The Vietnam War was unlike any war that came before it. It was the first war that was broadcasted into everyone home due to the popularity of the television .The way it was fought both in the battlefield and at home changed the way we view war and the anti-war movement. This was a different war for the soldiers, who would come home scared. A different war for women, who had to make the choice between declaring he war “men’s business or standing up against it. It was different for people of color who bore the brunt of the combat. In this article Lippard points out these and other differences all of which led to the art of the Vietnam War.

An anti-war sentiment was not felt by the entire art world. Many thought that the art world should stay out of the conflict and that art should be untouched by the social conflicts of the time. Even those against the war debated weather or not those opinions should be expressed with in their art.

This debate was fueled by the norms of the time period. As is pointed out the art scene of the time focused mostly on Pop and minimal art, stuff that isn’t all that political in nature. These artists didn’t know how to deal with political subjects or thought that addressing these issues was old fashioned. It was also fueled by the lack of gallery space being devoted to this type of art, and the reluctance of galleries to present anti-war imagery.

I think that this article for a very interesting read in light of the events occurring in the world since Sept 11. The US is once again engaged in a war that is changing the way we view combat situations. The Iraq war is the first war of my generation and lately it is being compared more and more to the Vietnam War. Appearing as if the United States hasn’t learned from past mistakes.

Just like Vietnam their has been and continues to be support for the anti-war movement from the arts community. Although there are still many struggles artists face when creating anti-war art, it feels as if some of the restrictions felt by artist of the Vietnam War have been removed.


Artists still run the risk of being labeled us anti-American and having their work protested against, but the public opinion of the war has started shift. As more people join the anti-war movement it’s only enviable that anti-war art will become more accepted by the masses.

Pieces like the fake ipod ads that state iRaq instead of iPod, have become very popular symbols of the anti-war movement. Graffti artist like Banksy have created public works that are meant to remind the public that the US is at war and bring it into their everyday lives. An example of which being him setting p a fake Gutamano prisoner up at Disney world.



Banksy in Disney Land


iRaq Ads