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 3 - 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?
31 comments:
Veda Awasthi
said...
I think the main message of the film was to show the pressures of German boys to join the Nazis and also how these Nazi programs brainwash them to belive in Hitler's principles. I never learned about the Swing kids movement and thought it was interesting how there was a group rebelling against the Nazis. I understood better how people were pressured into joining because it was easier to go along with the Nazis than fight against them.
After watching the film, I think that the main message was to show how hard it is to stand up for something you believe in, even if youre standing alone. I agree with Veda that it also showed the extent of the pressure that German boys were put in to join the Nazi's.
I felt that the main message of the film was to stick to your true beliefs and do not allow people to influence you negatively to become someone you are not. I never knew that the Nazis went against so many small minority groups, such as swing dancers, and even sent them to concentration camps. The Nazis made it impossible to try to rebel against their beliefs and ways of life. This movie showed me more of how life was like for everyone and what a struggle it was not to join the Nazi Party.
I think that the main message of the film is that it is important to stand up for what you believe in. It took a lot of strength for people to go against the Nazis. Young German boys were pressured to join the Nazi Party and many of them did not want to. However, some were able to stand up for what they believed to be right regardless of how hard it was. I think that this is truly admirable and this type of courage will continue to inspire others.
After I watched the movie I was left with the feeling of surprise and horror. I never considered what it was like for the actual Germans of the time. I also never thought about people not wanting to join the Nazi youth, like the protagonist in the movie. He was taught to be ashamed of his father, who had be arrested for standing up for his Jewish colleagues. I was also surprised at how quickly the protagonist's friend was persuaded to fully pledge himself over to the Nazi party. For someone who had such a strong resolve against the party, it was scary how quickly he switched opinions. Although, you can see the internal struggle that he goes through when the protagonist is saying negative things to him about the Nazi party. You see him literally cover his ears because he can't bear to hear the truth about what the party actually is. It's a terrible thing that these youth had to go through these hardships all the while thinking that they were serving to create a better Germany.
I agree with Veda that the Nazi program brainwashed the youth, and you can see it in the protagonist's best friend. This boy had previously been adamant about the idea that Nazi's were evil, but he was quickly won over by the power and appeal that the party had.
I thought that the main message of the film was to show that it was so easy to persuade the German youth into being Nazi's. As we saw with Thomas, he only joined to help out Peter but in the long run he ended up becoming brainwashed by the Nazi movement. He went from being a total rebel against the Nazi's to falling right into all of it.
I agree with Olivia because it was a strong point that was made throughout the movie. Peter never left his beliefs and stayed with them even through his joining of the Hitler Youth movement.
the main message of this film is to stand up for what is right and for what you believe in no matter what the consequences. By standing by and not doing anything, or by going along with the crowd to avoid confrontation you are in reality helping the people that you are against, and fighting for a cause that isn't your own. It also showcases how hard it is to stand up against a force that was the magnitude of the Nazi party. even those who rebelled were quickly silenced, making their efforts almost worthless, while simultaneously mind controlling the followers to conform their thoughts to those of the Nazi party.
I thought that the main message of the film was to show how easy it is for a person to completely change their views due to propaganda. Clearly Tomas once thought that becoming an HJ was a horrible thing. However as soon as they begin to offer him perks he suddenly becomes interested in being a Nazi.
I felt the message of the film to have been," the price of uniformity is giving up free thought". From the moment we leave our mothers we are given a set of moral codes and ideals implemented via our parents. Eventually we learn that we have the inate ability to reason and over time choose to abide by said teachings. As shown through science, statistics and the " My baby can read" commercials, children have a window of oppertunity in which they may absorb and retain a large ammount of information. If one were to come to power with promise of " the land of milk and honey", especially during times of utter Hell,it's quite easy to manipulate the masses. Moreover, if the citizens (parents of the old and new) could be swayed and conform to the ideals that would potentially alleviate them of their torment, to maintain the promised land parents would teach their children as they had been taught thus creating an oroborous(snake eating it's tail ergo perpetual cycle). If the cycle repeats theoreticaly everyone would think the same. If everyone thinks the same right or wrong everyone will reflect the teachings. If the norm. is to think the same way as everyone else and everyone is conforming to the beliefs of the leader, uniformity can flourish and the mind control can begin. Lastly if everyone thinks the same in this " utopia" than it's only a matter of time before one tried to expand these unifying principals. Should others reject them and defy the "flawless"system, it would be only a matter of time before nationalistic pride comes into play and blood is spilled.
I Agree with Veda's post. Hitler tried to reach everyone( the ones he allowed) and manipulate the citizens to allign with his code. As shown by the movie, the options are uniformity or death.
