Tues 11/24- "Platoon" (1986) directed by Oliver Stone: Please read the entire blog post carefully before composing your responses.

11/23/2015

Just as Chris and the platoon are divided between Elias and Barnes, viewers also feel somewhat divided. You feel compelled to side with Elias because he is jaded and righteous and seems to care about his men, but you can't help but admire Barnes' hardiness, his determination to win the war, and ability to survive. After our class discussion about allegory, the Christ figure and Machiavelli, as well as the inability of humans to be purely good or evil, you understand that this is a decision that is not as easy as one might hope.

Imagine that you are a soldier in this platoon. Who do you follow, Sgt. Barnes or Sgt. Elias? Take into consideration all factors: survival, morality, reality of the war environment, psychological effects of the war, constant extreme stress, and any other factors that would affect your decision. Explain your decision in a thoughtful and well supported blog entry.

Primary Blog Entry Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 200-250 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the assigned "pen name" given to you in class. Please complete this in the first 20 minutes of class.

Secondary Blog Entry Expectations (read everyone's first responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 100-150 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the assigned "pen name" given to you in class. Please complete this in the last 25 minutes of class.

PLEASE ADD WORD COUNT AT END OF EACH BLOG ENTRY!

You have ample time to complete these three entries in one period. If you do not, you may complete it as homework, but the blog post will be closed at the end of the day.

Molly Pitcher

11/24/2015 10:07:25 am

if I was to take a side I would take Sgt. Elias side because he was always helping everyone and was on top of the things that he knew he had to do. Sgt. Barnes was always very angry and wanted things his way and his way only. Unlike Sgt. Barnes Sgt. Elias has a big heart.

Abner Doubleday

11/24/2015 10:12:26 am

I agree, he wouldn't kill anyone for no reason. He knew how to protect his man and has always been on top of everything. Sgt. Barnes is heartless he never cared for anything just worried about himself and himself only.

Nathan Hale

11/24/2015 10:20:19 am

I agree with you also because he really wouldn't kill anyone for no reason. He seems more of the person that would want to help everyone than be rude and make then stressed.

Paul Revere

12/2/2015 10:39:16 pm

I agree because I also said that Sgt.Elias was a very helpful person to everyone. He supported them and wanted them to be careful and so he did help them. Sgt. Barnes cared mostly about himself and surviving the war and didn't seem to matter about the mens.

11/24/2015 10:10:11 am

If I was a soldier in the platoon I would follow Sgt. Elias because no matter what he seemed like he knew what was the right thing. I rather do things the right way then to do something that I know it is wrong.

11/24/2015 10:18:03 am

I agree, sometimes when you don't do things right you tend to regret a lot of things.

11/24/2015 10:26:31 am

I agree with what you are saying because when you do something wrong you actually tend to not do it again if you are told it is wrong.

11/24/2015 10:15:15 am

If I was to pick one person to go with I would pick Sgt. Elias because he actually likes his troop and wants to help them. Unlike Sgt. Barnes, where he doesn’t help anyone. I feel like he stresses them out more by being so rude and hateful. Say if I were to do something wrong Sgt. Barnes would probably kill me. So that’s why I would pick Sgt. Elias instead of Sgt. Barnes.

11/24/2015 10:20:09 am

I agree in my point of view Sgt. Barnes wasn't a Solider he was a murderer.

11/24/2015 10:22:37 am

That is true, Sgt. Elias should a lot of love for his men. Sgt. Barnes did help them but at the end of the day he really just cared about himself and always tried to be in command and be over Lt. Wolfe.

12/2/2015 10:43:51 pm

I agree with your post because I also picked Sgt. Elias because he did help his troops and Sgt Barnes didn't seem to worry or be concerned about them. He seemed mean to me and I would most likely be with people that seem to care about me and are kindful.

12/2/2015 10:33:40 pm

If i had to pick who do I follow between Sgt. Barnes or Sgt. Elias I would pick Sgt Elias because If I was at war I would also seem to care about my folks. I would be depressed if one of them gets shot. He loves them. On the other hand Sgt. Barnes he doesn't care to even support the mens. He just wants to survive the war and cares mainly about himself.

Comments are closed.

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