Inter-cultural connections: Discovering and learning about others promotes cultural awareness and fosters reflection about our own culture resulting in culturally responsive citizens of the world.
Reflect on this statement using the novel and the interview
In the interview section also discuss how the interview has shed new light, new points of view, new questions about the Jewish and German cultures.
I agree with the idea proposed by the statement from Mr. Racco, that learning about other people causes us to become more aware of the cultured world around us, and thus enable us to become reflective of our need to become culturally sensitive. In “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas”, the young Bruno can be seen becoming more curious towards why Shmuel and the Jews are being held at Auschwitz. Bruno obviously enjoyed learning about Shmuel, just like how Shmuel probably enjoyed learning about the wealthy, privileged life of Bruno. As the end of the book draws near, we see Bruno is confronted with the ideals of the Nazi party. Rather than accept what he sees, he chooses to question why the Jews should be considered less than people, and rejects the idea. This is likely in no small part thanks to the fact that he knows a Jew who seems just as human as him.
ReplyDeleteI also like how this concept was reflected in the interview with John Boyne. In a way, we are told the importance of being reflective of one’s culture and the cultures of others. We are reminded that metaphorical and physical fences are all over the world, and we must become aware of the fact that they are there, and figure out how to take them down piece by piece with our willingness to understand.
After reading both book and novel, I am actually left with a few extra questions. What happened to those who spoke out against the holocaust while it was happening? Were they sent to concentration camps as well? And why, exactly, did so many Germans feel it was right, no, necessary exterminate Jews? Obviously, they felt that the Jews were inferior in some way, but what grounds for this belief were there? What happened to those who escaped from places like concentration camps? These types of questions were brought about by the awareness of other cultures, and with the help of those cultures I would like to know the answers, so I may better reflect on my own place inn all of this.
I 100% agree with this statement, especially the part about how it fosters reflection about our own culture because this is extremely evident in the novel. This especially comes in to play when Bruno finally learns the true meaning of why the fence is there and who really is on the other side. The reason for why Shmuel is there and he is not. “‘Are we Jews?’ ‘No, we most certainly are not. And you shouldn’t even say something like that.’ ‘But why not? What are we then?’ ‘We’re…we’re….well, we’re not Jews….We’re the opposite. Yes that’s it,’” (pg. 182). It is really only when Gretel begins to explain to Bruno why the Jews are on one side and they are on the other, that she begins to think and justify, who they are. It gets me thinking because I realize that, unfortunately but truly, we don’t really know ourselves, we simply know just a little bit about others and if we want to be like them or not. Even when Gretel finally came up with an answer she was satisfied with, it was still about the Jews and how they, Germans, are not like them. I think without meaning to, many of us do this in our everyday lives but I also think eventually it benefits us because it helps us reflect upon ourselves and ultimately become more culturally responsive citizens.
ReplyDeleteBoyne said something very interesting in the interview about different cultures and the problems they face. “As people, and as political people in the world, we make decisions which problems are more important than others.” When I read this, I think about this statement in a way because in order to make these decisions one is forced to look at all the other cultures and ethnic groups in this world and really think about, see, and compare and contrast to come to a conclusion of who has it worse. And for me a many times when I look at different people around me, who may have already gone through the same thing or are going through the same thing, not only do I learn more about their situation but also about my situation and this helps me help to the conclusion I need.
The interview highlighted many of the exact things I was feeling and thinking. How Bruno’s naivety and ignorance about what was going on around him was completely normal and expected for his age. How the world’s ignorance as well as complacency in the Holocaust and other situations was present. How the fence did not just symbolize the one between the Jews and the Germans but a variety of different fences all over the world. Boyne surprised me when he said he wrote the book in pretty much a week and a bit but even though he wrote it fast, to me he wrote it with a vision and he portrayed exactly what he wanted and needed to.