After watching "Swing Kids" I feel like the main message that can be brought from the movie is no matter how much pressure is forced upon a person to do something they are completely against, in the end all they will end up going back to their roots and doing what they believe in. Nobody can change an individual if the strongly believe in something. I agree with Mary's post because she's right when she says that if you don't stand for what you believe in, you're ultimately helping the cause for the opposing group of people that are trying to convince you to be something you're not, nor do you want to be
I felt the main message of the film was that it is importrant to be true to yourself. No matter how hard things get, if you believe in something, you should stand up for it. Peter in the movie, was born a swing kid and died a swing kid and I think he was a prime example of staying true to yourself.
I agree with Veda that this film showed how hard it was for kids not to be brain washed into the HJ.
The main message of the film was to not get absorbed in the pressures around you. The main character and his friend for the most part went with the flow to avoid persecution, and eventually the friend invested himself within the cause; going against his morals and intent at the start of the film. It is true, sometimes you really need to know who your friends are.
Ryan Crowe (Accidentally Posted the Last One)
said...
The main message of the film was to not get absorbed in the pressures around you. The main character and his friend for the most part went with the flow to avoid persecution, and eventually the friend invested himself within the cause; going against his morals and intent at the start of the film. It is true, sometimes you really need to know who your friends are.
When I seriously thought about the movie I felt so angry! I couldn't really put my figures on it but this movie made me feel so enraged. I even cried. This movie showed me that anyone could be corrupted not just society but your best friends too! His friend made me question my own friendship with my friends. I felt almost alone while watching this movie it was an ocward feeling that I've never really felt
I thought this movie was great. It showed a lot of things that I never really knew about the holocaust. What an ending to the movie. Its sad and ridiculous how people get taken for no real reason.
This film showed 2 roads that could be taken during this time period in Germany. These characters were faced with a choice to let go and let the river take them for a ride or swim up the river. This movie really opened my eyes on how easy it was to fall into Nazi lines under pressure, and the extrodinary will power it took to stand up for what was right.
I think the main message of this film was to show how to always stand up for what you believe in, no matter how hard it is. It was so sad to watch the boys join the HJ and see them get completely brainwashed and lose their own views on the situation. Peter had so much courage and strength because he did not let the group change him, and he stayed true to himself.
This movie showed me how most teenagers had hard times choosing what road to take. most of them were forced to join the HJ because that was the only "better" option at the time. Its very unfortunate for those teenagers to have to pick on whats best, instead of doing what they want,which was dancing and to enjoy their teen years. I applaud how they stood up against Nazism and fought for what they believed was right, it took courage but it was well worth it at the end. This movie was an eye opener for me and i learned alot.
I thought that the main message of the movie was that it is always harder to do the right thing, and it is always to just go along with the crowd. This message was made clear when the HJ were beating up a jew and the swing kids jumped in to protect him. They risked being reported to the authorities and prosecuted for helping the Jews. Finally in the end the viewer sees how the Nazis tore families apart and how evil they were.
I, personally think that the main message of Swing Kids was that if there is something that you believe in, weather it is the uncommon thing or not, you should not stop standing up for what you believe in. Christian Bale's character, gave into the H.J. because he knew that they were the larger group and that they could give him anyhting he wanted or needed. The main character, however, did not stop believing in being a Swing Kid, no matter what the consequences were.
I think that the main message of the film was that even if you are not directly doing an action, if you are a bystander, then you are at fault too. You need to stand up for what is right, even of it means you suffer some of the consequences. Another important message of the film is that you can't blindly follow a group or a single leader. You need to think for yourself and take responsiblity.
I think that the main message of this film is trying to convey people to be themselves and not give into popular belief. people shouldn't follow another group of people who are clearly doing the wrong thing.
I believe the main message of the film is to stay true to yourself and the people you love over anything else. Although things change around us, people need to stick to their beliefs and not be easily swayed by the ideas around them.
I thought the swing kids was a very good movie that showed the relationship between friends and how easily it can be separated. It showed how the nazis persuaded young people by the perks that are offered. It also shows how much young siblings look up to the orders and how much the older siblings decisions affect how the younger think.
After watching this film I beleive the main message was to show that times were tough for the young german teens and it didn't really matter what you wanted to do, you were forced regardless. They said it was good structure for a growing boy and it shaped him up to be the perfect human. It's just sad to see how fast the Nazi influence over powered people.
I agree with Veda, I do understand that it was better to go along with the Nazis instead of fighting them. Hitlers influence was to strong to over power so it was hopeless to try and defeat him.
After watching this movie you really feel a sense of what it was like for teenagers during this time period. We also have a chance to see that the choices you have to make in Germany are very limited, they consist of either joining the nazi army or being branded a traitor and killed.
