Rough Portion of Paper

My intention is not to discuss the limits in agency of both the films and producers nor do I wish to discuss the technical aspects which war played on the documentation of such cinema or simply compare and contrast the various films in their stylistic techniques. However, such subjects can never be disregarded, especially when they co-relate to the broader picture. My working hypothesis, rather, will discuss the inner workings of both films and their primary ambitions of memorialization via alienation in order to assert itself as “a document to serve our collective memory” (Memory of the Camps). I would like to also investigate the reasoning behind the original films pre-mature conclusion. Was it truly due to the need for the Allies to restore relations with the Germans or was the timing of such a film simply not compatible due to the beginning of the Cold War between the US and the Soviets?

Based on the amount of research I have conducted thus far, I believe my main sources that will help in my exploration of such a subject would be the various Holocaust documentary films released in the similar era, most prominently Andre Singer’s Night Will Fall along with Billy Wilder’s Death Mills and Alain Resnais’s Night and Fog. Professor Aaron Kerner’s Film and the Holocaust: New Perspectives on Dramas, Documentaries, and Experimental Films provides an insightful new perspective into the representation of the Holocaust via documentary films as well as questions the realistic aspects of such films. The sources listed above are vital in my working argument since they all provide various opinions of the reality of this horrific event through different mediums.

-The above two paragraphs are the beginnings of my introductory/scholarly dialogue, I haven’t been able to shape it up too much but any feedback on transitions and phrasing would be really helpful! Thanks.

Really Rough Draft of AB.

Headnote:

My research topic will surround the horrendous aftermath of the concentration camps as WWII came to an end. I will be analyzing Night Will Fall, my primary documentary film which looks over the production of Alfred Hitchcock’s and Sidney Bernstein’s 1945 then-incomplete film. This particular film included the never-before-seen final reel of footage from Hitchcock’s incomplete documentary, German Concentration Camps Factual Survey. This documentary’s production was shut down prematurely by the British government. I will also look at the 1985 documentary, Memory of the Camps—this particular film released only five out of the six reels of footage which Hitchcock and Bernstein produced. In these films, I will be looking at the roles both Hitchcock and Bernstein played in directing the once unfinished documentary, and the roles of the directors in the restoration process and the results of these events. Essentially the above films can be considered as the now completed Hitchcock film, almost 70 years later.

I would like to gain a much deeper understanding of how exactly “film” was used as medium to shed light on these horrific events in the Concertation Camps and what were the limitations of these films. It is quite ironic that this particular 1945 documentary film was stopped, yet other concentration camps documentary films, such as Death Mills, was not. Why was this so? Was the overall message in this primary documentary too over-zealous or too politically sensitive or was it too “real”? The answer to this is a combination of both (something you will understand in my paper). Some of my other topics of inquiry dig deeper into documentary films themselves; I would like to see what types of research was required in these productions and the processes the film encountered in order for completion as well as how the survivors shown in the documentary were found. I would like to gain a better understanding in their roles in documentary films.

My overall research question, however, would be: did these films acquire the justice and recognition/awareness they were meant to create? Did the essence of these films get captured by the audience? Was—and is—film a strong source of medium to portray the message of Hitchcock and Bernstein to the German public as well as the world? I hope to answer these questions by the end of my research.

Annotations:

1. (include Citation of: Restoring & Completing German Concentration Camps Factual Survey (1945/2014), Formerly Known as Memory of the Camps. – Toby Haggith; Journal Title: Journal of Film Preservation)
   1. Summary: The source above offers information on the restoration and completion of the documentary German Concentration Camps Factual Survey. Authors affiliated with this article are: Department of Research, Imperial War Museums, and Directors of the Restoration.
2. (Include Citation of: “The Day the Night Fell” – Abigail Jones; Journal Title: Newsweek Global)
   2. Summary: The article above focuses mostly on the documentary German Concentration Camps Factual Survey and its purpose to document the true realities of the events that occurred in the concentration camps during World War 2. It also includes a summary of how the HBO documentary show, “Night Will Fall,” allowed the Hitchcock’s film to come back to life after 70 years of hibernation.

 

Ignorance is Bliss – until it isn’t. May 10.