I completely and whole-heartedly agree with this statement. I believe that the more we learn about other cultures and other people, the more we learn about ourselves, too. When we take the time to become aware of other cultures, stereotyping diminishes. In my opinion, people stereotype others because they do not know any better, but they feel that they need to say something anyways. However, if people actually took the time to discover other cultures, then they would realize that most stereotypes are not true or at least do not apply to everyone. In relation to the novel, cultural differences are the reason for the main event, the Holocaust. Germans felt that they were above Jews and that the world would be better without them. On pages 182-183, Bruno and Gretel were having a conversation as to why the fence was there. “’All the people over that side of the fence are Jews...Well, we’re not Jews...We’re the opposite.” When I read this, it made me reflect deeply about both German and Jewish culture, as well as my own. It got me thinking...it is so easy to describe other cultures, even if only through stereotypes, but when it comes to our own culture, sometimes it can be very difficult to do. We need to take time to learn about other cultures, as well as our own, if we wish to become culturally aware global citizens. In addition, I think that the relationship that formed between Bruno, a German, and Shmuel, a Jew, shows that differences only matter if you make them matter. Sure there will always be differences among people, but they can easily be put aside. What really counts is what is on the inside, and that is what this novel portrayed. For Bruno and Shmuel, it did not matter that they were on opposite sides of the fence; in fact, that is exactly what brought them together.
ReplyDeleteI found that in the interview with author John Boyne, some good points were brought up about the major theme of the novel – Bruno’s (and most of the world’s in that matter) naivety towards the Holocaust. People did not know anything back then, which you cannot really blame them because times were completely different. But the important thing is that we learn from our mistakes. If the people of the world discover and learn about other cultures, as well as reflect upon their own, then hopefully they would realize that the differences among them are only superficial. They should be, need to be, looked past in order to prevent similar fences to the one in “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” from being put up in the future.
I agree with the post. For once, when you start learning about one culture, it gets you thinking about your own culture. For example, when Bruno learns about Shmuels culture, Jewish, he begins to wonder about his own culture.
ReplyDeleteSometimes when people start to learn about different culture, it might erase some of the discrimination against that race. When reading the interview with the author he mentioned how sometimes we pick and choose which countries genocides we pay attention to. Well if someone were to stop and think of what would happen of it were your culture getting discrimminated you would think to stop to help.
Like Chiara said this morning, because of globalization wears becoming more connected with other countries. When she said that and while reading the interview, it made me stop and think. We are becoming more. Onnected, so why are we choosing to ignore what we see happening in the world and "tune into the action on tv?" if people were to learn more about these cultures, would they help them? That's what I would le to know.
I agree with what the statement above says. I think that the more we get to know other cultures, the more we can appreciate them and understand the things they do. Like John Boyne said in his interview, not everyone was actually aware of what was going on during the Holocaust. We just assume that everyone knew and this is because we have not really tried to get to know the German culture and history better. Upon reading and investigating, we realise that not everyone was aware and not every single German condoned of this treatment of specific religious/cultural/belief groups. For example, Bruno’s grandmother whole-heartedly disapproves of the job that her son has and what happens on the other side of the fence. I think it is very clever that Boyne lets us learn of the Jewish culture through the most unlikely source, Bruno, a German boy.
ReplyDeleteWhen Bruno met Shmuel he couldn’t figure out why he was on the other side of the fence (because of his ignorance). When he asks Gretel she doesn’t give him a real answer, just “we are the opposite” after taking a very long time to speak. This is one of the ways that we can begin to reflect on other cultures and in turn. Learn more about ours. I think that today, we just say that we are Canadian, American, English etc without really knowing what it means. We learn more about our own cultures when we create borderlands. When two cultures meet they try to find each other’s similarities and differences and by doing this are comparing each other. By comparing our culture to others we can gain more knowledge on what makes us what we are.
The interview also gave me a new view on Bruno’s naivety. Before reading this interview I found it impossible for anyone to be that ignorant, however now I understand that it was possible and why John Boyne made Bruno so naive. Another question that came into my mind after reading both the interview and the novel was how could anyone start to think that they are better than someone else. Not only that, but then go and kill them for it. It is extremely disturbing that Hitler could do this while making Germans think that it was good and right.
This statement is a very powerful one as it brings up many emotions and feelings as it ties into the novel. I agree with it complete and not agree more. From a personal standpoint, I enjoy communicating with people of different ethnic backgrounds as it opens up new horizons for me and helps me learn not only about their culture, but also a bit more about mine. Bruno is not turned off when he finds out Shmuel is not the same nationality as him and even when he finds out their cultures do not get along, he is more fascinated by him when he hears this. This can be a result of his naïveté but also a result of his kind-heartedness.
ReplyDeleteAt one point in the interview, John Boyne is asked if he considers his novel to be a children’s or adult’s book. He responds by saying that although it is a fairy easy read, he does not like to categorize it as a children’s or adult’s book, but instead just a book in general. I find what he says very interesting because as I was reading “The Boy In The Striped Pajamas” I found myself wondering the same things. I wonder what genre the book could be categorized as since it ties in many themes and subjects. It can be considered a horror because of the horrific things happening at the camp behind Bruno’s home, or even a love story when Bruno and Shmuel’s friendship grows. Many more genres can be attached to the novel but these are just a few.
