This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
PERIOD 4: THE SWING KIDS
For several days you have been watching "The Swing Kids." What did you learn from the film that you didn't know before and what did you think was the most important message of the film?
22 comments:
Tristan Guerin
said...
this movie was very diffrnet from most of the movies we watched. this movie was very inperational in the sence that it gives you a glimpse of how easly people fell into the nazi propoganda. it aslo showed me that the hitler youth was completly unaware of what was really happing they just got what they wanted if they did a good job.
when we first started this movie i didnt know what swing dancing was or how it related to the nazi movement. I was really surprized with the type of dancing and i found it very interesting that this was the type of dancing during the time. what surprized me even more is the fact that the nazi's would send swing kids to workcamps simply for how they danced. the main thing i took away from this film is that standing up for what you believe in is better than following what everyone else does and riding on the bandwagon. even though the movie ended on a bad note the fact that he stayed true to what he believed in is what is truly important.
I thought Swing Kids was a very interesting movie. I learned a few new facts especially about how the Nazis changed Germany. I didnt know that they censored everything even music. I also didn't know how they showed propaganda to young teenagers. The movie was good to show insight into a person's life in Germany. I think the main message was to stick to what you believe is right.
I learned how German youths were brainwashed into hating Jews through the use of propaganda. Kids were not allowed to do what they loved, which was dance to swing and jazz music, and instead were forced to work in labor camps when they refused to stop. The movie taught me that no one was safe in Germany when the Nazis were in power. However, it showed that some people were willing to resist the Nazis, like Peter. Christian Bale had a riveting performance as Thomas (and later Batman), and the movie showed how friends were torn apart when loyalties were revealed. The most important message of the film was to stand up for what you believe in and to do what is right by not being a bystander. One should not judge others and act like sheep.
I learned a lot from the movie the "swing kids". I really enjoyed this movie because it gave me a perspective of what life was like in the 1930's. I learned that the German youths were brain washed by the Nazi so easily, and it was scary to watch. The kids would turn their backs on their friends just because its what the Nazi told them to do. I learned how fast people were brainwashed. It was really sad to see the kids get persuaded so easily. I was also surprised how even being a swing dancer could put you in a work camp. I think thats so wrong because the kids are just trying to have fun and do something they enjoy, causing no harm. This movie really opened up my eyes to what life was like for the kids in Germany during this time period.
After watching "Swing Kids," I gained a whole new perspective into what Nazi Germany was like during those times. To see what a high school boy went through, and the conflict he faced between wanting to protect his family and wanting to stick to his core beliefs, was really eye-opening. When I thought of Nazi Germany I thought that only the Jewish people and the people being openly persecuted were living in fear. However, any one that disagreed with the Nazi regime had to be conscious of the fact that the Gestapo could come arrest them because of that. I think that the most important message is to stick to your core beliefs. Throughout the movie there is a constant struggle between conforming to the changing societal views or sticking to your own moral values.
I learned from the film that there were many more people that could be taken to the camps not just Jews, gypsies and handicapped but also just people that don't agree with hurler or his ways. I also learned that things such as swing dancing were basically forbidden in Germany or atleast frowned upon by the nazis and also that boys were joining the nazis at such a young age. The message I took away from this film was that you should never be a bystander cause frankly that is helping the bully in this case the bully were the nazis and the bystanders were the people of Germany. In this movie I believe that the friend with the bad leg that played the guitar was the hero because he stood up for what he believed was right no matter what anyone did to him.
While watching the film "The Swing Kids", I learned that people all over Germany were manipulated into thinking the Nazi party was a good thing. They did this by starting with the young teenagers which is where they get the most powerful. They made sure they taught the young kids first to convince their brains what their teaching them is correct. I leaned people will just fallow a group if that is what their friends are doing and very few people challenge the groups beliefs. That lead the message of the film showing that if people don't express their opinion and say what they think is right the group will just become more powerful and that will make it easier for them to manipulate people or force them to do what they want.
