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Marxism In Toyland

Decent Essays

Literature reflects upon a series of ideologies which are influenced by the power of social forces. Literature pieces can influence how individuals construct their rigid belief system, a development of cultural conditioning, and shedding light to harsh social conditions. Marxism, a theory which focuses on the idea of power within society, aims to answer the question to what extent are individuals aware of the oppression within society. In the short film, “Toyland” directed by Jochen Alexander Freydank, the ideology of the Holocaust is exposed. The belief states that there is a division of two racial groups; the Jewish group believed to be inferior, while the German race are seen as the racially superior group. The Jewish members are forced …show more content…

False consciousness is a term used to describe the conditioning which takes place, as within the text, the Germans become accustomed to believe that in order to gain political and social superiority, the solution to isolate an undesired race is to murder. Jewish people were subject to demonstrate obedient behaviour and to do so as they were told, knowing their lives were coming to a near end. Within the film, individuals were placed in a cart and stood their without showing excessive emotions of outrage and anger, rather they were still and quiet. Once can analyze, that this emotion demonstrates a sense of weakness and vulnerability amongst the Jews. They are scared, and conditioned to believe that death is near approaching, and nothing can change. The Nazi regime hold the utmost power over how lives will operate in a social and economic manner. Being put into a concentration camp, would mean one is deprived of the basic necessities of food, safety and physical and mental wellbeing in comparison to the Germans, who were able to continue life among their stable homes. As the underlying political force guides the German’s actions, it creates a gap between the two races, as the German’s are preventing the Jewish to flourish in terms of education, standard of living, and their liberty by placing them in concentration …show more content…

The director Jochen Alexander Freydank, born in 1967 represents a fresh viewpoint based off a scenario that shows a sense of equity present amongst rare people’s hearts. In the film, when the train doors are opened, the mother calls out to Heinrich, however when the crowd moves, and she believes it is her own son, it appears to be David, the neighbor’s boy. A flashback shows that when the Silbersteins were taken away, Heinrich was not allowed to join them. In order to save his life, she calls out to David as though he is Heinrich. This shows that the mother showcases equality amongst the racial groups, there is tolerance rather than discrimination which was heavily present at that time. The mother is not conditioned to believe that there should be such division, in which she does not conform to the social idea, that the Jewish race should be demolished. This event showcases the idea of reflectonism, where the text reflects what should have happened, as it is written years after the War. Thus, there is a new idea being examined by the director, looking at the social conditions which existed at that time, and what could have been done to bridge the gap of hatred amongst the two

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