Human history has been kept alive through various mediums over the centuries. For a long time, stories were told verbally to younger generations, while written records and artifacts reinforced the authenticity of the story. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, technology revolutionized storytelling with the invention of the video camera. Rather than hearing anecdotal stories about historical events, people could now see images of events happening all over the world. Additionally, films have been created to present fictional and non-fictional stories for educational and entertainment purposes. The United States, and specifically Hollywood, has become the center of the global film industry. Widespread social and political changes that occurred in the mid-20th century shaped the country we live in today, and Hollywood began creating films about the events of the time. Some common themes for this period include racism and civil rights, communism, youth culture, musical trends, and the Vietnam War. The director of the film was largely responsible for the accuracy of the film, and because of freedom of speech, the directors were willing to present these events in any way they wished. The films' global audiences and popularity have made them an attractive way for directors and actors to convey a variety of plots and points of view. As a result, cinema began to play an important role in how social issues, political issues, and military conflicts were perceived by the public. Perceptions of historical events changed between the time immediately following the event and decades later. This is true for current issues such as the AIDS epidemic and military conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and the Middle East. Maybe...... middle of paper ......tnam War: Three Hollywood films made with honor. Retrieved November 25, 2015 from the Chicago Tribune: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-04-28/entertainment/8501250766_1_vietnam-war-commercial-feature-films-vietnam-eraStone, O. (director). (1989). Born July 4th [Motion Picture]. Stone, O. (December 4, 2009). The Diary - Bill Moyers Diary - Oliver Stone. (B. Moyer, interviewer) Public Broadcasting Service. Suid, L. (nd). Film commentary. Retrieved November 25, 2015, from Hollywood and Vietnam: http://filmcomment.com/article/hollywood-and-vietnamToplin, RB (1991, December). The historian and the cinema: a research program. Journal of American History, 78(3), 116-1163. Wetta, FJ and Novelli, MA (July 2003). "Now a Major Motion Picture": War Films and the New Hollywood Patriotism. Journal of Military History, 67(3), 861-882.