Before watching this movie, I had never heard of “swing kids” before and the role they played in Germany during that time period. I learned some of the key defining characteristics of a “swing kid,” such as long hair, American/British style, their obsession with American music, crazy dancing, and opposition to the Nazi youth. I also learned some things about anti-Nazis as well, such as the fact that some people, at great risk to themselves and their families, helped Jews escape Germany (i.e. the book store owner had book filled with forged birth certificates and fake identifications). This film reiterated the brainwashing that the Nazi youth experienced that led them to believe that they were superior to all other races. The part of the movie that stood out to me the most was when Peter discovered he had been delivering the ashes of murdered Jews to their families; I thought this was demonstrative of the Nazi’s ruthlessness. I think the most important message of the film is to stay true to yourself; because of people like Peter, a new generation of swing kids developed, all because they refused to act like sheep and become Nazis like the overwhelming majority of youth in Germany.
Before watching the film called “The Swing Kids”, I did not know that Hitler’s beliefs in racial “purity” and in the superiority of the “Germanic race” have deeply rooted in every German’s heart. I was so angry to see that German soldiers tried to improve human races by limiting the reproduction of people considered “inferior”, such as handicapped individuals, including the mentally ill and people born deaf and blind. Personally, I believe everyone is equal and we cannot judge people who have mentally disabilities as inferior. The Nazis said that the strength comes power and they were so ruthless to take away children’s’ father and force the swing boys to join the army. The most important message I learned from watching this film was that we, human beings, should stand up for what we truly believe. For example, Arvid refused to play the German songs and stood up against the Nazis.
What i learned from the film that i didn't know before was how easily the German Youth was influenced by society. Even the main character began to act along with the Nazis almost until the end. I never knew that there were swing kids who opposed the Nazi youth and it also surprised me at the punishment they received when they were caught. I thought the most important message of the film was to not jump on the bandwagon and do what everyone else is. The message was to trust yourself and believe in your own choices.
What i learned from the film that i didn't know before was how easily the German Youth was influenced by society. Even the main character began to act along with the Nazis almost until the end. I never knew that there were swing kids who opposed the Nazi youth and it also surprised me at the punishment they received when they were caught. I thought the most important message of the film was to not jump on the bandwagon and do what everyone else is. The message was to trust yourself and believe in your own choices.
From watching this film I learned more what day to day life was like in Nazi Germany. I also learned how propaganda can be used to change the opinions of people, especially younger citizens. I think the most important message of this movie was to always stand up for what you believe in, even if you get hurt, because its the right thing to do.
I didn't know that some kids in Germany weren't a part of the Nazi Youth. I always figured that all of them had joined. I didn't realize that there were kids who openly went against what the Nazis were doing the way Arvid did. I think the main message of this film was it is hard to maintain your own opinion and it is hard to stay an individual when everyone else in the group is doing something else. You should always do what you think is the right thing to do and to hold on to your own thoughts and ideas within a group.
I thought that this movie was a perfect representation of what this course relates to in terms of being a victim, bystander, rebel, or perpetrator. Thomas is clearly the perpetrator, as he says things like, "Just go along with it, and everything will be all right..." Referring to the Nazis. He ends up going along with the Nazis so much that he turns against one of his best friends, Arvid, and his father. Arvid starts out as a victim, and then eventually just tries to blend in as a bystander. But, with his outburst at the restaurant, he acts as a rebel. Peter goes through a similar transformation, although I would not characterize him as a victim at any point in the film. He is like the "stereotypical" German during that time, just keeping his head down and doing what the Nazis tell him to do. It isn't until he sees the box of ashes until he has a change of heart. I think that the movie was trying to show that even in the awful dark times of Germany, there were still people that stood up for what they believed in. Additionally, I think it encourages us to do the same.
This movie showed how easily people were influenced by the propaganda back then. It also showed how some people were forced into the hitler youth and how the Nazis censored everything, including music. I thought the main message was that to stand up for what you believe in .
I learned how difficult it was to keep your own individuality and not fall for the propaganda that the Nazis were feeding to their youth. The movie showed how one friend stuck to his beliefs and one began to believe in Nazi ideals, although I think he realized what he had done in the very end. I think the most important message of the film is to stay true to your own moral values even when you are going against a bigger threat than you.