Zombies have always been an interesting topic of discussion for many decades generating much revenue for the entertainment industry via various mediums. Max Brook’s World War Z recounts interviews conducted by an anonymous agent of the United Nations Post-War Commission with many refugees and survivors following the Zombie Apocalypse. In my reading of the novel, one particular interview stood out among all the rest: former White House Chief of Staff, Grover Carlson. The interview took place in Amarillo, Texas as the once respected official now pushed a wheelbarrow collecting “fuel” along the “pie-ladden pastures” (59).

For those of you who don’t realize it by now, “fuel” is a fancy term for dung.

In this particular interview, Carlson admitted in a matter-of-fact casual tone of the many “actions” and “decisions” he pushed through during his reign in order to pro-long the inevitable. He stated he knew of the outbreak the day the “Knight-WarnJews report” hit his office and personally debriefed the president. He admitted to pressing a placebo drug to tame the American Public which stood no chance against the Zombie Outbreak; he admitted his focus was on keeping the powers-to-be happy and in turn, he got to keep his job and the life he had built. He insulted various institutions and organizations and even insinuated the American people were nothing but a pest to his office–all in a very nonchalant manner. His tone was none of remorse; rather, he gave the impression that if he had to do it all over again, he would in exactly the same manner.

Carlson’s take on the whole “catastrophe” was that it affected not only the public in protecting themselves from the attacks of zombies, but that it was political as well–the government had known about it, the media had known, the doctors had known, everyone knew. Everyone was and could be held liable and everyone had as much to lose. As a result, everyone chose to ignore the “warnings . . . that [the Outbreak] could never just be woven into the fabric of public life and that it actually was a global catastrophe in the making” (63).

Ignorance is bliss – until you’ve hit rock bottom and your only primary role in this world is to scrape a “shovelful of ‘fuel'” into a medieval-looking wagon.

 

 

Introduction. – April 20.

Hi! Out of my essay, I feel like my introduction could use a little/a lot of work. My introductions (and conclusions) are usually my weakest points in an essay and any feedback would be great, thanks!

~,~

How do you define a hero? It was an irritating question William Ward Mayhugh longed to answer. Born on August 8^th, 1927, William—who goes by Bill—enlisted in the Navy at the mere age of fifteen. His father had died in a tragic accident a few years prior and, as the only child, his mother looked to him for support. Bill was sent to boot camp in San Diego for three weeks and described it as a continuous period of marching with a few pit-stops along the way to learn to shoot a rifle. Bill found this quite boring and tedious. Is this all a hero does? Marching and chanting? No, Bill decided, there must be more.

 

VERY rough first draft of E1. – April 13.

How do you define a hero? It was an irritating question William Ward Mayhugh longed to find the answer for. At the mere age of 15, William—known more affectionately as Bill—enlisted in the Navy. His mother longed for him to grow into a strong, young man and as the only boy in the house, he had to support his mother. He was sent to boot camp in San Diego for 3 weeks and described it as a continuous period of marching with a few pit-stops along the way to learn to shoot a rifle. Bill found this quite boring and tedious. It wasn’t until he was assigned the U.S.S. Tennessee that Bill found any enjoyment in his enlistment. The first day Bill laid eyes on his home to be for the next 23 months, his breath was taken away. The sheer enormity of the ship left Bill gaping at the pier and, many times, he would refer to the U.S.S. Tennessee with a female identity and referred to “her” as a “beauty.

Quotations:

1. The U.S.S. Tennessee had “damn good food.”
2. Alaska was “freezing cold, foul-weathered, and dark with only two days of sunlight” in Bill’s whole tour.
3. Bill’s time at sea was “very scary, [yet] full of joyous time. [It was] like a family [on the U.S.S. Tennessee.”
4. How do you define a hero? “A man that’s scared to death but [has the guts] to do something.”
5. “Sometimes, the body would be too decomposed to pick up so we would take the dog tags as proof of death.”

Goodbye my darling. Hello Vietnam. – April 10.

Stanley Kubrick’s award-winning film, Full Metal Jacket, portrayed the lives of young men as they were heavily conditioned for war–specifically, the Vietnam War. The movie follows the journey of a single squad of marines who went through hell and back during their training at boot camp to prepare for the worst. One of the main concepts illustrated throughout the motion picture revolved around the idea of deindividuation–the act of erasing an individual’s identity and replacing it with a state/group identity. A prime example of such a concept is depicted in the opening scene of the film.

