Maus 2

Tara Finn

Hara

7 November 2007

RR Maus

The Russians were coming fast and the Jews who had survived were anxious to be rescued. The Germans were scared of what would happen and began to turn on each other. Vladek and a few others decided to hide in the attic instead of marching back to Germany. Unfortunately, the plan included burning the entire camp so that there was no evidence. The march back to Germany began and many died. They were then shoved into a train for animals, with 200 people that was meant for only 25. To survive, Vladek ate snow from the rooftop. They opened the trains after a week, but for others, the train door was never opened. They received some coffee and bread from the Red Cross, but not more food besides that. In the present, Vladek tries to return his opened food boxes because he can no longer eat any of it. He ended up with six dollars even though he spent one. There were lice in the hay and people got typhus. Those in the train were starving and covered in lice, everywhere. Vladek had an opened wound and made it worse so that we could visit the infirmary, where there were hot meals and beds. He met a French man who knew how to speak English and because he was not Jewish, he was able to receive packages with real food. They became friends and were able to pass the time. He contracted typhus and was extremely weak. There was hope, they were taking POWs to the Swiss border. Vladek begins to show his racist side when Francoise picks up a Black person from the street and gives him a ride. Vladek thought that the Black man would stolen his food.

They began talking about Anja again and how she survived on the Russian side with the help of Manice, who kept her safe. On the way to the Swiss border, they received treasure chests from the Swiss Red Cross. When they got off the train they noticed that life in Switzerland seemed normal, even thought the war was still going on. The Americans were in the next town over, and the Jews were sent their way, to finally be free. When they got to the next town, there were no Americans, and again, they were in the hands of the Germans. They were pushed towards the lake and thought they were all going to be shot with machine guns. In the morning, the Germans were gone and the Jews thought they were at last free. While walking, more guards came and organized them into another barn, again, they were stuck until the next morning. Vladek decided to find a safe bunker instead of just walking around and being caught again. They found and abounded barn, milk, and regular clothes. Vladek was starting to fell like a human gain. A few days later, the Americans came. Vladek and his friend were finally free and the American kept them safe in the house with food and protection. They even began to call Vladek, Willie. Vladek finally found some photos of old Poland for Artie. Vladek began to describe all the photos of their family. The only family on Vladek’s side that survied was his little brother, Pinek. They end with Vladek telling Artie he enjoys his visits.

Maus 2

Tara Finn

Hara

6 November 2007

RR # 3

Mala Left Vladek and took his money, leaving him alone, again. He faked having a heart attack so that Artie would come stay with him. Artie reveals that if he had to choose one of his parents to save from the ovens he would have picked his mother; he then begins to wonder if that is normal. Artie also begins to wonder if he would have got along with his brother, Richieu, if he was still alive. Artie then feels a little sibling rivalry with his dead brother because if he were still alive, then he could have gone to take of their father. Artie feels guilty for having such an easier life than his parents and sometimes wishes that could have been there with them in Auschwitz, just so he could feel what they went through. He goes to his father’s house and everyone thinks that he his either coming to live with Vladek or taking him back to his own house. They argue about all the bank statement because the addition is off, even though it is incorrect by less than a dollar. After fighting, Vladek beings his story where he left off, about Auschwitz and how he and Anja were separated for the first time. There he ran into Abraham, the one who wrote the letter saying Hungary was great, and he was told that he must dictate Yiddish or he would be shot. Vladek was very upset and began to cry. He was approached by a priest who looked at his number. He noticed that it began with a seventeen, which is a very good omen in the Jewish faith. He also noticed that the last number thirteen, was the age that a boy becomes a man. The middle numbers added up to eighteen, which is “chai” that Jewish number for life. The supervisor of the barracks asked who knew how to speak English and Polish because he wanted to learn how to speak English. Because Vladek was able to help him, the supervisor told him to stand on the left side of the room. This way, he would be saved from the gas the next day. This man was also able to get him tailored clothes and leather shoes.

All of the sudden, the time jumps forward and Vladek dies on August 18, 1982. Artie’s book is published and his son is born. Yet, he feels like his life is going no where and does not know what to do. His therapist thinks that Artie feels guilty for being successful because it is nothing compared to what his father went through in Auschwitz. He then turn back on the tape recordings to hear his father’s story. Vladek was talking about the horrible, rotten, and small portioned food that was not enough to supply any energy for work, let alone a life. He described the second camp, Birkenau, where Anja was. It was worse there then in camp one. People were sent there to die. They began communicating through a Hungarian helper named Mancie. She was willing to trade letters and report back on each of their heaths. Vladek had the chance to go visit Anja because many of the roofs needed to be fixed. He was beaten because he was caught talking to Anja in passing. He was sent back to camp one and became a shoe maker. He was lucky enough to earn a warm sausage because he was able to fix an officer’s shoe. The Germans were building new barracks for the women in camp one. In order to get Anja closer to him, Vladek, arranged bribes. Vladek was in Auschwitz for ten months and went through four different jobs. The Russians were coming closer and the Germans wanted to rid any evidence of the gas chambers and kill the Jews somewhere else in quiet. Artie was questioning why people did not resist and Vladek explained that the Jews always had hope but were so tired.

