti-war movement and Nixon's campaign sabotaged peace talks, revealing the complex political landscape of the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a time of significant political manipulation and deceit, with allegations of foreign interference and domestic campaigns to sabotage peace efforts. This is evidenced by historical accounts of Russian operatives attempting to influence the anti-war movement during the LBJ administration and the Nixon campaign's efforts to disrupt peace talks in the late 1960s. The film "The Vietnam War" sheds light on these events, which were once considered paranoid theories but are now well-documented facts. The making of the film itself was a challenging and complex process, taking over a decade to produce due to the enormity of the story and the desire to tell it from every perspective, including Vietnamese ones. The footage used in the film is remarkable, with an abundance of contemporary battle footage from both sides and an unexpected amount of American footage. Overall, the film provides a comprehensive education on the devastating impact of the Vietnam War on American and Vietnamese societies.
A decade-long dedication to archives led to new and less-known footage for 'The Vietnam War': The makers of 'The Vietnam War' spent a decade immersing themselves in archives, discovering new and less-known footage, and meticulously researching sounds for authenticity, resulting in an immersive experience for viewers with new perspectives on iconic moments.
The production of the documentary "The Vietnam War" was made possible by the unprecedented access of journalists to the war zone during the conflict, resulting in a vast archive of footage. However, traditional film productions could only spend limited time in archives, leading to repetition of the same footage. The makers of "The Vietnam War," on the other hand, spent a decade immersing themselves in these archives, discovering new and less-known footage, and meticulously researching the sounds of weapons and engines for authenticity. This dedication to detail resulted in an immersive experience for viewers, with new perspectives on iconic moments and a verisimilitude that brought the war to life in a way never seen before. The sound design, created by the production's long-term collaborators, was a crucial element in achieving this effect. The heads of major archives were amazed by how their footage was used and brought to life in the documentary.
Politicians' Fear of Losing Face Drove the Vietnam War: Despite acknowledging the Vietnam War's futility, politicians continued to prosecute it due to fear of losing face and public perception, leading to senseless loss of lives.
That the Vietnam War documentary series reveals how the war's unfolding was influenced by the politicians' concerns over reelection and public opinion, even when they acknowledged the war's futility. The series uses unprecedented access to White House recordings, including LBJ, Nixon, and Kennedy tapes, to piece together the decision-making process and the information available to them. Despite their doubts about the war's success, they continued to prosecute it due to the fear of losing face and the American public's perception. The series presents a grim picture of the war's political implications, with a focus on the senseless loss of lives and the futility of taking and abandoning hills. The collaboration on the film involves putting the pieces together using the real-time audio of conversations and encouraging viewers to question why the war was pursued despite the clear signs of failure.
Collaborative documentary production despite geographical distance: Maintaining open communication and prioritizing process over prescribed timelines allows for successful and unbiased documentary production, even on controversial subjects
The production of documentaries is an open-ended process that never stops researching, writing, or collaborating. The team behind the documentary about Vietnam, despite being divided between New Hampshire and New York, maintained a close-knit family of colleagues through constant communication. They prioritized process over prescribed timelines, allowing for constant adjustments and new discoveries. This approach was crucial for tackling a controversial and constantly shifting subject like Vietnam's scholarship. The team was committed to being unbiased "umpires" and diligently adhered to this process, even during the most challenging moments. This approach led to a satisfying and successful production, with new understandings and discoveries emerging throughout.
Exploring complexities and contradictions in historical events: Embrace complexities, engage with various perspectives, and collaborate to create nuanced historical documentaries
Complexities and contradictions exist in every situation, particularly in historical events like the Vietnam War. Instead of shying away from these complications, it's essential to embrace them and engage with various perspectives to uncover multiple truths. This open-ended approach requires flexibility, a willingness to learn, and a jettisoning of preconceptions. Collaboration plays a crucial role in documenting and presenting these complexities. As documentarians, we work together to organize vast amounts of material into a coherent narrative, making decisions on everything from scene selection to music choices. This collaborative process is a continuous cycle of suggesting ideas, trying them out, and refining the work to create something greater than the sum of its parts. The end result is a product that challenges conventional wisdom and offers a more nuanced understanding of history.
The profound impact of music on the protest movement during the Vietnam War: Music played a significant role in inspiring and empowering the Vietnam War protest movement, as highlighted in Ken Burns' documentary 'The Vietnam War' through its powerful score.
Learning from this conversation between Sam Harris and Ken Burns about Burns' documentary "The Vietnam War" is the profound impact of music on the protest movement during that time. The film's powerful score underscores this point, highlighting the role music played in inspiring and empowering the movement. Another key takeaway is the ambiguous moral status of the war itself, which demanded an even-handed approach in telling the story. Burns and Harris discuss how there weren't clear-cut "good guys" or "bad guys" in the conflict, and the documentary aims to present both sides without judgment. This perspective brings home the senseless loss of human life and the limited gains of civilization during the war. The conversation also touches upon the challenges of making a film about the Vietnam War compared to other conflicts, such as World War II. Harris mentions that a film about the fight against the Nazis would have told a different story, as the moral ground was more clear-cut. The Making Sense podcast, where this conversation took place, is ad-free and relies on listener support. To access full episodes and subscriber-only content, including bonus episodes and conversations on the Waking Up app, listeners must subscribe at samharris.org.
