Fact and Fiction in Depictions of the Holocaust

Holocaust as Horror-Psychological Thriller: Working-Through Spielberg’s Schindler’s

List Student Edition

Based on a book, Holocaust as Horror by:

Caroline (Kay) Picart, Florida State

David Frank, U. of Oregon A short article is forthcoming with Film

and History.

Schindler’s List’s “Realism”

How “real” does Schindler’s List seem?Why does it “look” so real?

Answers:1._______________________________________________________________________________________________.2._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

The BilderverbotCan you think of any objections on moral or aesthetic grounds to how Schindler’s List visualized the Holocaust?

             

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Key QuestionWho is the “monster” in Schindler’s List? What makes this character monstrous?

Answers:Character:_______________________Why is this character monstrous?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Two Key Scenes: Describe them briefly, both in terms

of content and form.The shower scene at Auschwitz

The seduction-turned-torture of Helen Hirsch by Amon Goeth

The Shower Scene in SLWhose gaze do we share?How do we know this?

Answer:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Schindler’s List and Psycho

Can you see any similarities between the shower scene in Psycho and the one in Schindler’s List?

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Key QuestionWhich two stereotypes are illustrated particularly in the scene where Goeth hovers around Helen Hirsch?

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Law and CrimeHow are law and crime depicted in Schindler’s List?What cinematic conventions are used to code the “good German” (Schindler) vs. the “bad German” (Goeth)?

Answers:1._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.2._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Discussion QuestionsCompare Schindler’s List’s holocaust narrative with Shoah. Do the comparisons both in terms of content and film form. Choose one scene from each film to back up your comparison.Comment on how Spielberg and Kingsley interact re. representing the Holocaust in Survivors of the Holocaust (Steven Spielberg and Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation).

Answers:1._______________________________________________________________________________________________.2._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.