RR#2

Tara Finn

Hara

1 Novemebr 2007

RR #2

The story continues with Vladek’s concern for money visible in his refusal to hire someone to fix the leak in the roof and his snickers about Artie’s new tape recorder that he could have bought for cheaper. He then starts where he left off with his story and his return home and how it was still the same because the Germans could not destroy everything. Since Vladek came home from being a POW, many things had changed. Jews had lost all of their businesses, and work cards were now required to be anywhere so that the coupons were not abused. His friend, Ilzecki, saved him with a note and a safe haven when things were extremely bad. He offered to hide Vladek’s son so that he could remain safe, his family thought he was crazy, and later his son died. Jews were hung if they were caught dealing on the black market. Vladek began to sell jewelry and gold for petty money. In order to hide the grandparents from being taken because of their age, they built a bunker in the back to keep them safe. It did not work for long, and were sent to the gas chambers in Auschwitz. Stamps were required for all Jews in their passports. Those who did not receive one were sent to die.

Vladek then found Artie’s old comic called “Prisoner of the Hell Planet,” about his mom’s suicide. In 1943 the Jews left in the town were forced to move to a ghetto and had to pay those living in their houses. Persis, a member of the Jewish council and friend of their family, was able to take the children so that they would remain alive. This hiding did not work for long and those in the ghetto were going to Auschwitz. Tosha, Anja’s sister poisoned herself and the three children so that would not have to die from the gas. While telling his story, Vladek begins to pick up trash and make plans for it. I think part of the reason is because he was so used to having nothing for so long that even when he has nice things, he still appreciates the cheap things. Bunkers became extremely popular because they remained safe havens even when dogs came to sniff people out. People got so desperate for food that they began to chew on wood to feel the sensation of eating. Children were taught to hate the Jews as well and even screamed at them walking in the streets. Vladek was tired of hiding and wanted to sneak into Hungary so that they would be free. Little did they know, Hungary deported tens of thousands of Jews right before the war ended to Auschwitz. They found smugglers but were ticked and caught by the Gestapo. They were both sent to Auschwitz and thought they would die in the gas. They were separated men from women and Vladek was certain that he would never see Anja again.

Once again, Artie asked if he could look for him mother’s notebooks and Vladek finally told him that he had burned them after she died because he was so depressed. Artie was furious and called him a murderer. Artie wanted to get his mother’s side of the story but because his father went crazy, he would not be able to.

Photos

Tara Finn

Hara

30 October 2007

Zelizer RR

This article was about the power that images have over a situation because of the visual proof of emotions. Seeing something happen or that is happening makes it impossible to deny because there is no way to take away the atrocities. Memories of the horror are recorded through a lens that preserves history. Because of the photos taken by people during the Holocaust, those were not there are able to see how horrific it really was. The barbaric acts were shown across the world and allowed people to feel what actually happened. The suffering that was endured was horrendous to the extent of barbarianism. Photos gave a real insight to the atrocities that people, humans, had to endure. Even after people had suffered in death, pictures were taken. I think this was partly in memory of what had happened. Though it is extremely upsetting and disturbing to see dead people, who are pale and emaciated, not from death, but from living like they had to, it forces people to picture themselves in the same situation. Whether it is an individual or a community suffering, the pain is translated. Different languages may not be understood by everyone, but graphic pictures are because it is a universal language. The facelessness of the community shows the lack of the individual’s importance in the eyes of the Nazis. They even went as far as to give them numbers instead of names. To me, it does not matter which gaze or focus is used, the images that were captured were of a cruel and malignant time in history. The amount of brutality is inexcusable because it made humans look like animals, not worthy of dignity. While the Germans were depicted as evil, because of what was happening, it is not only the Germans that were doing all the horrible things.

