Culture | The times, they did a-change

The Vietnam war made American culture bolder and more varied

The conflict, which ended 50 years ago, precipitated new styles of music and film

A collage that compositionally mimicks the US flag. There's images of protests against the war in Vietnam,  famous artists, films, and badges from the era.
Illustration: Ricardo Santos

The images of the fall of Saigon, on April 30th 1975, are indelible. A helicopter takes off from the roof of the United States embassy, leaving behind a long line of would-be evacuees. Victorious North Vietnamese soldiers roll into the city in tanks, on their way to sack the American embassy and raise their flag over the presidential palace. Vietnamese civilians rush onto packed boats in terror.

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This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “The times, they did a-change”

From the April 26th 2025 edition

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