1.14.14+and+1.15.14

WU: Individuality vs. Group Mentality

One wonders how the Nazis and other Germans could possibly have carried out the horrific acts demanded of them, even if they did in fact learn to hate the Jews. Some scholars explain their collaboration in terms of “deindividuation”: a loss of individuality as one becomes submerged in the group, which leads to lessened self-awareness and weakened restraint against harmful acts. **Can you think of instances when you experienced a reduced self-awareness due to membership in a cohesive group?**

Other scholars focus on the excuse given by many people who went along with horrific massacres: “I was only following orders.” **At what point do people bear a responsibility for their own actions, even when ordered to commit an act by a “legitimate authority”?**

Check-off and share out Reading Journal #1

Symbols List: fire--evil, corruption, fear, destruction of identity, ethnicity, religion, a people dark flame--evil, corruption, fear, destruction of identity in Elie violent language--degrading language leads to degrading behavior eyes--window to soul Angel of Death--loss of hope, coming doom shoes--survival, last item/connection to home Madame S.--ignorance vs. reality, silence, one who faces reality in the midst of others' denial pigs/dogs/sheep--dehumanization tattoo number--dehumanization, lack of emotion, cut off from family clothes/material items--dehumanization, lack of emotion, cut off from family nakedness/shaved head--humiliation, dehumanization, uniformity, loss of identity names--identity, history, family
 * P. 4:**

night light vs. dark dark flame sign above Auschwitz--death, irony, doom, trapped, scapegoats, fate, punishment, manipulation smoke/becoming smoke--impending doom, dark part of self, identity shift, literal consumption, emotionally hardened soup prayer/Kaddish--loss of hope, seeing self as dead while alive eyes dogs/pigs/cattle/sheep/lamb/worm dehumanizing language--allows you to see others as less than human and justify action, allows you to see yourself as such
 * P. 6:**

flames/fire--Jewish people being devoured, faith being devoured, insanity, hate or power growing, individuality/spirit being "burned" dark flame night silence stars Germans or Kapos as machines/monsters Star of David/yellow star shoes/material items teeth soup/bread light and dark smoke thick air---survival sign on electric fence HW: Journal Entry #2 due Thursday for P. 4 and Friday for P. 6 and 8
 * P.8:**