I learned how difficult it was for people to grow up during this time. It was crazy to watch how people became completely mesmerized by Hitler and his ideas. Not only that but how quickly some people changed their ideas and values. It was hard to see how some people were treated, and how sneaking around and living in fear was part of everyday life for Jews. Although we will never know truly how hard it was, this film gave us some insight into how difficult life was.
Ive always had a very good understanding of what happended during the Holocaust, and the events leading up to it. One thing I always had trouble understanding was how the Nazi's were able to implement there extremely radical beliefs on the minds of the German people. The scene where Tomas and Emilia are sitting in the class room and they are just repeatedly being told how terrible the Jews were, and seeing how the story progressed also helped give me a better understanding of why certain events happened. Before watching this movie I was also not aware of how much was censored by the Nazi's. I think the most important message of this movie is to step up for what you believe in and be critical of what higher authority is telling you.
One of the main things the movie taught me was how the Nazis did brainwash so many youth to believing their philosophies. When the main characters join the Hitler Youth movement, I was so surprised by the way that they drifted apart. The Nazis made the youth feel special and needed which is why many followed the policies. I also thought the film perfectly demonstrated the roles of a Upstander, Bystander, bully, and victim. Most of the HJ became bullies but just one of the characters became an upstander. The main and most important message I took out of it was that you do not have to follow the common beliefs, the better people have their own beliefs and do what they think is right.
One thing I didn't know was how big music was to German kids, especially to the extent of them illegally attending clubs to listen and dance to it. I also didn't realize that if a kid messed up, he had to join the HJ. Another thing I learned was how quickly people were changed by propaganda. Thomas changed so quickly just because he thought the Nazis were on top. I think an important message from the film is that you shouldn't change your beliefs to conform to somebody else's, especially if you think that his or hers is wrong.
I was surprised that the jewish kids were so bold as to play their music in a public area. I also found it interesting how this form of expression also existed in jazz, and how the characters would sing and dance around. I also found it interesting how the nazis would ban jazz and change the names specifically because it was such an expressive form of music. I thought the important message was to be like some of the characters be yourself, despite any dangers to that.
22 comments:
this movie was very diffrnet from most of the movies we watched. this movie was very inperational in the sence that it gives you a glimpse of how easly people fell into the nazi propoganda. it aslo showed me that the hitler youth was completly unaware of what was really happing they just got what they wanted if they did a good job.
when we first started this movie i didnt know what swing dancing was or how it related to the nazi movement. I was really surprized with the type of dancing and i found it very interesting that this was the type of dancing during the time. what surprized me even more is the fact that the nazi's would send swing kids to workcamps simply for how they danced. the main thing i took away from this film is that standing up for what you believe in is better than following what everyone else does and riding on the bandwagon. even though the movie ended on a bad note the fact that he stayed true to what he believed in is what is truly important.
I thought Swing Kids was a very interesting movie. I learned a few new facts especially about how the Nazis changed Germany. I didnt know that they censored everything even music. I also didn't know how they showed propaganda to young teenagers. The movie was good to show insight into a person's life in Germany. I think the main message was to stick to what you believe is right.
I learned how German youths were brainwashed into hating Jews through the use of propaganda. Kids were not allowed to do what they loved, which was dance to swing and jazz music, and instead were forced to work in labor camps when they refused to stop. The movie taught me that no one was safe in Germany when the Nazis were in power. However, it showed that some people were willing to resist the Nazis, like Peter. Christian Bale had a riveting performance as Thomas (and later Batman), and the movie showed how friends were torn apart when loyalties were revealed. The most important message of the film was to stand up for what you believe in and to do what is right by not being a bystander. One should not judge others and act like sheep.
I learned a lot from the movie the "swing kids". I really enjoyed this movie because it gave me a perspective of what life was like in the 1930's. I learned that the German youths were brain washed by the Nazi so easily, and it was scary to watch. The kids would turn their backs on their friends just because its what the Nazi told them to do. I learned how fast people were brainwashed. It was really sad to see the kids get persuaded so easily. I was also surprised how even being a swing dancer could put you in a work camp. I think thats so wrong because the kids are just trying to have fun and do something they enjoy, causing no harm. This movie really opened up my eyes to what life was like for the kids in Germany during this time period.
