Saint Joseph’s University
Intercession 2008
EDU 1515: Teaching the Holocaust through Film
Dr. Richard Libowitz
BEL 208 610-660-1360
The intention of this course is to provide an introduction to the use of documentary and theatrical release films in teaching the story of the Holocaust. Topics for discussion will include film as story and propaganda, classroom effectiveness of video presentations, relative merits of black-and-white and color photography, messages behind “artistic” films.
Texts: Doris L.
Bergen, War & Genocide: A Concise
History of the Holocaust
Annette Insdorf, Indelible Shadows: Film and the Holocaust
Pre-class assignment:
1. Read Bergen, War & Genocide, with special attention to her analyses of the preconditions to the Holocaust; anti-semitism, racism and “common” prejudices.
2. Prepare a position paper (2-3 pages), discussing how film may be used to inflame or dampen such attitudes.
Schedule
Wednesday, 1/2
A history of the events leading up to the Holocaust and an overview of the Shoah itself. Films to be shown (excerpts): “Triumph of the Will”, “The Jew Suess”, “Night of Broken Glass”, “Nazi Concentration Camps”.
Reading assignment: Insdorf, chapters 1-4.
Thursday, 1/3
Documentary films as learning and teaching tools. Film to be shown, “The Long Way Home”.
Reading assignment: Insdorf, chapters 5-6.
Friday, 1/4
Two views of German society during the Third Reich. Film to be shown: “The Tin Drum”
Saturday, 1/5
A comparison of films by Italian directors, one generation apart, will be shown; “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis” and “Life is Beautiful”.
Reading Assignment: Insdorf, chapters 7-8, 13.
Assignment: Prepare a written analysis of the relative strengths and weaknesses of each of these films as art, as story and as teaching tool.
Monday, 1/7
Hidden agendas.
Films to be shown: “Night and Fog”, “The Shop on
Tuesday, 1/8
Biographical films (1):”The Diary of Anne Frank”.
Reading assignment, Insdorf, chapter 10.
Wednesday, 1/9
Biographical films (2): “Europa, Europa”.
Reading assignment, Insdorf, chapter 12.
Thursday, 1/10
Biographical films (3); “Triumph of the Spirit”.
Reading assignment: Insdorf, chapter 17.
Friday, 1/11
Biographical films (4), “The Pianist”.
Reading assignment, Insdorf, chapter 16.
Saturday, 1/12
“Schindler’s List”.
The course will conclude with a one-hour examination, following the film.