Before we are presented with any footage, the film floods our senses with Johnny Wright’s “Hello Vietnam.”Though the tropical melody gives us that longing taste for a much-needed vacation, after a couple seconds we are introduced to a legion of men sitting in the foreground of the scene as barbers shave their heads. The men are all silent, sitting still as the barbers have their way with their hair. The look in their eyes is vague and expressionless towards their predicament. It is as if they are resigned to their predicament and know they have no other choice but to join the war. The scene never really settles on one person’s “haircut;” rather, it jumps every few seconds to introduce a new member of the squadron. The fact that all the men are receiving the same military crew-cut furthers their collective identity as a whole group of soldiers rather than a group of individuals.

As the music comes to a close, the high-angled closing shot of the overall scene shows all the hair piled upon one another on the ground surrounding the barber’s feet. This particular mis-en-scene is meant to further characterize the concept of deindividuation. Just as there is so much hair on the floor and there is no ability to decipher whose hair is whose, the same can be said for soldiers of war. It is a sad truth of reality but it is the truth and this was the reality and this particular scene in Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket is meant to show just that: the reality.

The Perks of Spring Break – March 31.

#11.

As winter quarter came to a stressful close following the end of finals week, Leah was looking forward to the relaxing week of spring break ahead of her. Unfortunately, her week of relaxation only lasted for a few brief moments. Once she arrived home, her job changed from a full-time student to a full-time babysitter. Though she heavily enjoyed the time spent with her siblings, there were times when she felt as if she could not get a break. Her most stressful situations revolved around the forbidden use of the words “nap time.” The babies just really hated taking naps. Nevertheless, Leah did not let this deter her. As a family person, she chose to enjoy the rough times with her family as well as the great times. Just as Leah’s spring break began, it came to a quick close as well and though she did not achieve that relaxation period she was hoping for, she achieved something infinitely more greater: quality family time.

The Three M’s. – March 6.

#10.

Society in the twenty-first century is very lucky to include a diverse range of people from all different cultural backgrounds and religions. You would think that this diversification would stimulate love and compassion between different ethnic groups because of the sheer amount of cultural knowledge that looms between the two; you would think that such variation would allow for groups to be more tolerant and respectful towards one another in terms of customs and religion. Unfortunately, we live in a world where fairytales are fake and the reality is: any deviation from the predisposed norms of society creates a clear line between those deemed “the other” and those deemed “the same.”

It is in our biological nature as human beings to side with that which is familiar to us and to fear the unknown. Since 9/11, the treatment of Muslim Americans (and brown people in general) has been utterly abhorrent to say the least. The amount of racial prejudice against this group has increased tenfold due to the actions of a group of radical Muslims with ideals that do not even correlate with the peaceful teachings of Islam. And now, we have Donald Trump, an “amazing” Presidential Candidate, announce his plan to “bar” Muslims from entering the US to “figure out what the hell is going on” not to mention the countless remarks he has made against other ethnic minorities such as Hispanics and immigration from Mexico. As an Indian-American Muslim, you can imagine my surprise when I noticed many of the people I used to call friends supporting such a man who wanted to basically make me “register” as a Muslim in this country and walk around wearing a symbol so others will know that I am a Muslim. Registration? Symbolism? Sound slightly familiar?

That’s right: Adolf Hitler. Hitler used fear to manipulate the masses against anyone who basically was not white and Christian which is exactly what Trump is trying to achieve as well in a more blunt manner.

Given that it is 2016 and not the 1940s, you’d think that people would have a bit more hindsight to possibly not make the same mistakes that have already occurred in history. You would think that racism would not be an issue in todays society but it is. You would think people would be more open-minded but they are not. You would think the world is a bit different from the “olden” days but except for technological advancements and the Internet, it’s practically the same.

There have been many times where I have tried to comprehend the realities occurring around me, to understand why people hate Muslims so much and feel the need to punish the mass population of Muslims for the crimes only a handful committed. And it isn’t only Muslims being persecuted; it’s anyone who looks even remotely Middle-Eastern. For example, Sikhs have often been the targets of many hate crimes because of the their turbans. So, why?

