"Schindler’s List" is certainly one of the most famous works about the Holocaust that has ever been created so far. Since the 1970s the memory of the Holocaust became more and more integrated as an important element not only of Jewish Amer-ican culture but of American culture in general. The film that was published in 1994 by one of Hollywood’s most famous directors can be seen as a milestone in this process of the “Americanization of the Holocaust”. Other very successful projects preceded that aimed to preserve the memory of the Holocaust in American culture such as the TV series Holocaust or the opening of the National Memorial Museum in 1993.
This process of integrating the Holocaust as an essential part in American culture is described in Peter Novick’s study The Holocaust in American Life. I will try to analyze the film as part of this process and raise several questions about its meaning in this context. I will at first examine the historical background of the time when the film was published. I will try to find out what makes Schindler’s List typical for an American Hollywood movie and how the film “Americanizes” in this way the subject of the Holocaust. Before that I will examine how the idea of Schindler’s List emerged and how it became possible that this delicate topic was chosen by Spielberg who was rather known for his spectacular entertainment movies up to this point. To answer these questions I will also analyze elementary elements of the film: suspense structure, characters, technical aspects and also shortly deal with the reception and critics of the movie. Finally I will discuss the question which impact the movie had or could have for the viewer’s perception of the Holocaust and in which way the movie shaped what Novick calls the “collective memory” of the Holocaust.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. The historical background: How the idea of Schindler’s List emerged
II.1. The perception of the Holocaust in American society during the 20th century
II.2. The Holocaust mini-series as a precursor of Schindler’s List
II.3. Previous initiatives to film Schindler’s List
II.4. How Steven Spielberg came to Schindler’s List and the production of the film
III: Schindler’s List – A typical American Hollywood movie?
III.1. Spielberg’s “Americanization of the Holocaust”
III.2. Story, film structure and suspense
III.3. Authenticity
III.4.Characters
III. 6. Summary: Schindler’s List – a typical Hollywood movie?
IV. The Controversy: Critical views on Schindler’s List
V. Conclusion
Research Objectives & Topics
This paper examines Steven Spielberg's film "Schindler's List" as a milestone in the "Americanization of the Holocaust," analyzing how the movie incorporates traditional Hollywood storytelling elements while simultaneously striving for historical authenticity. It investigates the film's production background, its structural techniques, and the ongoing controversy regarding the appropriateness of dramatizing such traumatic historical events for a mass audience.
- Historical evolution of Holocaust representation in American society.
- Production history and the challenge of balancing historical detail with cinematic entertainment.
- Analysis of narrative structure, character development, and the role of suspense.
- Techniques used to achieve authenticity, including cinematography and location choice.
- Critical reception and the ethical debate surrounding Hollywood's portrayal of the Holocaust.
Excerpt from the Book
III.2. Story, film structure and suspense
Despite its unusual length of 195m and a high amount of details the film is quite clearly structured and keeps to a chronological order. It can be divided in eight different parts (cf. Korte 169-172)1. Although the film is much longer than an average Hollywood movie the viewer never gets the impression that the film has passages that are not relevant or boring. The viewer is rather confronted with a high level of suspense throughout the whole film. This is what makes the film suitable for a big audience and distinguishes it from long-winded documentaries.
In the beginning the protagonist Oskar Schindler is introduced and the viewer is step by step informed about his motives. In the first few scenes when Schindler is introduced and befriends with high SS officials in a restaurant he seems to be a mysterious person and we cannot yet estimate his intentions.
The second part begins with an element of suspense when Schindler asks for Itzhak Stern in the Jewish council everybody in the room immediately falls silent. In the following conversation the motives of Schindler become more and more evident to the reader. He is still a man who is looking for his own profit and trying to take advantage of the war for his financial situation.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: Outlines the significance of "Schindler's List" within the context of American Holocaust remembrance and sets the research focus on its "Americanization" and reception.
II. The historical background: How the idea of Schindler’s List emerged: Explores the evolving American perception of the Holocaust and details the long, complex production history behind the film's realization.
III: Schindler’s List – A typical American Hollywood movie?: Analyzes the film's structural elements, the use of suspense, the pursuit of authenticity, character dynamics, and its overall alignment with Hollywood conventions.
IV. The Controversy: Critical views on Schindler’s List: Summarizes the academic and cultural debate, highlighting arguments that the film trivializes history or inappropriately uses the perspective of the perpetrator.
V. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, concluding that while the film is a product of American cultural industry, it successfully brings the subject to a wider audience through its blend of authenticity and emotion.
Keywords
Schindler’s List, Steven Spielberg, Holocaust, Americanization of the Holocaust, Film History, Authenticity, Narrative Structure, Oskar Schindler, Amon Göth, Itzhak Stern, Critical Reception, Hollywood, Historical Representation, Cultural Memory, World War II
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines "Schindler's List" as a key example of the "Americanization of the Holocaust," analyzing how Steven Spielberg balanced Hollywood entertainment conventions with the challenge of portraying the Holocaust authentically.
What are the core thematic areas discussed in the text?
The core themes include the historical shift in American Holocaust awareness, the production journey of the film, cinematic techniques like suspense and character duality, and the ethical controversies surrounding the representation of historical atrocities.
What is the central research question?
The research explores what makes "Schindler's List" typical for an American Hollywood movie and how this specific form of representation influences public understanding and collective memory of the Holocaust.
Which scientific approach does the author use?
The author uses a film-analytical approach, examining structural elements, cinematography, character development, and historical context, supported by a critical review of existing academic publications and debates.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body focuses on the historical context, the development of the film project, a detailed structural analysis of the film's narrative and characters, and a comprehensive summary of critical viewpoints.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Holocaust, Schindler's List, Americanization, authenticity, Steven Spielberg, cultural memory, and Hollywood representation.
How does the author characterize the film's "Americanization" of the Holocaust?
The author argues that "Americanization" refers to the tendency to treat the Holocaust within an American cultural framework, utilizing typical Hollywood storytelling devices like suspense, emotional appeal, and a clear duality between good and evil.
Why does the author consider the camera usage in the film unique?
The frequent use of handheld cameras, pan shots, and tracking shots is identified as a unique technique for a Hollywood production, as it adds a layer of raw authenticity and chaotic realism that immerses the viewer in the action.
What is the significance of the "girl in the red coat" mentioned in the film analysis?
The author highlights this scene as a deliberate stylistic choice, as it is the only partly colored element in the film, creating a powerful visual contrast that underscores the tragedy of the scene within the black-and-white framework.
How does the author address the criticism regarding the film's portrayal of Jewish victims?
The author notes the critique that the Jewish victims are often presented as an anonymous mass, which critics argue is an inaccuracy that reflects a wider tendency in American Holocaust remembrance to center the narrative on the Jewish experience exclusively.
- Citar trabajo
- Micha Luther (Autor), 2013, "Schindler's List". Hollywood’s representation of the Holocaust, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/283189
