Project reflection:
In this project, we put our main focus on what is the truth of war. Before starting this project, I had somewhat little knowledge about the origin and history of the Vietnam War. In particular how it grew to extreme levels. When starting this project we read a book called 'The Things They Carried' by Tim O'Brien. The book showed me to a whole new part of the Vietnam war, all the burdens that they carried during the war. We also watched a Ken Burns documentary. Where he talks about the Vietnam War, showing actual clips that were taken during that time period and the veteran stories of what they experienced. Although, the documentary showed a perspective side of both the Vietnamese and Americans. I took most interest in the conflicts that were going on not only in Vietnam but America and other countries. That even back home, we were having conflicts with our government and protesting.
|
By the end of this project, our final project was the exhibition. we did not make individual pieces however, we wanted to make our exhibition a learning experience through the Vietnam war. Our exhibition goal was to change perspective both mentally and physically. We began this by, dividing up our class and were assigned a room or stage of the war. These rooms were called, 'The American Homefront, Soldiers on the Battlefield, Soldiers Emotions, Vietnamese Perspective, America Divided and Retrospective' Each room intentions was to grasp the attention of our users and create a learning environment and have the opportunity to experience what went on in the minds of both the veterans and the people. My room was the 'Retrospective'. This room was a combination of the aftermath of the war and also a reflection of what our users witness. It starts in the hallway, where you see the timeline of the Vietnam war. In particular what was going on in other countries including our very own. Even showing the protest that took place and the impact it had. When you enter the room you start by the hanging of your dog tags, as a commemoration of the lives that were lost in Vietnam. Continuing, you see a mural by Mackenzie Shivers on the return of our veterans and having to come to protest instead of love. Next, you can sit and watch the Ken Burns documentary that we watched and learned from. Or choose to sit and listen to interviews with our very own veterans, that we conducted. Overall, the room helped with understanding what was going on during that time of the Vietnam war.
During this project, I do believe my strengths didn't show in this project. I found myself not showing leadership skills, that affected the group's communications and effort in working as a team. However, I do think my collaboration improved as opposed to previous projects. I would sometimes find myself not only going to the people I'm most comfortable around and instead would go to others. Although, I would find myself getting distracted and get easily off task. When working on the timeline, I would find myself slowing losing interest and get off task whether it talking to others or wandering around. Even though in the end, timeline came out great. I do wish I would have taken the time and put more help into the timeline. Other than the timeline, I do think that procrastination was another one of my weaknesses. Following the weeks before the exhibition, my group and I decided to have to art pieces and a student and I offer to create those art pieces but my lack of resources and the amount of procrastination I put into the art piece. I was unable to complete it on time. In the future, I will use this project as an example of ways to grow and improve my strengths on.
Over the course of this project, my way of thinking changed. I had very few knowledge of the Vietnam war. I had no idea the emotions and struggle that soldiers were going through. I still don't have a grasp on it, since I wasn't there to witness and experience it. However, the emotion coming out of the videos and the interviews, showed a part of the war everyone wants to shield. I do not think there is one answer to 'what is the truth of war'. We may think we have an idea of what is the truth of war. But, in the end, there are so many components that are put into war. While the aftermath does not affect us personally, they do affect the people around us and the world.
During this project, I do believe my strengths didn't show in this project. I found myself not showing leadership skills, that affected the group's communications and effort in working as a team. However, I do think my collaboration improved as opposed to previous projects. I would sometimes find myself not only going to the people I'm most comfortable around and instead would go to others. Although, I would find myself getting distracted and get easily off task. When working on the timeline, I would find myself slowing losing interest and get off task whether it talking to others or wandering around. Even though in the end, timeline came out great. I do wish I would have taken the time and put more help into the timeline. Other than the timeline, I do think that procrastination was another one of my weaknesses. Following the weeks before the exhibition, my group and I decided to have to art pieces and a student and I offer to create those art pieces but my lack of resources and the amount of procrastination I put into the art piece. I was unable to complete it on time. In the future, I will use this project as an example of ways to grow and improve my strengths on.
Over the course of this project, my way of thinking changed. I had very few knowledge of the Vietnam war. I had no idea the emotions and struggle that soldiers were going through. I still don't have a grasp on it, since I wasn't there to witness and experience it. However, the emotion coming out of the videos and the interviews, showed a part of the war everyone wants to shield. I do not think there is one answer to 'what is the truth of war'. We may think we have an idea of what is the truth of war. But, in the end, there are so many components that are put into war. While the aftermath does not affect us personally, they do affect the people around us and the world.