Introducing
Your new presentation assistant.
Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.
Trending searches
This movie centers around Oskar Schindler, a member of the Nazi Party who, by employing them and bribing Nazi officials with the help of Itzhak Stern, saved the lives of nearly 1,200 Jews during WW2. Initially, Oskar Schindler is motivated by the cheap labor the Jews provide and the promise of profit, but eventually he shows great compassion for his workers and dedication to find a way to save as many Jews as possible. Schindler works closely with Itzhak Stern, an intelligent and wary Jew on death row, and is forced by circumstances to bribe, interact with, and coerce Amon Goeth, an S.S. officer in charge of the Plaszow concentration camp. Audiences follow Schindler and the Schindler Jews from 1939, the beginning of Poland's occupation, to 1945 when the war ends.
Other than these few things, the film was remarkably correct in terms of nearly everything. Another thing incredible about this movie is the fact that it explores the many viewpoints and does not attempt to glorify, humanize, or dehumanize any of the characters.
Key Concept 4.2: New Forms of Social Organization and Modes of Production
Key Concept 4.3: State Consolidation and Imperial Expansion
Key Concept 5.3: Nationalism, Revolution, and Reform
Key Concept 5.1: Industrialization and Global Capitalism
Key Concept 2.1: The Development and Codification of Religious and Cultural Traditions
Much like in the 18th century, there was a greater demand for industrialized and finished goods. Schindler, being a tactical businessman, saw this demand and saw the easiest way to gain wealth and power: communicating with the elite and extorting the oppressed peoples. These are all trends seen throughout the 18th century with the Spanish and their economic and cultural dominance of Meso-America, as can also be seen between the Jews and Nazis in Schindler's List.
It comes as no surprise that this Key Concept would come up, seeing as the Nazis were pursuing many imperial actions in order to secure a stronger state. Through their control of arts, government, economy, and their discrimination of Jewish peoples, on the behalf of the growing nationalistic parties seeking representation, the Nazis secured relative state security. Through their conquest of Poland and parts of surrounding Europe, they displayed the characteristics of a nationalist-imperialist society. Schindler and the Jews however represent the idea of differing ideals and defiance towards an injust system.
Nationalism is one of the driving points in the plot, with the Nazis being the "Emporor" with every power to kill and the Jews being "this worthless man", as Schindler says. Jews are not seen as citizens and are seen as the root cause of German failure, and the Nazis use their control and influence to make them the enemy. Amon Goeth even believes that the war is a form of revolution against the domination of the world by powers that would see the other countries of the world sequestered.
The entirety of the plot revolves around the profitability of industrialization and the movement of goods as well as money. From the underground black markets in the ghettos, to Schindler's factories, money and capitalism are seen as a central force. Schindler's enamelware factory was only made possible by Jewish investors. The use of railroads as a means of transporting goods and prisoners shows the use of railroads as a means of empire building. The only difference is that Jews were not allowed to organize into unions and were seen as expendible. Schindler saves the Jews from Auschwitz by faking their use in an ammunitions factory and halts war progress by producing fake shells and buying up real shells.
Another one of the central forces in the movie is religion, specifically Judaism. Their representation of Jews is spot on for the time period, with many of the hymns sung being true to what is in the Torah and what was actually said. Payots, Bekishe, Tzitzit, and Yamakahs can all be soon sported by the Jews as well as stars of David. For women the idea of female community and the symbolic cloth over the head can be seen constantly. All of this shows the syncretic and traditional influence of religion on a group of people.
Collins, Julia. “Important Events of Schindler's List.” Prezi.com, 9 Dec. 2013, prezi.com/wvt6ivrygznk/important-events-of-schindlers-list/.
T, Keneally, et al. “Inaccuracies.” Schindler's List, 3 Dec. 2012, schindlerslisteight.wordpress.com/historical-accuracy/inaccuracies/.