Interpreting The Bible by Kurt Kitasaki A satire on the Bible. [5,397 words]
Modernism And The Harlem Rennisance by Brotherman An essay on the concept of modernism and the harlem rennisance. [1,199 words]
What Book's Shall I Read? by Buxton This is more like a mini book review, and the title is something Im asking......carry... [435 words]
Ronald Reagan by Skyler Drevan Was he that good? [1,096 words]
Housing Bubble? by Sean Mann Is there a housing bubble about to be burst? [747 words]
Homosexual Agenda: Equality! by Skyler Drevan What gay people are really looking for. [1,647 words]
Mr. Michael Jackson-The King Of Pop by Skyler Drevan Let me explain something to the reviewers who may make ignorant comments ab... [382 words]
The Challenges Of Road Safety In The 21st Century by Kennedy O Obohwemu Quite simple...It issues a call for action...reflective upon ... [1,353 words]
The Biggest Problem Facing Nigeria This Century by Kennedy O Obohwemu An unending battle with a trouble that seems to have settled co... [750 words]
Poetry: Exposed by Steven T I wrote this rant about poetry when I was really frustrated because I had to write a bunch of p... [734 words]
Keeping Your Dignity And Creativity (Getting Published) by Skyler Drevan This is an article on rejection, how to get published a... [2,169 words]
Overcoming The Other by G David Schwartz An essay. [11,150 words]
No Longer A Smoking America by Kevin Myrick I wrote this paper for my college english comp class, and decided it was worthy eno... [1,483 words]
Midnight In The Garden Of Marvin Gaye: The Brilliance And Pathos Of The Final Album Of Soul Music's Greatest Artist. by Brotherman A review of Midnight Love: Marvin gaye's final ... [2,586 words]
I Have My Own Dream... by Karina Lizet Perez - [497 words]
Form A Vision To Success by E Rocco Caldwell This is a speech I am going to give to Junior High Schoolers today 1/16/04 for Martin ... [759 words]
Resolution by G David Schwartz A short essay. [721 words]
Not Enough! by Randall Barfield A short talk about trying to prevent more wife/child abuse. [791 words]
Buying Souls For Fun And Profit by D L B Monk A fully binding contract. Print it out, make deals with your friends (and enemi... [1,611 words]
The Parable Of The Copper Pennies by G David Schwartz A short essay. [1,690 words]
The Best Friends Of Man On Earth by James T Algo Description of close friends. [124 words]
Schindler's List: A Fecal Matter
Punk, Anarchy, Chaos!! by Karina Lizet Perez Its an essay I did for the hell of it cause I was bored but when I was done I LOVED IT!!... [393 words]
Media Is Bad For Children by Thomas Kirchenheiter A debate topic showing why media is bad for children. [151 words]
A Good Vision Demands Keen Insight by E Rocco Caldwell This is a part of a larger work entitled the New Union Standard. [1,302 words]
Gay Marriage Is Constitutional by E Rocco Caldwell - [807 words]
Wal-Mart Wants To Rule The World by E Rocco Caldwell Someone left a message that this article was racist and I would like the site'... [917 words]
My Grandma by Ryan Emerson - [338 words]
Good Advice by David B Doc Byron A dying man's advice to the living. [585 words]
Extreme Panhandling by Skyler Drevan This is an article I wrote about a severe problem that plagues the beautiful city of New Yo... [1,191 words]
Weird Al's Teacher-Like Qualities by NeedhamT Gives an explanation of how I think that Weird Al Yankovic (famous comedic so... [431 words]
The Argument by John Sheirer A moving, humorous story about his parents' only argument excerpted from the author's thus far unp... [708 words]
Socialism Supported by WigginP I, as a regular citizen of the United States, believe that socialism is a good idea (in the... [551 words]
Reading by G David Schwartz - [5,568 words]
Nothing Poesy About It by BhattacharyyaS - [451 words]
Everything's All Right In The Middle East by Robert Levin A mutual solution to the problem of being mortal. [686 words]
Battle Cry by Skyler Drevan Another self discovery made in the middle of a restless night. [438 words]
Glum by Skyler Drevan I think this is self explaning. [207 words]
Recycle This by Robert Levin "I don't even sort and rinse the stuff I keep?" [885 words]
My Mother-My Friend by Penny Groh Part of the eugology for my mother. [343 words]
