Was M*A*S*H* a way to make Americans think war was fun back in the 'Nam era?

Question

I know M*A*S*H* was Korea, but was that just because it'd be problematic to have used Vietnam back then?

Answer 1

MASH was used to raise morale and gain support for the mission. It helped the people "back home" see a different side other than the gritty reality of our service members dying over there. The news and papers were selling the war by showing all the bad stuff (sound familiar?). MASH showed that there was something good coming out of all this and to emphasize the importance of humor to ease the stress of war.

Answer 2

1. M*A*S*H* was the Korean War not Viet Nam

2. M*A*S*H* the movie did have a little more seriousness to it. Many of the characters from the movie did not make it to the Television Series.

3. In the M*A*S*H* tv show. They were not making fun of war but were trying to survive it. If you Noticed Burns and Hot lips were always very serious while, Pierce and Hunnicut were always Joking around. You had Klinger who was always trying to get out of the army and of course who could forget Radar the kid who was just there and honestly never should have left home.

You had the wide variety of characters in the show just like you do in real life. And by your question I can tell that you did not see the Series Finally.... Goodbye, Farwell, Amen ... In that episode Pierce was coming apart after being in Korea for so long.

My suggestion would be to sit down and watch the series. I may see it from a different point of view being a Military brat but. They were not making fun of the war in Viet Nam. How many Viet Nam Vets that you know were welcomed back home with a Hero's Welcome. I know my Dad wasn't. He was spit on as soon as he got of the plane. It could be said that M*A*S*H was used to take the spotlight off of the Viet Nam war.

Answer 3

I do believe that it was to avoid Viet Nam, that war was a very controversial war, alot of protesting going on at the time. So it was decided to avoid any outburst by the public by using Korea as a background instead of Viet Nam, and I don't blame them one bit. As far as Americans thinking war was funny, not in the least, it was just trying to make laughter the best medicine during the worst of times.

Answer 4

It was supposed to be a comedy about the being a medic in the war. It was supposed to be about Viet Nam but they felt it too soon to do that. As a result they also found it necessary to make it lighter since it was Korea. It was not intended to make war seem fun. It was sarcasm.

Answer 5

No, actually it was the complete opposite. The director of the movie was using it as an Anti-War film when the Vietnam war was going on.

Answer 6

First of all MASH wasn't set in the Vietnam war era. The setting takes place during the Korean war.
If you treat badly wounded soldiers all day, how else are you going to relieve the stress, only through comedy and laughter, the alternative isn't as good.

Answer 7

I don't think it was, there were a lot of scenes showing the war as very seriously. It showed different people and their reaction to every day problems, often very funny. In my opinion it was the best series ever on TV, I still watch it today sometimes.

Answer 8

Obviously you were not or are not a viewer. The writers of MASH were blatantly antiwar, in fact they were often in hot water politically for the show. Yes they did balance things out and show the "real" military docs point of view. But basically it was an antiwar piece.

Answer 9

M. A. S .H was a coment on Viet Nam, of course but it was hardly to show that it was "fun". Beneath the humor was a very strong anti-war sentiment.

Answer 10

M*A*S*H was to keep everyone from worrying what and where their loved ones be. this show was to help people at home to undersstand what was going on and also put some humor to entertain us as well. But Tour Of Duty was to say it was all about how they lived and all the struggles that went on and as well and when they came back home!!!