Hollywood and the Holocaust

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

The Holocaust has been the focus of countless films in the United States, Great Britain, and Europe, and its treatment over the years has been the subject of considerable controversy. When finally permitted to portray the atrocities, filmmakers struggled with issues of fidelity to historical fact, depictions of graphic violence, and how to approach the complexities of the human condition on all sides of this horrific event. In Hollywood and the Holocaust, Henry Gonshak explores portrayals of the Holocaust from the World War II era to the present. In chapters devoted to films ranging from The Great Dictator to Inglourious Basterds, this volume looks at how these films have shaped perceptions of the Shoah. The author also questions if Hollywood, given its commercialism, is capable of conveying the Holocaust in ways that do justice to its historical trauma. Through a careful consideration of over twenty-five films across genresincluding Life Is Beautiful, Cabaret, The Reader, The Boys from Brazil, and Schindlers Listthis book provides an important look at the social, political, and cultural contexts in which these movies were produced. By also engaging with the critical responses to these films and their role in the publics ongoing fascination with the Holocaust, this book suggests that viewers take a closer look at how such films depict this dark period in world history. Hollywood and the Holocaust will be of interest to cultural critics, historians, and anyone interested in the cinemas ability to render these tragic events on screen.

Reviews

Gonshak is responsible in debating his predecessor critics and eloquent in meditating on the ethical responsibilities of those who produce Hollywood films. Even though Gonshak is flexible in his aestheticscomedy can work, historical accuracy is not necessarily requiredmost Hollywood films (which here include X-Men, 2000) do not have anything substantial to say about the Holocaust. Hollywood veers too often toward kitsch, and in his conclusion the author expresses the wish that Hollywood could learn from the more substantial Holocaust documentaries and fiction films produced in Europe. Insdorf discussed both Hollywood and European films, which ultimately makes for a more satisfying project. Yet Gonshaks selection allows each film more depth, and he takes full advantage of this opportunity by staging one scrupulously crafted discussion after another. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty. * CHOICE *
Hollywood and the Holocaust offers an important look at Hollywood's ongoing representations of the Holocaust aimed at a general readership not usually addressed by volumes on this subject. * Dillon Tribune *
By what standards should we judge films about the Holocaust Thats the provocative question that hangs over Hollywood and the Holocaust by Henry Gonshak, an English professor at Montana Tech. In examining older films, Gonshak rightly puts them in the context of their times. . . . In joining the growing shelf of books on the subject of the Holocaust and movies, Gonshak offers some insights as to how far weve come. * The Jewish Advocate *

Author Bio

Henry Gonshak is professor of English at Montana Tech, where he teaches Holocaust Studies. His writings on the Holocaust, Israel, and Jewish-American culture have appeared in two book collections, New Perspectives on the Holocaust: A Guide for Teachers and Scholars and The Burdens of History: Post Holocaust Generations in Dialogue, as well as in a variety of publications, including Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies, The American Jewish Congress Monthly, Response: A Contemporary Jewish Review, The Journal of American Culture and Peace Review: A Journal of Social Justice.