This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
PERIOD 1 - THE SWING KIDS
You have been watching the film, The Swing Kids. From 1933 to 1939, Nazi Germany declared war on indvidual freedom and demands total obedience and conformity from all young Germans. What did you feel was the main message of the film?
37 comments:
David Whalen
said...
I think the most important message of the film is once you start making compromises you start compromising part of your life. I also think the main message is similar too and can be summed up by saying: Never settle for less by conforming to what someone else tells you. Trust you instincts and don't be so quick to abolish the thoughts of you entire past. By standing up for what you believe in you can inspire courage. That courage can be your best weapon.
I think the main message of the film was to stress the importance of someone's personal beliefs and opinions. Peter began conforming to the Nazis and unlike his friend, he realized that his values were being manipulated and decided to change. He ultimately decided that he didn't care what happened to him as long as he knew he was being true to himself.
I believe the main message of this movie was to inform us of the dangers of conformity.Settling for something you know is wrong can totally change a person's mind set. What was once believed to be cruel and unjust,is now seen in a different light. In this movie the Nazi's practically try to brainwash German youth into fanatic of Nazi beliefs.
I agree with David as well, you have to stand for what you believe in. Don't get carried away with the ideas of another person or group. Question yourself and the others around you.
I think the main theme of the movie Swing Kids is to avoid conformity, but also to never take decisions lightly. You never know what decisions are going to affect your life and shape you as a person. Thomas jumped into the H.J because he didn't want his friend to go alone, and he assumed he wouldn't stop being a Swing Kid, but he turned into a monster. Thomas before nazism wouldn't have turned in his father or threatened to "report" his best friend Peter. Since he is obviously a follower, he should have thought his original decision through.
I agree with what David said about trusting your instincts, but I also think some major decisions take more thought. Sometimes, it's not a good idea to just go with the feeling you have in your gut.
I think that the main message of this film is that prevailing beliefs are not necessarily the right ones and to stay true to what you believe. Growing up in nazi Germany, the kids are surrounded by nazi propaganda and influenced in every way by nazi power. They manage to rebel at first with swing culture, but Christian bales perspective starts to change. His character shows how influenced by others we can become and that prevailing ideas can start to seem like the right thing even if they are morally wrong. He starts telling Arvin that he is looking at things backwards, reasoning that he must be wrong if the rest of the country supports the nazis.
I think the main message of Swing Kids is that conformity is dangerous. In the beginning of the movie, Peter's friend Thomas would have never thought about becoming a Nazi because he was a Swing Kid. By the end, Thomas' thinking changed dramatically and he sided with the antisemitic beliefs of the Nazis. Another message of this movie is to stand up for what you believe in even if it isn't popular belief. Though Peter joined the HJ, he never changed his personal beliefs. He ended up losing in the end, but he accepted it because he didn't want to change his own views to be part of the majority.
I also agree with David that you need to stand up for what you believe in. Peter did this even though he was not part of the majority of youth in Nazi Germany.
I think the most important message of this film is don’t let other people try to convince you to be something you’re not and don’t let those people try to change your opinion on something. Like the two friends in the movie, one joined the Nazi party and started to think and act like one, while the other decided to pretend to be one, but was really against the Nazi the whole movie. He was able to stay true to who he really was and not let the other people around them change who he really is.
I think that the main message of the film was more informative than moral. I think the message was that the nazi's and thier manipulative tactics, propaganda, and power had incredible success in gaining trust from German Arians all over the nation.
I agree with Steph I believe that the reason he had sided with the nazis was because he was selfish/. He liked the attention, power, and benifiets of being of the 'dominant race'.
The main message of this film was to stand up for what you believe in, and to not conform to the group. The movie teaches us to stand up for whats right no matter what even if it means being taken away. As long as you stand up for what you believe in then you should be content with your life.
I believe the central message of the movie is to stand up for what you believe in and know who you are. This is shown at the end of the film when the main character realizes how much his friend has changed for the worse by joining the hj and not feeling any emotion at the death of their crippled friend. This is when the main character sees past the blind hatred of the nazis n stands up for his thoughts even as he's dragged off by the Gestapo.
The main message of this film was to stand up for what you believe and to not change who you are for anybody. This is shown by the two friends who had to join the Nazi Youth. One boy stayed true to who he was while the other changed into a completely different person as the movie progressed.
I agree with Steph that the main message of the film is that conformity can be dangerous. And I also agree with Sean when he says that prevailing beliefs are not always the right beliefs.
I think the main message of the film was not to forget your true beliefs. The main character and his friend both joined the Nazi's so they wouldn't get in trouble and so they could have fun, all while being Swing Kids, but eventually his friend got sucked up into the Nazi propaganda and it eventually led to one of their friends killing themselves. It's easy to fall in to the popular opinion because it's the easy thing to do. The main character was able to resist it even though going along with the Nazi rule would have made his life easier. I think the main point of the movie was that there comes a time when we have to decide between what is right and what is easy.