The answer to this question is quite simple: misinformation, misrepresentation, and misunderstanding. Many people are misinformed when it comes to any topic in relation to Islam and believe it to be this horrible religion that preaches violence — which is completely untrue; Islam only preaches teachings of peace. Many people believe that the group of radical “Muslims” represent the entirety of the Muslim population — how is this even fair? On numerous occasions, white men have committed gun violence on unsuspecting children yet the masses never assume that the majority of the white population will at any moment take out a gun and start shooting people. So, when it comes to Muslims or brown people in general, how is it fair to assume that we will do the same? Many people misunderstand Muslims in such a colossal way that when they take the chance to actually meet a fellow Muslim they are completely shocked at how normal and human they are. (Honestly, a video went viral of a lady protesting against Islam in front of a mosque only to be treated with kindness and respect by the community members and her whole perspective towards Islam as a religion changed in the course of a single morning.)

As human beings, we are notorious for subjecting the concept of otherness onto many groups of people in order to create a ranking of superiority. It’s like the food chain but only on a social level.

I want to break that food chain and, therefore, break that social hierarchy by giving the people a chance to allow themselves to open their minds and maybe create a type of familiarity with those they do not know and to provide comfort and understanding instead of fear and anxiety. Because Fear is a powerful emotion, one that is susceptible to manipulation and control and, in the hands of the wrong people, Fear itself can create hell on Earth.

 

Informed Opinons – February 28.

#9.

With today’s technological advancements, the publics ability to speak their mind and share their voices has increased tenfold — specifically via the news and social media. Opinion-based articles are much more diverse and actually quite common throughout the realm of communications and provide an intellectual insight pertaining to certain topics in a more in-depth manner.

As I was continuing my research of op-ed articles, I came across three very interesting pieces each relating to a different subject: 1) with the Oscars premiering tonight, Stanley Fish decided to write an intriguing argument revolving around the issue of diversification at the Awards ceremony; 2) Donald Trump has been making some crazy headlines to appeal to the masses and it seems Dana Milbank has figured out the reason behind Trump’s success in his latest article; 3) Jillian Jordan and her team of researchers from Harvard university decided to study Society’s “morality” and just exactly how it affects a person’s individuality resulting in a very interesting read.

Stanley Fish provided an ample amount of evidence to back up many of his claims and constituted insightful warrants to said claims. In his opinion, the reason behind Hollywood’s inability to include a diversified group of people ranging from various backgrounds is because Hollywood is not in the “business” of “doing good” by others. He goes on to support this viewpoint by providing an example in which a study was performed to see how race and gender created disparities when people would go to buy cars from car salesmen: white men were less likely to be charged a markup fee, women were charged with a high mark-up fee, and people of color were charged double the amount towards women. In the car salesmen defense, it was stated that they prepared “careful” calculations on which group would hold less of a financial risk and more of a financial gain. Fish juxtaposed this with the idea that “discriminating is not what the studios set out to do” and that they are simply performing on “professional calculations” that will generate the most viewership as well as the most money. Fish goes on to provide a counterargument and even a counter-counter argument to show the range of opinions that the topic of diversification could lead to. He also acknowledges the complexity of the argument in question and the two warring sides in this conversation: the liberals who want to take the moral approach vs. the conservatives who want to continue on with the ways of “merit.” Fish quotes the latter word to enunciate the changing definitions of the term and ends his piece on a cliff-hanger handing the proverbial mic to Chris Rock.

On a more humorous note, Dana Milbank decides to question the literacy skills of many of the Presidential candidates — all of whom have varying degrees of success from reputable universities — who speak to the public as if we were all children in a time-out. The worst of them all, according to Milbank, is Trump who speaks on the level of a “third grader.” This article provides a smart yet comical outlook on the whole topic and even provides short clips to emphasize his points. While the rest of the Presidential candidates at least speak at a high-school level and treat the public as educated individuals, Trump takes the “simple” route of a third-grader still learning to string along their sentences with simple, repeated phrases. Milbank believes that “this [is] no anomaly.” The term anomaly means something that deviates from the norm, and in regards to this conversation, Trump actively chooses to speak in such a manner in order for the public to “see Donald, see Donald run, [and] see Donald win.” And though this tactic is highly insulting to the vast majority of Americans, it seems to gather just the reaction Trump’s campaign wants — supporters and votes. Milbank provides a mocking perspective towards not only Trump himself, but to the public as well for settling for the most easily recognizable candidate who speaks at an elementary school level and ends with a mocking declarative statement “Win, Donald, win. Grab, Donald, grab. See Donald make America great again.” (Since when has America not been great?)