Maus Summary#1

Tara Finn

Hara

30 October 2007

Maus RR #1

The first three chapters of Art Spiegleman’s Maus was an introduction to his father’s story and how he survived World War II, specifically the Holocaust. His dad, Vladek, was a polish Jew who survived the First World War and was drafted again to help fight against the Third Reich. In the beginning of 1938, the atmosphere in Poland drastically changed to that of hatred towards Jews. The Nazi Swastika began to show up all over Europe and troops began to organize. Jews with prosperous business were forced to sell to the Germans and were left with nothing. Riots and robberies became a standard daily occurrence against Jews. On August 28, 1939 Vladek was drafted, again. He was only trained for four days and was then sent out to fight against the Germans who invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. He was caught in the line of fire, but because he spoke German, he was spared and taken to a work camp. He did not want to kill anyone but did so ensure his life. There, they worked everyday and slept in the cold and were only fed the bare minimum. Vladek had hope and kept up his health with gymnastics and faith with daily prayers and even molded rocks to play chess. With these activities, he was able to keep sane and healthy, meaning he could stay alive. The POWs were moved to another camp that had warm beds and good food and were released months later. On the way home, Vladek who was heading back to his family was dropped off somewhere else. Germany had been spilt up into the Reich and a protectorate. Any Jew in the latter was liable to be shot for no reason. Thankfully, he knew someone who could pass as a relative. He was then able to return home but still placed under restrictions. He could not own his business and had a curfew of 7:00 p.m.

Germany’s forceful and violent takeover of Europe and extermination of all Jews created a World War II. People began to fear everyday life because the people running the government were cruel. The malignant tactics to get rid of the Jews started in Poland because it was easily accessible and much of the population was Jewish. Those who were spared, were put through hell to help the Germans and to be worked to death. It seems that soldiers on both sides did not want to kill the enemy but rather they were forced to because the countries were at a war of ideals. The Arians were supposed to be ruling all of Europe, not the Jews. They were supposed to be compliant of all their property being stolen and their families being taken away. The white race did not necessarily want to take over, but were brainwashed into thinking that they were the superior race. There are of course those who aided the Jews because they realized that was happening was sick and twisted and that no one deserved to be treated like that. What I have always questioned is the lack of other country’s support of those under persecution. Why did not the United States, England, or France or any other developed country that was able to help, not? It seemed that those who were Jewish and in Eastern Europe were doomed because of the power surge that barbaric Hitler went on in the late 1930 and into the mid 1940s. Poland, the most effected country was forced to comply with most of Germany’s demands because of the proximity and power in numbers that the Hitler’s army had over the Poles. Yet, they fought their best and thought they lost many people, there are those like Vladek who remained loyal in defending their country.

Stackelbergs reading/vocab

Tara Finn

Hara

25 October 2007

RR #2

The Stackelberg reading on Hitler’s Germany described the atrocities that Jews were put through before and during the war. Even though the Jews only made up ¾ of one percent of Germany’s total population, Hitler, in his Third Reich, wanted to find a “solution” to the Jewish problem. It started with the Enabling Act of 1939 to restrict Jews from land and livestock. Soon, lawyers and doctors could not longer practice and businesses were transferred to non-Jews. There was much debate over those who had only one or two grandparents of Jewish descent and whether they should be counted as aliens. Jews were also restricted to movies, pools, and parks, limiting them to their own places to worship. People over six had to wear a Star of David, so that they could be identified. Germany supported Zionism because that way, the Jews would not be in Germany, they would have their own state. With the start of the war in Poland on September 1, 1939, Jews were no longer considered German at all. It is then that the barbaric acts really began. The solutions were ghettos and concentration camps. Not only were men, women, and children killed, those were not from Arian background were as well. The discovery of a quicker way to exterminate people and get rid of their bodies was the gas chamber that brutally and inhumanely massacred hundreds of people at a time; either with carbon monoxide or Cyclone B. What the Germans did to their own people, who followed different beliefs, was not only gruesome it was animalistic and was not stopped by anyone. It took a World War II to finally stop the mass killings in Germany, Poland, the Soviet Union, and many other European countries. The Nazi’s sick and twisted view of the perfect race killed more people then any other war in world history. It is much like today’s genocide in Sudan. It seems that no country is doing enough to help those who are unfairly killed. Whether it is because of other conflicts or not, countries should not be afraid to protect others when something as wrong as this is happening. One would think we would have learned from the first genocide.

The Comic vocabulary was about the explanation of icons and how style can distract or enhance the visual appeal. Words are abstract icons that we automatically associate with certain sounds. Icons can beliefs, like a cross, or ideas, like a heart. We as humans are all self -involved and try picture ourselves in most situation like others see us. His example was if we smile how do we know if we smiled? Yes, we feel our cheeks squint and our eyes become smaller, but how do other see it. It is an icon of happiness to others. Icons are like symbols but can include cartoons and sounds that are familiar.

Stackelberg