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Transcript

Schindler's List

The History

Summary

Summary

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.

Similarities

Similarities

  • The dates and times presented are correct: the occupation 1939, forcing of Jews into ghettos and the "cleansing" 1940-1941, arrival in Auschwitz in 1944, and the liberation on May 7, 1945
  • Treatments of Jews such as the ghettos, diseases, and the use of brutality in the camps
  • The names, ages, appearances, deaths, and characterists of each of Schindler's Jews
  • The words of many of the characters, such as Schindler's breakdown in the movie
  • The Cracow ghetto slaughter as well as the girl in red, May 30, 1942
  • The affairs Schindler went through to save his Jews
  • The cultural appropriation of Jews

Differences

Differences

  • Schindler's first meeting with Pfeffenberg is not in the church scene, rather it is in his mother's home
  • One of the prisoners killed by Goeth did not die in real life and became a door and window business owner
  • Schindler did not originally hire any Jews
  • Schindler was in jail for kissing a Jew shorter than in the book
  • Some of the dialogue is extended past what it actually was in real life

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 Concepts

Key Concepts

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

Key Concept 4.2

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.

Key Concept 4.3

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.

Key Concept 5.3

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.

Key Concept 5.3

Key Concept 5.1

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.

Key Concept 2.1

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.

Key Concept 2.1

S.P.I.C.E.

Spice Chart

Social

  • The families seen are small, close knit, and often separated Jewish peoples
  • The S.S. Nazis and industrialists are the upper class, towering over the Jews
  • Jews were often regareded as dirty and were not touched, and were forced into ghettos and camps
  • The Jews lived in poverty and despair whereas the Nazis lived pompus lives
  • Women were often regarded as objects and were largely thrown around

Political

  • Hitler and the S.S. officials reigned over a fascist empire
  • At the time the second World War was going on, a product of the first
  • Surging forces of nationalism and nationalistic values resulted in the Hitler Youth groups
  • In the beginning, Polish Jews had an assembly that fought for better treatment without luck
  • Oskar Schindler, like many other industrialists, had power with money

Interactions

Interactions

  • Large scale industrialization for war efforts led to disregard for the environment
  • Many Jews died inside of the box cars they were transported in because of Hypothermia
  • Disease spread quickly and was faked in camps
  • Jews were forced to migrate to Cracow, then to the Cracow ghettos, then to camps
  • Industrial technology increased production in all factories

Cultural

  • Judaism is seen as the major belief system
  • Among the Nazis and the "true Germans" a growing sense of nationalism was desired
  • Technology paved the way for the many business ventures that Schindler went on during the events of the movie and after
  • Literature that differed from the Nazi ideals was either burned or discredited
  • Eccentric drinking and partying with jazz musicians is often depicted throughout the piece

Economic

  • Forced Labor Systems were implemented for all Jews in camps and otherwise
  • Items that could be sold were valued at a higher rate than actual money
  • Trade in the ghettos was perpetuated by black markets
  • Schindler was able to use the black markets, his industry, and his influence to move money that wasn't his
  • Businesses making ammunitions were increasingly popular

Bibliography

Bibliography

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/.

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