The “fence” -as many times mentioned before in previous blogs, class discussions and even in the interview with John Boyne is not only an actual fence but an imaginary fence separating Bruno and Shmuel. Each time they meet they are trapped on either side of it, expected to stay on their own cultures side, but Bruno has the courage to venture off and visit grounds that were no his. Not only did he crawl under the fence but he crossed the line separating the two cultures and the borderline automatically vanished. Unfortunately, things did not end well for Bruno and Shmuel but the fact that Bruno was brave enough to do what he did, in my personal opinion was far more chivalrous than any grown adult could ever do.
I strongly agree with the above statement and I think that both the novel and interview strongly reinforce the definition of inter-cultural connections. When we look at the novel, it is fundamentally a story about how two boys come together and spend time talking and sharing their daily experiences. Through this sharing of knowledge and ideas about their culture’s beliefs, traditions and customs, along with their own experiences, Bruno and Shmuel create inter-cultural connections. Each time they come together at the fence, they learn a little more about their unique differences. However, Bruno and Shmuel both find in many cases that they have many things in common, even though they come from cultures that appear to be completely different. This allows the reader to see that borderlands can sometimes be created in the most unlikely places. As Bruno and Shmuel began to learn about different cultures, I believe that they began to reflect on their own. In Bruno’s case he began to wonder why Shmuel was on the other side of the fence even though he was actually so similar to Bruno. His father’s response was that the Jews weren’t actually people and Gretel’s response was that Germans were superior to them. Not satisfied with this answer, Bruno continued to associate with Shmuel and learn about the Jewish culture. This culminated in Bruno’s trip to the other side of the fence, a trip that allowed Bruno to become truly aware of the plight of the Jewish people and realize how lucky he really was.
ReplyDeleteI found that the interview really highlighted the need for us to become more culturally aware and more accepting of others. The author seemed to stress the point that genocides and fences are still occurring in today’s society and we are doing absolutely nothing to stop it. It all comes down to the fact that as humans we sometimes choose to follow the path of least resistance and not the morally correct one. Prior to reading the interview I had never realized the complacency of the German people. I was shocked to learn that they had turned a blind eye to the suffering of their fellow man. This lack of empathy was both saddening and enlightening as it allowed me to better understand Bruno’s character and why he did not react differently to what was going on around him. In the interview, Boyne stressed the fact that we need to learn about what has happened and then use our knowledge to prevent these atrocities from reoccurring. However, if we want to be able to prevent these events, we need to educate ourselves first. An integral part of this education is cultural awareness. By educating ourselves about other cultures and understanding that they are not that different from our own, we are able to reflect on our culture and realize that we are all fundamentally the same. We may dress differently or wear different clothes but as humans we are all capable of love, we are all able to set aside our differences and work for the good of all. When we come to this realization, we truly have become culturally aware.
I absolutely agree with the statement proposed by Mr. Racco above. It is definitely true that when we learn about the cultures of others it causes us to automatically reflect and ponder upon our own cultures. While reading the novel, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” I found myself constantly comparing my own culture with those of both Bruno and Shmuel. Through these comparisons, I learned to understand that I should be very grateful that this type of genocide has never happened to my culture. I have also learned that in almost every culture, family is the most important thing. During the constant “fence” meetings between Bruno and Shmuel, in almost every conversation of theirs the topic of family was brought up; rather it be Bruno telling Shmuel how much he missed his grandmother or Shmuel telling Bruno about living with his mother, father and brother Josef, they were always discussing family. I can honestly say that in my culture, family is too the MOST important thing.
ReplyDeleteThis statement and through reading the novel and interview has made me ponder the thought of if we truly know who WE are. Although our parents and grandparents may tell us that we belong to a certain ethnic group, which of course is entirely true, we, as our own individuals must ask ourselves if we want to be categorized or labelled by our culture. During the interview with Boyne, he says that he considers his novel a STORY, neither an adult’s book nor children’s book. In my opinion, what Boyne is trying to say is that he does not want his book to be labelled as something when it may not exactly match all the “qualifications” so to say as an “adult’s” book is “supposed” to have. These are my exact feelings toward my culture; I do not want to be labelled as just an Italian- Canadian young girl when I am much more than JUST that.