I think the main message of the film was that your own personal opinions or beliefs on certain matters is your own business. Nobody should force you into thinking in a certain way if you don't want to. My favorite character was the cripple solely because he would not let anybody try to pollute his mind with the Nazi propaganda.
I think that the message of the film was that it is important not to let others influence your beliefs. You should always stay true to what you believe in and not let others change you. One character that did this was the cripple kid, I forget his name, because he wouldn’t let any Nazi change him.
I agree with Sean because we both thought that the main message was the film was that it is important not to let others influence or change your beliefs. I also agreed with Mitch because we both thought that the cripple kid was a good example of this.
I thought the movie Swing Kids was a fantastic film because it showed how the germans were treating the jews when it was on the streets and how they got ready for the nazi party
I think the message delievered in this film is to stay true to your opinion and not let others brainwash you to think differently. In this film both boys joined hitler youth believing it was stupid and not right but only one of them stuck to their original beliefs.
I think that the main message of the film is that no one should let others influence their beliefs. Although the main character does join the Nazi party, he still keeps his personal beliefs. His friend on the other hand, not only joins the Nazi party, but becomes a Nazi. He takes on the beliefs of the Nazis and loses track of what his own were. And this is something people should really take away and learn from this film.
I agree with Mike. The character who was crippled was one person who did not allow the Nazi party to influence his beliefs. He stuck to what he believed and eventually ended up committing suicide, but sill did not allow anyone to change the way he thought or what he did.
This was a fantastic movie. I had no idea that their was a group of kids that were anti hitler during that time period. I mean sure I knew that there were probably kids that didn't like him but I didn't know there was a group dedicated to it. I agree with Pat and Allie sticking to your own opinions is what makes everyone unique and special. No one should ever be forced to change anything they believe merely because others don't like it.
Swing Kids is an amazing movie. There are many messages within the movie, but I believe the most important is to stay true to yourself all the way to the end. Once the kids decided to join with the Nazis they began to lose their individuality little by little until it was completely destroyed and they were just one of the masses. It was particularly powerful that Peter started to believe the propaganda they were telling him about his workplace, where they said that he should not be delivering packages to people he did not know with unknown contents, and he almost rats the place out, yet when he starts delivering packages for the Nazi's he is ordered to unknowingly deliver ashes to victim's families. It was also shocking and disgusting to see Peter's friend, Thomas I believe, give up his own father to the Nazis. The Nazis had changed him so much he was a shadow of his former self, completely brainwashed and willing to do anything to show his allegiance. I really respected Arvid for fighting for what he believed in and not changing, even though the people around him did, and he would not budge one bit, not even to play one song for the Nazis. I loved the ending, although sad, was also inspirational because it taught the important lesson that if you haven't given up your mind and soul, you have never truly lost. Swing Heil!
I agree with Raunaq, it is easy to just go along with popular opinion but that doesn't make it right. Peter's friend got a motorcycle just for going along with the Nazis. Peter took the harder route of fighting the popular opinion and things were worse for him. Peter continued with his path because it was the right thing to do.
After watching the fill "Swing Kids" I think that the main message is to stay true to your beliefs when everyone around is trying to crush those beliefs. Throughout the movie the main boy was internally at war with his beliefs because he has believed in something while having another belief shoved on him from the HJ. He stays with his own beliefs while his friend ends up conforming to the Nazis.
I think this movie had many messages, but the main one in my opinion was not forgetting who you are. I think what he did because of his dad was him realizing what was the right thing to do. After he read the letter from his father his was changed. Another example of that message was when his friend stopped hitting him and told him to leave because he realized that he was his friend. Then shortly after that when he yelled "swing heil" out because he realized that his friend was willing to stand for what he believed in and not just go with the crowd
I think an important message of the film was to demonstrate how powerful the Nazi's propaganda was. A swing kid joined the Nazi's at his free will, but to only help a friend, in the end he became almost completely brainwashed. I think the character of Peter was essential to the message of the film becasue he stuck true to his original beliefs throughout the entire film, even though he was forced into the Nazi's. Which shows that yes, the Nazi's methods were powerful and did in fact work, but they cannot convert every being to go against their beliefs. I think this is the main message of the film.
I think the main message of the film is to stand up for what you believe. Just like David said, trust your instincts because just because the majority does one thing, doesn't mean that's the right thing to do. You will lose friends and other values simply for being unjust. When you lose values, you lose who you really are just like how the boys lost a little bit of being apart of the swing kids once they became Nazis.
