The Topic of Genocide in the Diary of Anne Frank, and the Pawnbroker - Research Paper Example

The comparison of genocide as presented in the Diary of Anne Frank and the Pawnbroker Introduction The perception of different people, as well as their understanding of the events of the Holocaust have been greatly influenced by the different media presentations of the events that took place. One area which is presented in a different manner, among the different media presentations – holocaust movies is the topic of genocide, where the presentation is presented in ways that meet different expectations and standards. Different identities or communities hold diverse memories of the events of the Holocaust – fragmentary and controversial – which alter the understanding of the symbolism of the holocaust and the victims of the different events. Through this paper, the discussion will present the ways, in which American movies have presented the European event, and more importantly, how the perception of topics like genocide in the holocaust has been altered by the presentations of American film. The two movies are representative of the events of the holocaust, mainly because both deal with the events covered, from a different point of view. Further, previously developed viewpoints about the events of the holocaust have been altered by the release of the different media accounts. It is important to note that the Nazi holocaust is different from the holocaust –which is the media presentation of the holocaust – in the American society. The main issue, in this case, is that some aspects of the events, including the area of genocide have been altered, as a way of safeguarding the interests of the audience. Comparison between the Diary of Anne Frank and the Pawnbroker During the period between the conclusion of the war and the start of the 1960s, the events of the holocaust had no considerable influences on America’s film industry. Similar to the case of other art forms, the theme spurred less interest. The case is evident from the fact that, only a few – and often not successful – books covered the subject. This case could be the result of the view that the events did not warrant artistic exposure, but were those to be left to historians only. In 1956, the first movie on the events of the holocaust was made, by the name of ‘Night and fog’, which also had little influence in America, possibly, because it was done in French. Following the context narrated before, ‘the diary of Anne Frank’ was staged, first as a play in 1956, and later cast as a movie in 1959, which caused major influence in the presentation of the holocaust. The Pawnbroker tries to present a connection between the sufferings of the Jews at camps, to the case of the Afro-Americans suffering at Harlem. The problem with attempting to develop a relationship between the two is that it destroys the historical record of the event. The movie shows the story of a professor who lost the wife and children at detention camps, and is shown as one running a pawnshop at Harlem. The many deaths are a clear representation of the deaths taking place at the death camps, which points to the genocide. Further, the account of the disturbing deaths of the wife and the children, bring to the viewer, a feeling closer to that experienced by the victims of the genocide. The movie goes ahead to expose the viewers, to the highly painful past of the survivor of the genocide, Mr. Sol Nazerman. Emphasis is channeled towards the impact of the past, on the survivor’s present life, which cripples his life in a traumatized manner. Sol’s life portrays the torture suffered by Jews; especially the many deaths taking place there, which were many to the level of warranting the situation to be referred as genocide. Therefore, this movie presents the genocide that took place during the holocaust more representative of the historical event, when compared to the case of the diary of Anne Frank. Through the diary of Anne Frank, the topic of genocide – which was aimed at the Jews – is generalized; in a way that, it is presented not to depict that the Jews were the direct targets of the holocaust. This media representation of the topic of the genocide is quite different from the reality of the holocaust, like it is present in the original account of the victims of the holocaust (Novick 117). This presentation of the topic of genocide shows that the movie does not clearly portray that the genocide, which took place during the span of the holocaust was directly targeted at the Jews (Novick 117). Therefore, the movie, directly or directly shows that the genocide perpetuated during the events of the holocaust was not an anti-Jewish activity, which is not entirely factual. On the other hand, the Pawnbroker moves ahead to develop a comparison between the life that the survivor led at the death camps, and the life they led at the time, at Harlem. The survivor’s past was projected through the flashbacks of the emotionally disturbed refugee, which helped in bringing out the association between the two life styles. Further, the comparison of the lifestyle led at Harlem and that led at the death camps – where they survived from – helps bring out the memories of the refugee in a succinct manner. This is the case, mainly because the shady deals at the Pawnshop remind him of the cages they had to be locked in; the survivor. remembered the bars, meshes, alarms and locks – which trapped the prisoners (Zierler 46, 50). Through