After reading the interview between David Flicking and John Boyne, I was left with many thoughts. This interview has shed new light on the novel and has caused me to feel a sense of regret for becoming so very angry with Bruno at the beginning of the novel. When beginning to read the novel, I became so frustrated and angry at Bruno’s naivety and complacency toward what was happening in Germany at the time. The interview made me realize that Bruno was ONLY a nine-year-old boy who was obviously unaware of what was going on because of his young age. This caused me to reflect on if this was my younger, nine year old sister and wonder, would she too be as naive as Bruno was? My answers to these questions were yes, she would. At the age of nine, most children are not worried about what is going on in the world around them and tend to only be concerned about them (not saying that they are so much selfish). During the interview Boyne made me think more about my culture and my family which in turn made me better understand the novel.
This statement is entirely true, and I feel that reading the book shed some light on the situation. When I first started reading this book, I found myself focusing mainly on the Holocaust and the relationships between the German and Jewish cultures. I had a clear image of a typical German person, and a typical Jewish person. I focused on their differences, and solely based them on what I heard—stereotypes. Now, after reading the entire story, and experiencing Bruno and Shmuel’s unusual yet extraordinary friendship, I realized that the differences are only present when someone points them out. Boyne clearly wanted to send out this message in the interview when he stated that he decided not to include specific words such as “Auschwitz”. I also really liked what he said: “Fences like this exist all over the world. We hope you never have to encounter one.”
ReplyDeleteEvery day we come across stereotypes and prejudice as John Boyne stated in the interview. It’s sad to think about how common this has become. People have come to a point where they can hear or see cruel things (that they know are WRONG) and simply shrug it off without much more than the blink of an eye. I believe this is because people nowadays are more exposed to these barriers (or fences) between individuals that they learn to ignore them, and focus on the much less significant things—such as differences between cultural groups. To me, this proves that people should not be so ignorant to the differences between individuals around them. On the other hand, Bruno being the ignorant nine-year-old he was was able to let out his true emotions. From being kept in the dark about the prejudice surrounding him, he was free to express his raw feelings—love for his new friend. I believe that even though this is an effective situation, we should be well aware of the cultures and differences around us, embracing rather than highlighting them. This allows us to learn more about ourselves and the people around us.
I really admire John Boyne’s work because I felt that his simple work really brought about its purpose with clarity and power.
I agree with the above comment. When people learn about other cultures, they become less judgmental. People fear the unknown, which can make them act against the unknown. When people have knowledge, they lose their fear.
ReplyDeleteIn relation to the novel, on page 127, Shmuel and Bruno are comparing the symbols given to their separate cultures. The Germans both voluntarily and involuntarily took the swastika as their symbol. It depended how the individual felt about Hitler’s party. The Jews were given, or rather forced to adopt, the Star of David as their symbol. In another situation, another time, these symbols might have united the cultures. However, they made the Jews the scapegoats, the targets. Why are the Jewish people referred to by their religion and not their individual nationality? The Star was supposed to be a symbol of shame yet from previous reads, I have seen that some wore them proudly, not ashamed at who they were. Whatever the case was, these symbols lead to death and divided the people of Europe.
“No one’s ever given me an armband” said Bruno
“But I never asked to wear one,” said Shmuel.
Page 127
I think that this shows how we label ourselves in order to feel powerful, or to untie people together. Labels are what the world is full of, and what is holding us back.
I don’t think that Bruno ever fully understood why Shmuel was on the other side of the fence. I think that he understood that Shmuel was a Jew, but he didn’t understand why he was there. Bruno seemed to naïve and he seemed to believe that eventually everything would be good again.
With the interview, John Boyne says he wrote this novel through the lense of a 9 year old boy, in 1945. It wasn’t written through a modern day perspective, and therefore we have to try to understand why Bruno was so naïve. We have to imagine what it would’ve been like being in the dark about this issue, and the shock and disgust it must have created when the secret was out. I also see how Bruno was complacent. Before reading the interview, I saw him as a boy who didn’t know any better, and who was afraid of his superiors (page 172-173). I can now see how he didn’t try to help Shmuel, how he didn’t want to risk angering anyone. He turned his back on what was right in front of him.
I completely agree with the statement above. To me, it seems that if a person took the time to learn about a different culture, then they would learn that the stereotypes and labels placed on the people may not be true. If everyone took the time to actually get to know the world around them, there could be much less prejudice towards other races. And through learning about other people, we learn about ourselves. We see the differences between the races which can give each person something to think about. These differences can separate people, but they can also bring them together.