37 comments:
I think the most important message of the film is once you start making compromises you start compromising part of your life. I also think the main message is similar too and can be summed up by saying: Never settle for less by conforming to what someone else tells you. Trust you instincts and don't be so quick to abolish the thoughts of you entire past. By standing up for what you believe in you can inspire courage. That courage can be your best weapon.
I think the main message of the film was to stress the importance of someone's personal beliefs and opinions. Peter began conforming to the Nazis and unlike his friend, he realized that his values were being manipulated and decided to change. He ultimately decided that he didn't care what happened to him as long as he knew he was being true to himself.
I agree with David because standing up for what you believe in is the best way to develop courage and strength.
I believe the main message of this movie was to inform us of the dangers of conformity.Settling for something you know is wrong can totally change a person's mind set. What was once believed to be cruel and unjust,is now seen in a different light. In this movie the Nazi's practically try to brainwash German youth into fanatic of Nazi beliefs.
I agree with David as well, you have to stand for what you believe in. Don't get carried away with the ideas of another person or group. Question yourself and the others around you.
I think the main theme of the movie Swing Kids is to avoid conformity, but also to never take decisions lightly. You never know what decisions are going to affect your life and shape you as a person. Thomas jumped into the H.J because he didn't want his friend to go alone, and he assumed he wouldn't stop being a Swing Kid, but he turned into a monster. Thomas before nazism wouldn't have turned in his father or threatened to "report" his best friend Peter. Since he is obviously a follower, he should have thought his original decision through.
I agree with what David said about trusting your instincts, but I also think some major decisions take more thought. Sometimes, it's not a good idea to just go with the feeling you have in your gut.
I think that the main message of this film is that prevailing beliefs are not necessarily the right ones and to stay true to what you believe. Growing up in nazi Germany, the kids are surrounded by nazi propaganda and influenced in every way by nazi power. They manage to rebel at first with swing culture, but Christian bales perspective starts to change. His character shows how influenced by others we can become and that prevailing ideas can start to seem like the right thing even if they are morally wrong. He starts telling Arvin that he is looking at things backwards, reasoning that he must be wrong if the rest of the country supports the nazis.
I think the main message of Swing Kids is that conformity is dangerous. In the beginning of the movie, Peter's friend Thomas would have never thought about becoming a Nazi because he was a Swing Kid. By the end, Thomas' thinking changed dramatically and he sided with the antisemitic beliefs of the Nazis. Another message of this movie is to stand up for what you believe in even if it isn't popular belief. Though Peter joined the HJ, he never changed his personal beliefs. He ended up losing in the end, but he accepted it because he didn't want to change his own views to be part of the majority.
I also agree with David that you need to stand up for what you believe in. Peter did this even though he was not part of the majority of youth in Nazi Germany.
I think the most important message of this film is don’t let other people try to convince you to be something you’re not and don’t let those people try to change your opinion on something. Like the two friends in the movie, one joined the Nazi party and started to think and act like one, while the other decided to pretend to be one, but was really against the Nazi the whole movie. He was able to stay true to who he really was and not let the other people around them change who he really is.
I think that the main message of the film was more informative than moral. I think the message was that the nazi's and thier manipulative tactics, propaganda, and power had incredible success in gaining trust from German Arians all over the nation.
I agree with Steph I believe that the reason he had sided with the nazis was because he was selfish/. He liked the attention, power, and benifiets of being of the 'dominant race'.
The main message of this film was to stand up for what you believe in, and to not conform to the group. The movie teaches us to stand up for whats right no matter what even if it means being taken away. As long as you stand up for what you believe in then you should be content with your life.
I believe the central message of the movie is to stand up for what you believe in and know who you are. This is shown at the end of the film when the main character realizes how much his friend has changed for the worse by joining the hj and not feeling any emotion at the death of their crippled friend. This is when the main character sees past the blind hatred of the nazis n stands up for his thoughts even as he's dragged off by the Gestapo.
The main message of this film was to stand up for what you believe and to not change who you are for anybody. This is shown by the two friends who had to join the Nazi Youth. One boy stayed true to who he was while the other changed into a completely different person as the movie progressed.
I agree with Steph that the main message of the film is that conformity can be dangerous. And I also agree with Sean when he says that prevailing beliefs are not always the right beliefs.
I think the main message of the film was not to forget your true beliefs. The main character and his friend both joined the Nazi's so they wouldn't get in trouble and so they could have fun, all while being Swing Kids, but eventually his friend got sucked up into the Nazi propaganda and it eventually led to one of their friends killing themselves. It's easy to fall in to the popular opinion because it's the easy thing to do. The main character was able to resist it even though going along with the Nazi rule would have made his life easier. I think the main point of the movie was that there comes a time when we have to decide between what is right and what is easy.
