Art Spiegelman's MAUS: A Different Type of Holocaust Literature
The Jewish Holocaust, as is the case with events in which the human spirit has been engaged in a fight for survival, produced great works of literature. Elie Wiesel's Night and Primo Levi's Survival in Auschwitz are perhaps the best known examples of this literary tradition. Art Spiegelman's MAUS, published in the 1980s, represents a new kind of literary oeuvre inspired and/or based on the Holocaust. Written by a second generation Holocaust survivor, MAUS fuses the story of the terrible historical occurrence with a Jewish American's struggle to forge his own understanding of the brutal extermination of his people by the Nazi regime in the Second World War.
This electronic essay will cover three topics found in the novel: the methods in which second (and third) generations of Holocaust survivors struggle to come to terms with the events of the Holocaust, the unusual form of the book, and the brutal nature of humanity, ever-threatening to obliterate the human race. Links to the different sections can be accessed below.
* Techniques of Remembering the Holocaust by Second Generation Jews
* The Unusual Structure of MAUS
* The Holocaust as a Demonstration of Man's Brutal Nature
* Conclusion
* A Step Further
More:
http://www.georgetown.edu/faculty/bassr/218/projects/oliver/MausbyAO.htmAlso:
Chicken Run Movie Review
Movie Review by Anthony Leong © Copyright 2000
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As such, the tone of "Chicken Run" becomes weighty at times, as the pathos fully conveys the sense of impending dread facing the hens-- enough to possibly convince some moviegoers to become vegans. One key scene has one non-productive chicken being taken to the slaughterhouse, and instead of a daring last-minute escape or stroke of good luck, the axe comes down and there is no mistake about what has just happened-- the effect on the remaining chickens is just as devastating. Those familiar with critically-acclaimed Art Spiegelman's graphic novel "Maus: A Survivor's Tale" (which recontextualizes the Holocaust into a literal cat-and-mouse game) will probably have a sense of déja vu when watching "Chicken Run".
However, proceedings are not entirely grim. In addition to some snappy dialogue that incorporates a number of chicken jokes and references (they even unsuccessfully tried to work in a 'chicken crossed the road' gag into the script), the farm is populated by some terrific stock characters. There's Fowler (Benjamin Withrow of "The Saint"), the only other rooster on the farm, an old coot who believes in discipline and can't stop babbling on about his days in the Royal Air Force. Then there's Mac, the brainy Scottish hen (glasses and all), who helps Ginger engineer and work out the bugs of the elaborate escape plans, as well as Nick and Fetcher, a couple of shrewd rats who offer a 'black market' for the internees. Finally, there's Babs (Jane Horrocks), who may not be the smartest chicken in the hen house, but at least she has her heart in the right place.
While "Chicken Run" may not boast the most amazing special effects (though a number of complex scenes involving hundreds of characters and complex action are impressive), it certainly makes up for it in the storytelling. Despite its claymation trappings, which would probably cause a number of moviegoers to immediately dismiss it as kid's fare, there's a lot of heart and humanity in the story, and like "Babe", it works on two levels. While adult audiences will probably find much of the material both familiar and emotionally sincere, kids will enjoy it simply for the action and the humor. Run, don't walk to see this film!
More:
http://www.mediacircus.net/chickenrun.html