2.15.17+and+2.16.17

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. Other scholars focus on the excuse given by many people who went along with horrific massacres: “I was only following orders.”

Response: Can you think of instances when you experienced a reduced self-awareness due to membership in a cohesive group?

At what point do people bear a responsibility for their own actions, even when ordered to commit an act by a “legitimate authority”?

Where do you see evidence of these patterns in the text? Where do you see deviations?

Quotes to discuss: Ch. 6/7

Chapter 6: The use of snow--what is it symbolic of? “Masters of nature”: pg. 87 Rebellion against death: pg. 89 Rabbi Eliahu and son: pg. 90-91 Juliek’s violin: pg. 95

Chapter 7: Opening: indifference, dead/alive=same, numbness Dehumanization: Jews being animalistic, “spectacle,” “charity” flashback pg. 100-101 Father and son: pg. 101 “I was sixteen”: 102 Contagious lament: pg. 103

HW: Read Ch. 8 and complete your final reading journal for Ch. 8. Remember, ALL of your reading journals will be due next Wednesday for P. 2 and Thursday for P. 5 and 6.