This last article made not only for a very interesting read but also generated a sub-connection with the first article in the sense that the issue of Morality plays an ambiguous role in society. Jillian Jordan’s “What’s the Point of Moral Outrage?” provides a creative out-look into the inner workings of individuals need to speak on behalf of issues that sometimes do not have any relation to them personally. Jordan, along with her co-writers and investigators Paul Bloom, Moshie Hoffman, and David Rand, give us their insights via their study and written piece. They began by addressing the question of whether or not moral outrage has any connection to the “‘selfish’ process of evolution?” After conducting an experimental study, the team came to the conclusion that moral outrage does have a connection to peoples subconscious needs to alleviate their reputation as being a better “fit” in society. The target of this op-ed wasn’t to create the notion that people only stand up for others if it is in their best interest, rather it is the complete opposite; it is to provide a critical perspective in the inner workings of just how primal humans are in their nature and how our basal instincts are connected to our every-day life.

The topics for all opinion-related articles will always be varying and very well thought-out with an ample amount of evidence and analysis in order to show the diversification of opinions on a more global scope; just like science fiction writer Harlan Ellison said, “we are not entitled to our opinions; we are entitled to our informed opinions.”

“Who am I?” – February 18.

#8.

At the mere age of 19, to be asked what type of person one is seems like an easy task but, in actuality, it is quite daunting. Many teenagers would like to think that they are the only people in the world who know everything (I used to be one of those people, no jokes). It wasn’t until I was 16 that I realized I don’t know everything — in fact, I’ve barely even seen the world.

My family went through a trying time from my sophomore year of high school till the end of the 2015 year. I won’t get into the gritty details of it but we not only lost the business that my father had built from the ground up fifteen years ago, but both my parents went through a stage of depression making the household at home very tense and, simply put, sad.

As a result, I had to grow up really fast during high school the last 3 years of my high school career — I stopped going to social gatherings; I’d go to school and come home straight because everyday yielded new obstacles and worries; any time arguments would ensue between my parents, I’d have to drop everything and make sure they don’t effectively “lose” it.

As the oldest and only girl in the family, I already had this sense of responsibility that literally dictated both my school and home life. Since both my parents had their own problems to deal with, I had to take responsibility for my school life and make sure all my credits were complete along with my duties to extracurricular clubs were fulfilled. At home, I had to make sure that both my brothers did their work and my parents were o.k., especially my dad. I didn’t have much of a social life in high school that didn’t include anything to do with actual school. It got to the point where my group of friends stopped inviting me to go out with them because I had refused so many times before.

I learned much during those 3 years — though, remember, I’ve still got a lot to experience. One of the most important concepts anyone could understand is the concept of Time. I know it’s pretty cliché to say, but Time really does heal everything. With time, what once seemed so phenomenally horrific is now just a distant memory — something that occurred in the past has shaped me in such a momentous yet subtle method.

The second thing I learned was the aspect of Fate. There is this Hindi saying in my culture that I have learned to live by which intertwines with Fate; roughly translated, “if one door closes, ten doors open for you.” In other words, Fate decides that it is Time for some aspect of your life to end and it will close one chapter of your life and allow you to choose the next chapter of your life. During a time of hopelessness and constant stress and worry, it felt very nice to find some peace and solace in such a simple saying.

I didn’t realize it until now, but this saying has helped shaped my identity today. It has helped me in my daily life, my social life, and my romantic life. It has made me an even more responsible person (if that’s possible) yet has allowed me to realize that some things are just not in my control and I should learn to relax once in a while.

At the age of 19, I’m not sure how exactly my personal identity is mapped onto the world yet but I wish to change someones life in the near-distant future with kindness and compassion and allow them to not necessarily “find” themselves, but to understand themselves in a more accurate manner.