Anger Drives The World by G David Schwartz This is an essay that speaks about the *importance* of anger, and the misuse of it. [1,712 words]
Stupidity: Its Uses & Abuses by Robert Levin Stupidity is rivaled in its genius only be schizophrenia. [1,337 words]
No Stars For The Eclipse by Robert Levin I thought more interesting work was being done at the Electric Circus back in the '60s... [529 words]
A Collection Of Essays Concerning Mexico by Bob M Ra Several Essays composed for a Latin Studies Class at UIC. [5,770 words]
Tied By The Heart by Jeffrey (George) Winter Does our freedom ensnares us? [1,128 words]
Early Political Conflict In America: Jefferson, Hamilton, And The Washington Administration From 1791 To 1798 by Shelley J Alongi J... [1,526 words]
Things Not To Say To A Pageant Committee by Freelancer Ever dreamed of being in a pageant? Read this essay before heading to... [1,276 words]
Abortion As A Basic Human Right by James Cartwright I wrote this essay for my Contemporary Issues class, explaining why I believe t... [481 words]
Making A Difference by Hanan Al Kindi The role of every human on this earth and the way his/her role affects the society. [377 words]
It Should Be Great by Christina Aspears - [1,377 words]
The Human Spirit by Adam P Nel Are you the one who I'm writing this to? [504 words]
Hhh Insurance by Klangman Rupert Essay. [1,380 words]
Gender As Performance, Age Six: The Mouse Game by Caitlin Conaway I was one confused little child. [1,991 words]
The Miseducation Of Nigeria's Future by Toluwalope Olugbenga Ogunlesi An essay about the pitiable state of education in Nigeria. [1,077 words]
Vulnerable by Skyler Drevan The middle of the night thoughts. This is a little something based on a seris of unsettling dreams I... [263 words]
The Evil Of The Visa System by Randall Barfield Looking, looking for that Utopia. As always. [479 words]
Thinking About, Faith by M Bradley McCauley This is from a series of essays I wrote about various subjects I was thinking about. It ... [660 words]
The Most Evil Hate Crime by Mike Schiller I have not heard anyone on either side of the debate suggest that the adult world shou... [1,375 words]
Native Americans Of The Northwest Coast by Lissa N Metz-Gomez My term paper for both Archaeology and Prehistory: The Search for Lost ... [2,631 words]
Evolution Vs. The Second Law Of Thermodynamics by Matt Tracy While studying the second law of thermodynamics, I realized some... [1,529 words]
A Reality Check For America by Mike Schiller Charles Rangel wants to wrongfully enslave people of a particular age group, becaus... [870 words]
My Pops by Heather A Sloane This is an essay that I wrote about my dad for my creative writing class. [1,014 words]
What Is Writing? by Jim Taylor My view on writing. [278 words]
Gymnastics by Brandt - [636 words]
Go to page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 [8] 9 10 11
| |
TITLE (EDIT)
Schindler's List: A Fecal Matter |
DESCRIPTION
-
[1,047 words] |
TITLE KEYWORD
Psychology |
AUTHOR
Robert Levin |
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
-
[March 2019] |
AUTHOR'S E-MAIL ADDRESS
rlevin@earthlink.net |
AUTHOR'S OTHER TITLES (18)
3 Poems (Poetry) - [129 words] [Humor]
A Passel Of Plumeria (Short Stories) Can an act of violence be a gift? [5,935 words]
Arena (Short Stories) A man finds a way out of his midlife crisis. [1,495 words] [Action]
Donald Trump And The Fear Of Death (Essays) Propelled by a pronounced extinction anxiety, white America’s dread has led directly to a heightening of racism, and with it, the presidency of Donald Trump [581 words] [Psychology]
Everything's All Right In The Middle East (Essays) A mutual solution to the problem of being mortal. [686 words] [Psychology]
Free Jazz: The Jazz Revolution Of The '60s (Essays) "Man, In another ten years we won't even need traffic lights we're gonna be so spiritually tuned to one another." [2,615 words] [History]
No Stars For The Eclipse (Essays) I thought more interesting work was being done at the Electric Circus back in the '60s. [529 words] [Comedy]
On Mental Health (Short Stories) If I ever see a shrink again it'll have to be under a court order. [2,573 words] [Drama]
On Turning Sixty (Essays) The rewards of turning sixty [544 words] [Humor]
