Historians and Burns’ The Vietnam War

WASHINGTON — Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s recent 18-hour PBS documentary on the Vietnam War was adored by critics (The New York Times, for example, said it would “break your heart and win your mind”). And judging by the numbers — some 34 million viewers total — audiences loved it, too.

But historians? Not so much, based on a lively weekend panel called “A Fateful Misunderstanding: A Discussion of the Film Documentary The Vietnam War” during the annual meeting of the American Historical Association.

So begins Colleen Flaherty’s report on some historians’ discussion of the Burns’ and Novick Vietnam documentary. You may read the entire report here.

Ken Burns, America’s best-known documentarian, explained

His aim is not to make us rethink American history, but, rather, to reexperience it.

So says Todd VanDerWerff in his post at Vox. Read his astute essay on Burns here: Ken Burns, America’s best-known documentarian, explained – Vox

PBS The Vietnam War: “Riding the Tiger” (1961-1963)

Read historian Christian G. Appy’s thoughtful review of episode #2 of Burns & Novick’s The Vietnam War documentary: “Riding the Tiger” (1961-1963)

PBS’ The Vietnam War: “Déjà Vu” (1858-1961)

Read historian Christian G. Appy’s thoughtful review of episode 1 of Burns & Novick’s The Vietnam War documentary here at the Organization of American Historian’s site: “Déjà Vu” (1858-1961)

The Vietnam War, a documentary

This weekend, at last, The Vietnam War will land on our rooftops, ready to transport us back a half century and more to a conflict “begun in good faith, by decent people, out of fateful misunderstandings” that led to “a decade of agony—the most divisive period since the Civil War.” It was a “tragedy …

Read here, at the Organization of American Historians, the rest of historian Christian G. Appy’s inaugural post on Ken Burn’s new documentary series: The Vietnam War, a documentary