Escapism & Propaganda

Instructions

Introduction: Art and music were powerful tools in World War II. They provided relief and escapism to those in captivity, but they were also used to spread fear and propaganda.

Directions: Art and music brought both happiness and sadness at this time. The Nazis re-appropriated artwork from Jewish families, while also publishing propaganda posters. Richard Wagner was a famous composer (one of Adolf Hitler’s favorites); he was known for his anti-Jewish sentiments. However, Terezín was a Jewish Concentration Camp where arts and music were produced by the prisoners as a way to escape their surroundings.

For this project, you will be writing a total of 4-5 pages. For the first 2-3 pages of your paper, using 2-3 academic sources, write about art and music during World War II. Compare and contrast the different uses of music and art and how this affected society during the war. Throughout your paper, focus on how the prisoners’ faith sustained them through their horrible experiences.

For the remaining 2-3 pages, put yourself in the position of a Jewish person in Germany during World War II. Imagine that you are in a family who just had a piece of artwork stolen, or imagine that you are a prisoner in Terezín with Friedl Dicker-Brandeis as your teacher. How would you feel in the midst of either of these events? Include a creative writing piece in this section, such as a diary entry, letter, short story, or a conversation. Make sure to incorporate your faith as an element in this section of the assignment.