ReplyDeleteIn the book, Bruno ventures away from his home, culture and comfort zone and goes to a place without all the labels. The fence, which physically separated Bruno and Shmuel, gave them a chance to learn about each other. Through Shmuel, Bruno learned about the Jewish culture and about the people on the other side of the fence. Through Bruno, Shmuel learned about the German culture. Shmuel learned that not all the Germans were the same; that not all of them hated the Jews.
In the interview, the author John Boyne says that people today choose which genocide to ignore, and which are more important. He says that by calling the concentration camp Out-With, even though the true name is obvious, is a way to not focus on the one bad place, but to give everyone the general idea of what happened in many places. In recent days, this is like not focusing on one bad event, but to remember them all and how they affected the larger population. This is the same as not concentrating on one culture with barriers, but all of them around you. It would give you a better perspective of the world. The interview also sheds some light on how the world could have been during the Holocaust. But not as race versus race, but as how each individual person may have seen it. The interview showed that although some people were completely oblivious to the malicious acts going on around them, other people were very passive to them. They weren’t supporting them, but they did nothing to stop it from happening either.
That statement could not have been truer. Being aware of our surroundings and the different cultures is especially important in today day and age. Our world is undergoing the process of globalization which means that everybody is interconnected through a series of strings. Those “strings” form a complex web that is only strengthened more when we know more about different cultures. Connections are vital to comprehend differences. This learning can also overcome the single story, which in turn is one more step to diminishing stereotypes. However, much of the world does not tend to realize their place in the web and will not take the time to discover other cultures. And that is what makes things like the Holocaust happen, true that is an extreme case but did Hitler really know anything about the Jewish culture? Or did he only listen to the single story because it was what he wanted to believe?
ReplyDeleteThe book, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” fully illustrated what happens when people take the time to learn about other people’s lives and cultures. When reflecting back, I realize that sure Bruno was naïve and ignorant, but he continued to go back and talk to Shmuel and learn about his misfortune and what he had done back home before he was deported. At first he had tried to connect to his life to Shmuel’s experiences, but then found it was much easier to listen and try to understand. I now marvel at what complexity a relatively simple story can produce because in the end there are so many things to connect and talk about.
In the interview, John Boyne’s comment on complacency really struck me hard. I think that people are complacent partly because they do not know much about the specific culture and have seen a lot of propaganda and heard many stereotypes on the culture and really are unwilling to do something to save the other person if it means putting their self in danger. That is what has become of this world, people wanting rewards for helping a person. You should help someone for the sake of helping them not for the reward. However it is always easier said then done.
The statement that has been said by Mr. Racco, is a statement that I agree with entirely. It really does depend on cultural awareness that makes the world a better place. By knowing that we all have our own heritage and our own stories, we all need to understand that we are all God's creation and we are one. "There is only one race. That is the human race."-Mr.Racco
ReplyDeleteWhat a powerful quote. I never really thought about the world like that. Of course I was aware that the world's population was made up of different heritages and cultures, but by now taking the quote into consideration, it has really shined a light on the way I feel about the situation. Also, along with the author John Boyne, this is what he was trying to teach us. We are all equals and that means we should all be treated with the same respect. Bruno was a perfect example of this. Even though he didn't know what was going on, he still didn't take into consideration that the fence was there to seperate two cultures. His parents, and Gretel told him that he was absolutely forbidden to speak to anyone on the other side of the fence. Shmuel wondered to himself something that really caught my attention. "How could the son of a commandant be so nice?" This quote is such a true fact because even though Bruno's father is the man who sends people to their death, and you would assume that any child of a man like that would share the same beliefs and hate those people. But Bruno wasn't like that. He went against what everyone did just to have a friendship.I feel that when John Boyne was talking to David Fickling in the interview, he really captured and said everything that pretty much needed to be said. This novel has shined a new light because we are all one. It's like the crayon example that we heard about in class. Even though there are many different colours in a pack of crayons, they are still a pack. Still crayons, that have different colours. That explains our world. Different cultures and beliefs, but still the human race. When commencing the book, and at the end of the book, I went to look at this phrase said by the author. "There are many fences like this in the world today. We hope you never have to encounter one."-J.Boyne. That is such a true statement because the author is bringing the fence between Bruno and Shmuel, and explaining it to us in a non-ficitional way that relates to everyday life. To end off, we are all equal and we all deserve the same respect. As Mr. Racco said, not only did the Jewish people loose their dignity, but they were also striped of their humanity. Never make ANYONE feel like this. You can't change the whole world, but you can certainly start making a difference.