After watching "Swing Kids," I gained a whole new perspective into what Nazi Germany was like during those times. To see what a high school boy went through, and the conflict he faced between wanting to protect his family and wanting to stick to his core beliefs, was really eye-opening. When I thought of Nazi Germany I thought that only the Jewish people and the people being openly persecuted were living in fear. However, any one that disagreed with the Nazi regime had to be conscious of the fact that the Gestapo could come arrest them because of that. I think that the most important message is to stick to your core beliefs. Throughout the movie there is a constant struggle between conforming to the changing societal views or sticking to your own moral values.
I learned from the film that there were many more people that could be taken to the camps not just Jews, gypsies and handicapped but also just people that don't agree with hurler or his ways. I also learned that things such as swing dancing were basically forbidden in Germany or atleast frowned upon by the nazis and also that boys were joining the nazis at such a young age. The message I took away from this film was that you should never be a bystander cause frankly that is helping the bully in this case the bully were the nazis and the bystanders were the people of Germany. In this movie I believe that the friend with the bad leg that played the guitar was the hero because he stood up for what he believed was right no matter what anyone did to him.
While watching the film "The Swing Kids", I learned that people all over Germany were manipulated into thinking the Nazi party was a good thing. They did this by starting with the young teenagers which is where they get the most powerful. They made sure they taught the young kids first to convince their brains what their teaching them is correct. I leaned people will just fallow a group if that is what their friends are doing and very few people challenge the groups beliefs. That lead the message of the film showing that if people don't express their opinion and say what they think is right the group will just become more powerful and that will make it easier for them to manipulate people or force them to do what they want.
Before watching this movie, I had never heard of “swing kids” before and the role they played in Germany during that time period. I learned some of the key defining characteristics of a “swing kid,” such as long hair, American/British style, their obsession with American music, crazy dancing, and opposition to the Nazi youth. I also learned some things about anti-Nazis as well, such as the fact that some people, at great risk to themselves and their families, helped Jews escape Germany (i.e. the book store owner had book filled with forged birth certificates and fake identifications). This film reiterated the brainwashing that the Nazi youth experienced that led them to believe that they were superior to all other races. The part of the movie that stood out to me the most was when Peter discovered he had been delivering the ashes of murdered Jews to their families; I thought this was demonstrative of the Nazi’s ruthlessness. I think the most important message of the film is to stay true to yourself; because of people like Peter, a new generation of swing kids developed, all because they refused to act like sheep and become Nazis like the overwhelming majority of youth in Germany.
Before watching the film called “The Swing Kids”, I did not know that Hitler’s beliefs in racial “purity” and in the superiority of the “Germanic race” have deeply rooted in every German’s heart. I was so angry to see that German soldiers tried to improve human races by limiting the reproduction of people considered “inferior”, such as handicapped individuals, including the mentally ill and people born deaf and blind. Personally, I believe everyone is equal and we cannot judge people who have mentally disabilities as inferior. The Nazis said that the strength comes power and they were so ruthless to take away children’s’ father and force the swing boys to join the army. The most important message I learned from watching this film was that we, human beings, should stand up for what we truly believe. For example, Arvid refused to play the German songs and stood up against the Nazis.
What i learned from the film that i didn't know before was how easily the German Youth was influenced by society. Even the main character began to act along with the Nazis almost until the end. I never knew that there were swing kids who opposed the Nazi youth and it also surprised me at the punishment they received when they were caught. I thought the most important message of the film was to not jump on the bandwagon and do what everyone else is. The message was to trust yourself and believe in your own choices.
What i learned from the film that i didn't know before was how easily the German Youth was influenced by society. Even the main character began to act along with the Nazis almost until the end. I never knew that there were swing kids who opposed the Nazi youth and it also surprised me at the punishment they received when they were caught. I thought the most important message of the film was to not jump on the bandwagon and do what everyone else is. The message was to trust yourself and believe in your own choices.