Peggie (Short Stories) My chance to cross gross obesity from the list of body types I hadn't yet scored. [1,519 words] [Comedy]
Proving God By Consensus (Essays) My Problem with the Religious Right [977 words] [Psychology]
Recycle This (Essays) "I don't even sort and rinse the stuff I keep?" [885 words] [Humor]
Stupidity: Its Uses & Abuses (Essays) Stupidity is rivaled in its genius only be schizophrenia. [1,337 words] [Humor]
The Killer (Short Stories) This story contains a graphic depiction of a deed that some readers may find upsetting or alarming. The story is an attempt to explain the motivation of the mass murderer and what the meaning of “suic... [3,058 words] [Literary Fiction]
The Monstrous Season (Short Stories) When you call your Dog Debbie you're asking fror trouble. [8,188 words] [Literary Fiction]
When Pacino's Hot, I'm Hot (Short Stories) A comedy about a pathetic loser with a talent for looking famous. [5,929 words] [Humor]
Why Peace Will Forever Elude Us (Essays) Although the guises may differ, people who study history are no less doomed to repeat it than those who don’t. [769 words] [Psychology]
You Don't Know What You're Doing (Or Why You're Still Fat) (Essays) People with perpetual obesity issues are playing a game with themselves. [804 words] [Psychology]
|
Schindler's List: A Fecal Matter
Robert Levin
(This piece was written in 1993.)
Recently, when a visiting friend wanted to rent it, I saw "Schindler’s List" again. I can report that a second viewing of Ralph Fiennes’ portrayal of the concentration camp commandant Amon Goeth yields even more layers and subtleties. But Fiennes notwithstanding, I have to say that, for me, watching "Schindler’s List" has now twice been a vexing experience.
What irritates me about "Schindler’s List" is that it never gets beyond lamenting man’s inhumanity to man and celebrating the triumph of the human spirit, etc., when it could have thrown at least a quick light on something of consequence that apparently still baffles a lot of people—what the Nazis were actually about.
Normally the absence of serious probing into the psychodynamics of egregious human behavior would no more disappoint me in a Steven Spielberg film—even one about the Holocaust—than it did in a episode of “Hogan’s Heroes.” Spielberg is an enormously gifted film maker, but plumbing the nastier depths isn’t something he does and you don’t go to his movies looking for that. (On the contrary, you go in the hope of retrieving a prepubescent innocence.) So I’d have no cause to make an issue of the film’s limitations in this regard were it not for the fact that Spielberg comes maddeningly close to giving his audience a glimpse of where the Nazi’s were coming from. (You could say, in fact, that he gets to within just an inch or so of accomplishing this.)
I’m thinking of the scenes in which Goeth shoots two prisoners from his balcony and then returns to his apartment and urinates.
In this sequence, Spielberg is demonstrating that the most monstrous deeds issue from men just like the rest of us, and he makes this point very nicely. The trouble is that everyone’s known as much since the Eichmann trial. To keep this statement and illuminate what it is that turns the ordinary man into a homicidal maniac, all Spielberg needed to do was have Goeth, in place of urinating, sit down and move his bowels.
I’m serious. It’s shit, after all, that personifies the hideous fate of decay and dissolution that nature has devised for everything corporeal. Shit approximates—and serves daily to
anticipate—the condition our bodies themselves will wind up in. And it’s the problem of which
shit is emblematic, the mother of all problems, the problem of death, that the “Final Solution”
was, of course, addressing.
Let’s, just for a minute, try to acknowledge something that ought to be common wisdom—certainly after the work of Otto Rank and Ernest Becker. What makes the world go around is, purely and simply, the fact of death. The real, if usually unconscious, purpose of virtually all human behavior is to mitigate the terror and panic the anticipation of death induces; to, at the very least, reduce the trepidation that derives from the very terms of existence to a manageable degree of fear.