I think the main message of the film was that your own personal opinions or beliefs on certain matters is your own business. Nobody should force you into thinking in a certain way if you don't want to. My favorite character was the cripple solely because he would not let anybody try to pollute his mind with the Nazi propaganda.
I agree with Marissa because you shouldn't let people form your opinions for you, it should be genuine and original.
I believe the main message was to not judge another persons belief. They person should stand up for what they believe in.
I think that the message of the film was that it is important not to let others influence your beliefs. You should always stay true to what you believe in and not let others change you. One character that did this was the cripple kid, I forget his name, because he wouldn’t let any Nazi change him.
I agree with Sean because we both thought that the main message was the film was that it is important not to let others influence or change your beliefs. I also agreed with Mitch because we both thought that the cripple kid was a good example of this.
I thought the movie Swing Kids was a fantastic film because it showed how the germans were treating the jews when it was on the streets and how they got ready for the nazi party
I think the message delievered in this film is to stay true to your opinion and not let others brainwash you to think differently. In this film both boys joined hitler youth believing it was stupid and not right but only one of them stuck to their original beliefs.
I agree with Erik on how the main message of the film was to stand up for yourself and what you believe in.
I think that the main message of the film is that no one should let others influence their beliefs. Although the main character does join the Nazi party, he still keeps his personal beliefs. His friend on the other hand, not only joins the Nazi party, but becomes a Nazi. He takes on the beliefs of the Nazis and loses track of what his own were. And this is something people should really take away and learn from this film.
I agree with allie and that sticking to your instincts and beliefs is very important and that no one should ever be able to change them
I agree with Mike. The character who was crippled was one person who did not allow the Nazi party to influence his beliefs. He stuck to what he believed and eventually ended up committing suicide, but sill did not allow anyone to change the way he thought or what he did.
This was a fantastic movie. I had no idea that their was a group of kids that were anti hitler during that time period. I mean sure I knew that there were probably kids that didn't like him but I didn't know there was a group dedicated to it. I agree with Pat and Allie sticking to your own opinions is what makes everyone unique and special. No one should ever be forced to change anything they believe merely because others don't like it.
Swing Kids is an amazing movie. There are many messages within the movie, but I believe the most important is to stay true to yourself all the way to the end. Once the kids decided to join with the Nazis they began to lose their individuality little by little until it was completely destroyed and they were just one of the masses. It was particularly powerful that Peter started to believe the propaganda they were telling him about his workplace, where they said that he should not be delivering packages to people he did not know with unknown contents, and he almost rats the place out, yet when he starts delivering packages for the Nazi's he is ordered to unknowingly deliver ashes to victim's families. It was also shocking and disgusting to see Peter's friend, Thomas I believe, give up his own father to the Nazis. The Nazis had changed him so much he was a shadow of his former self, completely brainwashed and willing to do anything to show his allegiance. I really respected Arvid for fighting for what he believed in and not changing, even though the people around him did, and he would not budge one bit, not even to play one song for the Nazis. I loved the ending, although sad, was also inspirational because it taught the important lesson that if you haven't given up your mind and soul, you have never truly lost. Swing Heil!
I agree with Raunaq, it is easy to just go along with popular opinion but that doesn't make it right. Peter's friend got a motorcycle just for going along with the Nazis. Peter took the harder route of fighting the popular opinion and things were worse for him. Peter continued with his path because it was the right thing to do.
After watching the fill "Swing Kids" I think that the main message is to stay true to your beliefs when everyone around is trying to crush those beliefs. Throughout the movie the main boy was internally at war with his beliefs because he has believed in something while having another belief shoved on him from the HJ. He stays with his own beliefs while his friend ends up conforming to the Nazis.
I think this movie had many messages, but the main one in my opinion was not forgetting who you are. I think what he did because of his dad was him realizing what was the right thing to do. After he read the letter from his father his was changed. Another example of that message was when his friend stopped hitting him and told him to leave because he realized that he was his friend. Then shortly after that when he yelled "swing heil" out because he realized that his friend was willing to stand for what he believed in and not just go with the crowd
I think an important message of the film was to demonstrate how powerful the Nazi's propaganda was. A swing kid joined the Nazi's at his free will, but to only help a friend, in the end he became almost completely brainwashed. I think the character of Peter was essential to the message of the film becasue he stuck true to his original beliefs throughout the entire film, even though he was forced into the Nazi's. Which shows that yes, the Nazi's methods were powerful and did in fact work, but they cannot convert every being to go against their beliefs. I think this is the main message of the film.
I was absent this day
I think the main message of the film is to stand up for what you believe. Just like David said, trust your instincts because just because the majority does one thing, doesn't mean that's the right thing to do. You will lose friends and other values simply for being unjust. When you lose values, you lose who you really are just like how the boys lost a little bit of being apart of the swing kids once they became Nazis.
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