Lecture
Professor David Peimer
Saturday 20.06.2026
Professor David Peimer
American Identity Traumatised: Films - ‘Platoon’, ‘Apocalypse Now’, ‘Good Morning Vietnam’
Saturday 20.06.2026
How to watch
This lecture starts on 20 June at 5:00pm (UK).
Summary
Join us as we explore how the Vietnam war traumatised American identity and how it was depicted in the three great classic films of the era. The absurdity, agony, and reshaping of a national psyche was captured in these films. Myths of American self-belief were shattered as a new self-image was forged in the wake of the jungle imagery of Vietnam. With morality under siege and idealism betrayed, these films capture the psychological remaking of the American character. In our discussion, we question how this echoes today in Western culture.
Professor David Peimer
David Peimer is a Professor of Literature, Film and Theatre in the UK. He has worked for the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, New York University (Global Division) and was a Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University. Born in South Africa, David has won numerous awards for playwriting and directing. He has most recently directed Dame Janet Suzman in his own play, Joanna’s Story, at London Jewish Book Week. He has published numerous books, including Armed Response: Plays from South Africa and the digital book Theatre in the Camps. He is on the board of the Pinter Centre (London), and has been involved with the Mandela Foundation, Vaclav Havel Foundation and directed a range of plays at Mr Havel’s Prague theatre.