From watching this film I learned more what day to day life was like in Nazi Germany. I also learned how propaganda can be used to change the opinions of people, especially younger citizens. I think the most important message of this movie was to always stand up for what you believe in, even if you get hurt, because its the right thing to do.
I didn't know that some kids in Germany weren't a part of the Nazi Youth. I always figured that all of them had joined. I didn't realize that there were kids who openly went against what the Nazis were doing the way Arvid did. I think the main message of this film was it is hard to maintain your own opinion and it is hard to stay an individual when everyone else in the group is doing something else. You should always do what you think is the right thing to do and to hold on to your own thoughts and ideas within a group.
I thought that this movie was a perfect representation of what this course relates to in terms of being a victim, bystander, rebel, or perpetrator. Thomas is clearly the perpetrator, as he says things like, "Just go along with it, and everything will be all right..." Referring to the Nazis. He ends up going along with the Nazis so much that he turns against one of his best friends, Arvid, and his father. Arvid starts out as a victim, and then eventually just tries to blend in as a bystander. But, with his outburst at the restaurant, he acts as a rebel. Peter goes through a similar transformation, although I would not characterize him as a victim at any point in the film. He is like the "stereotypical" German during that time, just keeping his head down and doing what the Nazis tell him to do. It isn't until he sees the box of ashes until he has a change of heart. I think that the movie was trying to show that even in the awful dark times of Germany, there were still people that stood up for what they believed in. Additionally, I think it encourages us to do the same.
This movie showed how easily people were influenced by the propaganda back then. It also showed how some people were forced into the hitler youth and how the Nazis censored everything, including music. I thought the main message was that to stand up for what you believe in .
I learned how difficult it was to keep your own individuality and not fall for the propaganda that the Nazis were feeding to their youth. The movie showed how one friend stuck to his beliefs and one began to believe in Nazi ideals, although I think he realized what he had done in the very end. I think the most important message of the film is to stay true to your own moral values even when you are going against a bigger threat than you.
I learned how difficult it was for people to grow up during this time. It was crazy to watch how people became completely mesmerized by Hitler and his ideas. Not only that but how quickly some people changed their ideas and values. It was hard to see how some people were treated, and how sneaking around and living in fear was part of everyday life for Jews. Although we will never know truly how hard it was, this film gave us some insight into how difficult life was.
Ive always had a very good understanding of what happended during the Holocaust, and the events leading up to it. One thing I always had trouble understanding was how the Nazi's were able to implement there extremely radical beliefs on the minds of the German people. The scene where Tomas and Emilia are sitting in the class room and they are just repeatedly being told how terrible the Jews were, and seeing how the story progressed also helped give me a better understanding of why certain events happened. Before watching this movie I was also not aware of how much was censored by the Nazi's. I think the most important message of this movie is to step up for what you believe in and be critical of what higher authority is telling you.
One of the main things the movie taught me was how the Nazis did brainwash so many youth to believing their philosophies. When the main characters join the Hitler Youth movement, I was so surprised by the way that they drifted apart. The Nazis made the youth feel special and needed which is why many followed the policies. I also thought the film perfectly demonstrated the roles of a Upstander, Bystander, bully, and victim. Most of the HJ became bullies but just one of the characters became an upstander. The main and most important message I took out of it was that you do not have to follow the common beliefs, the better people have their own beliefs and do what they think is right.
One thing I didn't know was how big music was to German kids, especially to the extent of them illegally attending clubs to listen and dance to it. I also didn't realize that if a kid messed up, he had to join the HJ. Another thing I learned was how quickly people were changed by propaganda. Thomas changed so quickly just because he thought the Nazis were on top. I think an important message from the film is that you shouldn't change your beliefs to conform to somebody else's, especially if you think that his or hers is wrong.
I was surprised that the jewish kids were so bold as to play their music in a public area. I also found it interesting how this form of expression also existed in jazz, and how the characters would sing and dance around. I also found it interesting how the nazis would ban jazz and change the names specifically because it was such an expressive form of music. I thought the important message was to be like some of the characters be yourself, despite any dangers to that.
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