When, for a relatively straightforward and transparent example, we invent the prospect of an
afterlife and then adhere to rules of conduct we’ve decided will assure us of admission, we are handing ourselves a comforting shot at surviving death. But another of the myriad ways we’ve concocted or seized upon to make living with an intolerable given possible is to pursue and amass financial wealth beyond the requirements of our organismic well-being. The god-like trappings great sums of money buys enable us to feel superior not just to the common man but, more importantly, to the common fate. Many of the “faults” or “neuroses” we develop are also designed to cushion us against the specter of death. Procrastination, for instance, helps us to fashion the illusion that we are suspending time.
And then there’s mass murder.
Blowing away a lot of people is an especially effective death-dread remedy. When guilt and
ambivalence are removed from the act—when the act can be rationalized as serving a righteous or noble cause, like, say, the extirpation of an inferior or evil race that’s corrupting a divine plan—it’s even better than especially effective. Mussolini’s son, returning to Italy in a state of euphoria after bombing the Ethiopians, and, in an infamous remark, describing the carnage he’d wrought as “beautiful,” was only being honest, candidly acknowledging the ultimate high that murder can afford.
“High,” meaning, of course, ABOVE the body.
When we devote ourselves to the preservation of a rain forest, we are performing a service for nature that might, come Judgement Day, earn us a special dispensation. When we bulldoze a rainforest we are getting nature out of our face. But when we are killing, when we are exercising destructive force of a supreme magnitude, and manifesting a blunt indifference to the notion of the sanctity of life, to the unfinished business of our victims, and to the grief of those who loved them, we become what it truly is to be “one” with nature. And the reward is extraordinary. Claiming nature’s power and authority for ourselves, merging with the source of death, we stop feeling vulnerable to nature, we achieve a sense of immunity to its victimization of us, a sense of immunity that, in turn, relieves us of the burden the fragility of our bodies inflicts on us. In the period of killing we get what we most need and want, we get to experience ourselves as indestructible.
Murder kills death.
I’ve conceded that it would have been off Spielberg’s spectrum to make even an oblique or passing reference to a reality so repugnant. But I can still wish he’d been capable of taking his opportunity to toss a wrench into the mindless reflex of hand-wringing astonishment and incredulity that is our rote response to atrocities. The truth of the matter isn’t elusive. We make it so because it sits in shit. A certain percentage of humanity, unable to avail itself of the less malignant death-denial techniques, or finding them insufficient, or seeing through them, will always be willing to become what Elie Wiesel termed “not human”; will, in fact, have no recourse but to violate the social contract, cut the tether to civilization and look to the resources of what we call “madness” in order to achieve respite from the inhuman and uncivilized reality of living under a death sentence.
If anything should astonish us it's that this percentage isn't markedly higher.
|
READER'S REVIEWS (1)
DISCLAIMER: STORYMANIA DOES NOT PROVIDE AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWS. ALL REVIEWS ARE PROVIDED BY NON-ASSOCIATED VISITORS, REGARDLESS OF THE WAY THEY CALL THEMSELVES.
"This is deep but here is a point to relay...what is happening in the Middle East with the philosophy of pre-emptive strikes! This requires no evidence just a belief that a enemy can strike you if you don;t strike it first! The results has been thousands killed. In this country there are many who supposrt such a draconian method! Is killing without justification justified just because one thinks he could be killed? Is this killing no more than murder if not?" -- e. rocco caldwell.
TO DELETE UNWANTED REVIEWS CLICK HERE! (SELECT "MANAGE TITLE REVIEWS" ACTION) |
|
Submit Your Review for Schindler's List: A Fecal Matter
Required fields are marked with (*).
Your e-mail address will not be displayed.
|
|
Submit Your Rating for Schindler's List: A Fecal Matter
|
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2003 Robert Levin |
STORYMANIA PUBLICATION DATE
November 2003 |
NUMBER OF TIMES TITLE VIEWED
3986
|
|