31 comments:
I think the main message of the film was to show the pressures of German boys to join the Nazis and also how these Nazi programs brainwash them to belive in Hitler's principles. I never learned about the Swing kids movement and thought it was interesting how there was a group rebelling against the Nazis. I understood better how people were pressured into joining because it was easier to go along with the Nazis than fight against them.
After watching the film, I think that the main message was to show how hard it is to stand up for something you believe in, even if youre standing alone. I agree with Veda that it also showed the extent of the pressure that German boys were put in to join the Nazi's.
I felt that the main message of the film was to stick to your true beliefs and do not allow people to influence you negatively to become someone you are not. I never knew that the Nazis went against so many small minority groups, such as swing dancers, and even sent them to concentration camps. The Nazis made it impossible to try to rebel against their beliefs and ways of life. This movie showed me more of how life was like for everyone and what a struggle it was not to join the Nazi Party.
I think that the main message of the film is that it is important to stand up for what you believe in. It took a lot of strength for people to go against the Nazis. Young German boys were pressured to join the Nazi Party and many of them did not want to. However, some were able to stand up for what they believed to be right regardless of how hard it was. I think that this is truly admirable and this type of courage will continue to inspire others.
After I watched the movie I was left with the feeling of surprise and horror. I never considered what it was like for the actual Germans of the time. I also never thought about people not wanting to join the Nazi youth, like the protagonist in the movie. He was taught to be ashamed of his father, who had be arrested for standing up for his Jewish colleagues. I was also surprised at how quickly the protagonist's friend was persuaded to fully pledge himself over to the Nazi party. For someone who had such a strong resolve against the party, it was scary how quickly he switched opinions. Although, you can see the internal struggle that he goes through when the protagonist is saying negative things to him about the Nazi party. You see him literally cover his ears because he can't bear to hear the truth about what the party actually is. It's a terrible thing that these youth had to go through these hardships all the while thinking that they were serving to create a better Germany.
I agree with Veda that the Nazi program brainwashed the youth, and you can see it in the protagonist's best friend. This boy had previously been adamant about the idea that Nazi's were evil, but he was quickly won over by the power and appeal that the party had.
I thought that the main message of the film was to show that it was so easy to persuade the German youth into being Nazi's. As we saw with Thomas, he only joined to help out Peter but in the long run he ended up becoming brainwashed by the Nazi movement. He went from being a total rebel against the Nazi's to falling right into all of it.
I agree with Olivia because it was a strong point that was made throughout the movie. Peter never left his beliefs and stayed with them even through his joining of the Hitler Youth movement.
the main message of this film is to stand up for what is right and for what you believe in no matter what the consequences. By standing by and not doing anything, or by going along with the crowd to avoid confrontation you are in reality helping the people that you are against, and fighting for a cause that isn't your own. It also showcases how hard it is to stand up against a force that was the magnitude of the Nazi party. even those who rebelled were quickly silenced, making their efforts almost worthless, while simultaneously mind controlling the followers to conform their thoughts to those of the Nazi party.
I thought that the main message of the film was to show how easy it is for a person to completely change their views due to propaganda. Clearly Tomas once thought that becoming an HJ was a horrible thing. However as soon as they begin to offer him perks he suddenly becomes interested in being a Nazi.
I felt the message of the film to have been," the price of uniformity is giving up free thought". From the moment we leave our mothers we are given a set of moral codes and ideals implemented via our parents. Eventually we learn that we have the inate ability to reason and over time choose to abide by said teachings. As shown through science, statistics and the " My baby can read" commercials, children have a window of oppertunity in which they may absorb and retain a large ammount of information. If one were to come to power with promise of " the land of milk and honey", especially during times of utter Hell,it's quite easy to manipulate the masses. Moreover, if the citizens (parents of the old and new) could be swayed and conform to the ideals that would potentially alleviate them of their torment, to maintain the promised land parents would teach their children as they had been taught thus creating an oroborous(snake eating it's tail ergo perpetual cycle). If the cycle repeats theoreticaly everyone would think the same. If everyone thinks the same right or wrong everyone will reflect the teachings. If the norm. is to think the same way as everyone else and everyone is conforming to the beliefs of the leader, uniformity can flourish and the mind control can begin. Lastly if everyone thinks the same in this " utopia" than it's only a matter of time before one tried to expand these unifying principals. Should others reject them and defy the "flawless"system, it would be only a matter of time before nationalistic pride comes into play and blood is spilled.
I Agree with Veda's post. Hitler tried to reach everyone( the ones he allowed) and manipulate the citizens to allign with his code. As shown by the movie, the options are uniformity or death.