the Diary of Anne, the topic of genocide is present as an event which was not unique to the case of the Jewish people. The main issue is that the very conception of Jewishness is presented in a very weak manner. The emphasis of the movie was that the case facing the Jews; the genocide was an event facing the Jewish, just like other groups and races, which have had to suffer the same fate. The emphasis is that such human suffering has befallen one race and another. This presentation of the genocide facing the Jews is evident from the altered reference of the Jews, where in the movie, Anne uses the term ‘we’ in the place of the word “Jews," which she had previously used in the diary. Through the diary of Anne Frank, the topic of genocide, like it is presented through the Diary of Anne on the holocaust, is used to signify the weakness of the Jewish people. The movie depicts the Jews as people awaiting their termination by their enemies, which is signified by their acceptance of leading their lives in hiding. Their hiding turns Anne and the family into the victims of the events, which led to their death at the end (Goodrich and Hacket 101). Their weakness is further depicted through Anne’s optimistic belief that all people are good at the heart. Her optimism is portrayed as one that works towards comforting the other victims of the genocide, which appears like a sense of denial to the fate that faced the Jews people, among them, the family of Anne. Therefore, from the perspective portrayed through the movie, it is shown that the victims are able to forgive very easily; the case shows that the Holocaust may have been such a big deal, like it never took place. The comparison developed between the past life and the current life at Harlem in the Pawnbroker depicts the contrast, clarifies the genocide that took place at the death camps, giving it the huge emphasis it deserves (Zierler 51-67). For example, the shady deals that take place at the pawnshop remind the survivor, of the exact torture that the Jews featured in the flashbacks suffered; the experiences included the death of family members and others as they watched. So irrespective of the fact that the account presents the genocide as a series of memories, it brings out the real pain and the suffering experienced by the people that were subjected to the torture and the unpleasant experiences in the camps. The topic of genocide, like it is presented through the Diary of Anne, is more of an idealistic case, and not the real threat that genocide could command. For example, the real Anne, according to the reference of the diary, died at Bergen-Belsen, while hungry, cold and looking like a shaven skeleton, but nothing of the type is mentioned through the movie adapted from the diary (Frank 48-49). Therefore, the suffering experienced by the Jews, during the genocide that befell them was not, in any way, depicted through the movie. The case shows that the topic of genocide was diluted by the makers of the movie, to give the impression that it was not a major incidence in the lives of the Jews, unlike the reality of the historical event. Through the Pawnbroker, the entire life of the survivor is connected to his memories at the death camps. For example, the distant barking of dogs reminds him of the dogs that would be let lose to attack the Jewish prisoners held in the camps. From experiences where the witnessed some people assaulting another, memories of the torture that they were subjected to, at the concentration camps comes back to his memory (Zierler 51-52). Through such memories – projected through the emotionally disturbed survivor – the death-causing events of the death camps are clearly projected to the viewers, which portray the genocide that took place during the holocaust. The contrast between the two movies shows that, despite presenting the genocide as flashbacks, the Pawnbroker exposes the experiences of the Jews, unlike the Diary of Anne, which seems to conceal the adverse experiences of the prisoners. Conclusion Through the review of the two movies: the Diary of Anne Frank and the Pawnbroker, it is evident that the two movies do not present the genocide that took place during the holocaust like it was. Particularly, the Diary of Anne Frank seems to conceal the experiences of the main actor, Anne, who is not depicted as undergoing the deep suffering and the deaths that amounted to the genocide. On the other hand, despite the fact that pawnbroker attempts to relate different times in the life of the survivor, it manages to portray the explicit experiences of the survivor, including the death of the wife and his children. However, it is important to note that the two movies tend to filter the information presented to the audience, therefore, failing to depict the genocide like it really was. Works Cited Bartov, Omer. The “Jew” in Cinema. From The Golem to Don’t Touch My Holocaust. Indiana: Indiana University Press, 2005. Print Frank, Otto. "Has Germany Forgotten Anne Frank?" Coronet, 47.4 (1960): 48-49.Print Goodrich, Frances, and Albert, Hackett. The Diary of Anne Frank. New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1986: 101. Novick, Peter. The Holocaust in American Life. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1999. Print. Zierler, Wendy. "My Holocaust Is Not Your Holocaust: "Facing" Black and Jewish Experience in The Pawnbroker, Higher Ground, and The Nature of Blood.” Holocaust and Genocide Studies 18.1 (2004): 46-67. Print Read More