Description
Book SynopsisMichael J. Devine provides a fresh, wide-ranging, and international perspective on the contested memory of the 1950–1953 conflict that left the Korean Peninsula divided along a heavily fortified demilitarized zone. His work examines “theaters of memory,” including literature, popular culture, public education efforts, monuments, and museums in the United States, China, and the two Koreas, to explain how contested memories have evolved over decades and how they continue to shape the domestic and foreign policies of the countries still involved in this unresolved struggle for dominance and legitimacy.
The Korean War Remembered also engages with the revisionist school of historians who, influenced by America’s long nightmare in Vietnam, consider the Korean War an unwise U.S. interference in a civil war that should have been left to the Koreans to decide for themselves.
As a former Peace Corps volunteer to Korea, a two-time senior Fulbright lectur
Trade Review"Devine's book is an important piece of the history of the Korean War, East Asia and American involvement on the world stage. . . . A worthwhile consideration for reading in the coming year."—Steven L. Shields,
Korea Times"Devine sheds new light on memorialization's unintended, often polarizing consequences."—J. Daley,
Choice“Highly engaging. Perhaps most impressive about
The Korean War Remembered is the extent of the coverage, not just over time but also geographically, with insightful sections on the People’s Republic of China and the two Koreas. Michael Devine shows an equally impressive grasp of how, say, Hollywood portrayed the war in the 1950s versus how various states, as well as the National Mall, have memorialized the conflict in recent decades.”—Steven Casey, author of
Selling the Korean War: Propaganda, Politics, and Public Opinion, 1950–1953“The strength of this study is the author’s effort to take a broad chronological overview that underscores change over time. While focused on the American memory of the Korean War, Michael Devine also places it in an international context.”—G. Kurt Piehler, author of
A Religious History of the American GI in World War IITable of ContentsList of Illustrations
Preface
Acknowledgments
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
1. The “Police Action”
2. Forging Memories
3. Lessons Learned
4. Memorializing across America
5. The Korean War Veterans Memorial
6. Conflicted Memories of Allies and Foes
7. Memory, Truth, and Reconciliation
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index