After watching "Swing Kids" I feel like the main message that can be brought from the movie is no matter how much pressure is forced upon a person to do something they are completely against, in the end all they will end up going back to their roots and doing what they believe in. Nobody can change an individual if the strongly believe in something. I agree with Mary's post because she's right when she says that if you don't stand for what you believe in, you're ultimately helping the cause for the opposing group of people that are trying to convince you to be something you're not, nor do you want to be
I felt the main message of the film was that it is importrant to be true to yourself. No matter how hard things get, if you believe in something, you should stand up for it. Peter in the movie, was born a swing kid and died a swing kid and I think he was a prime example of staying true to yourself.
I agree with Veda that this film showed how hard it was for kids not to be brain washed into the HJ.
The main message of the film was to not get absorbed in the pressures around you. The main character and his friend for the most part went with the flow to avoid persecution, and eventually the friend invested himself within the cause; going against his morals and intent at the start of the film. It is true, sometimes you really need to know who your friends are.
The main message of the film was to not get absorbed in the pressures around you. The main character and his friend for the most part went with the flow to avoid persecution, and eventually the friend invested himself within the cause; going against his morals and intent at the start of the film. It is true, sometimes you really need to know who your friends are.
When I seriously thought about the movie I felt so angry! I couldn't really put my figures on it but this movie made me feel so enraged. I even cried. This movie showed me that anyone could be corrupted not just society but your best friends too! His friend made me question my own friendship with my friends. I felt almost alone while watching this movie it was an ocward feeling that I've never really felt
I thought this movie was great. It showed a lot of things that I never really knew about the holocaust. What an ending to the movie. Its sad and ridiculous how people get taken for no real reason.
I was absent this day
This film showed 2 roads that could be taken during this time period in Germany. These characters were faced with a choice to let go and let the river take them for a ride or swim up the river. This movie really opened my eyes on how easy it was to fall into Nazi lines under pressure, and the extrodinary will power it took to stand up for what was right.
I think the main message of this film was to show how to always stand up for what you believe in, no matter how hard it is. It was so sad to watch the boys join the HJ and see them get completely brainwashed and lose their own views on the situation. Peter had so much courage and strength because he did not let the group change him, and he stayed true to himself.
This movie showed me how most teenagers had hard times choosing what road to take. most of them were forced to join the HJ because that was the only "better" option at the time. Its very unfortunate for those teenagers to have to pick on whats best, instead of doing what they want,which was dancing and to enjoy their teen years. I applaud how they stood up against Nazism and fought for what they believed was right, it took courage but it was well worth it at the end. This movie was an eye opener for me and i learned alot.
I think that the main message of this film was to show the pressure they put on the kids to join the nazis and how peer pressure played a roll to.
I thought that the main message of the movie was that it is always harder to do the right thing, and it is always to just go along with the crowd. This message was made clear when the HJ were beating up a jew and the swing kids jumped in to protect him. They risked being reported to the authorities and prosecuted for helping the Jews. Finally in the end the viewer sees how the Nazis tore families apart and how evil they were.
I, personally think that the main message of Swing Kids was that if there is something that you believe in, weather it is the uncommon thing or not, you should not stop standing up for what you believe in. Christian Bale's character, gave into the H.J. because he knew that they were the larger group and that they could give him anyhting he wanted or needed. The main character, however, did not stop believing in being a Swing Kid, no matter what the consequences were.
I think that the main message of the film was that even if you are not directly doing an action, if you are a bystander, then you are at fault too. You need to stand up for what is right, even of it means you suffer some of the consequences. Another important message of the film is that you can't blindly follow a group or a single leader. You need to think for yourself and take responsiblity.
I think that the main message of this film is trying to convey people to be themselves and not give into popular belief. people shouldn't follow another group of people who are clearly doing the wrong thing.
I believe the main message of the film is to stay true to yourself and the people you love over anything else. Although things change around us, people need to stick to their beliefs and not be easily swayed by the ideas around them.
I thought the swing kids was a very good movie that showed the relationship between friends and how easily it can be separated. It showed how the nazis persuaded young people by the perks that are offered. It also shows how much young siblings look up to the orders and how much the older siblings decisions affect how the younger think.
After watching this film I beleive the main message was to show that times were tough for the young german teens and it didn't really matter what you wanted to do, you were forced regardless. They said it was good structure for a growing boy and it shaped him up to be the perfect human. It's just sad to see how fast the Nazi influence over powered people.
I agree with Veda, I do understand that it was better to go along with the Nazis instead of fighting them. Hitlers influence was to strong to over power so it was hopeless to try and defeat him.
After watching this movie you really feel a sense of what it was like for teenagers during this time period. We also have a chance to see that the choices you have to make in Germany are very limited, they consist of either joining the nazi army or being branded a traitor and killed.
I was absent
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