"Be the change you want to see in the world."-Gandhi
I completely agree with this statement. By learning in a global perspective and absorbing information about other cultures improves us as people. It makes us only gain from the sharing of our experiences and cultures and overall improves our intelligence. I believe that this topic is precisely why this blog was created in the first place, as it is stated in the title, Creating Borderlands. This allows us to comprehend and understand each other to a clearer extent. It lets us see our lives are so different yet so alike. In the book, Bruno and Shmuel appear to be different in culture, appearance and class, but by sharing their stories and understanding each other they were able to discover that they’re similar people. They both were victims of the Holocaust, Shmuel physically, Bruno mentally. The duo chose to go out of the usual and try something new ; stepping out of their comfort zones. They educated each other with their nationalities and personal experiences. This is a reason why they became such great friends. By dispensing stories with one another you’re essentially bonding and through this you share experiences together and furthermore build a stronger relationship. The fence was a physical and mental barrier that separated them but ironically is the reason why they developed their friendship.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, the interview with the author, John Boyne, was intriguing and what stood out was his strong emotion for complacency demonstrated in our world. Many people choose to ignore negative situations that may effect them. It is natural instinct to have will to help someone in need but it is the hesitation of how this could effect you, usually the negative possibilities out weighs the positives and history is there to prove it. There are millions of negative situations that occur that could be prevented if everyone were to get along and understand each other. This can be achieved by sharing cultural backgrounds and educating. We must learn to without doubt to help someone despite some long term or short term effects (depending on the extremity of situation). The interview demonstrates how most people turn their cheek in regards to making a difference in the world.
After reflecting upon Mr. Racco's statement, I can say that I wholeheartedly agree with him. In grade six, our class was presented with a new student named Sandi who had recently immigrated to Canada from Iraq. After welcoming her into our classroom, we began to ask her questions about her life in Iraq. We were in a state of shock after hearing of the tragedy that she had been faced with for almost 12 years of her life. I can relate Mr. Racco's comment to this experience, but I can also compare it to the novel and to John Boyne's interview. In the novel, Bruno forgot all about the fact that Shmuel was a Jew after his sister had stated to him that they were "The Opposite." Being as naive as he was, Bruno and Shmuel continued their friendship and left their cultures behind them. John Boyne says in his interview that he wanted to give a general overview of the horror that struck in these concentration camps so that people could connect, not only culturally, but emotionally to the story he was trying to convey. Everyone in the world thinks they know everything that happened during this world war, but John created a story that completely dumbstruck everyone. Who would've ever imagined a German and a Jewish boy would become best friends in the very place were the Germans were condemning the Jews to their death?
ReplyDeleteMy last thoughts as I finish this novel, is that it not only taught me about looking past people's differences, but it taught me a lot about friendship. After reading about how Bruno and Shmuel connected on such a personal level over this span of time, you can't help but be jealous of their friendship. Words that come into my mind when I think of the relationship between the two boys are: loyalty, naivety, powerful, emotional, but most of all different. This story has taught me that every friendship starts off as two strangers who really know nothing about each other and how they weave into each other's lives and find their place there forever, no matter what. John Boyne wrote a terrific, eye-opening and heart-warming novel.
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ReplyDeleteDiscovering and learning about others does promote a cultural awareness, however there is an ever-present bias. Everyone is a reflection of the culture in which they are raised. An individual’s experience is not reflective of the culture in its entirety, a fact that is often over-looked. This single story, however, does give a person of a different culture a basis upon which to contrast differences and compare similarities. In the unfortunate case of Bruno and Shmuel it took the naivety and innocence of a nine-old-year boy to take the action the no one else had the courage to take; to learn about a culture that seemed different on the outside and therefore, terrifying. It seems that everyone forgets that we are all the same on the inside, all part of the truly perfect race: the human race. If people begin to take the first step, ignite the spark, the rest of the journey becomes easy. Once you learn something you cannot have it taken away, if you want it, it’s yours to take. In our newly globalized world, especially, learning and exploring becomes easy. We can virtually connect with anyone around the world through media, possibly even a blog like the one I am posting on now. Once we begin to learn, to care and to understand we will become responsive to cultures, from the genocides plastered across the news to a racial or derogatory comment snickered in the hallways.
ReplyDeletePersonally, the interview did not really shed any new light on the novel. This is because I already had these notions somewhere in the back of my mind, as if the author managed to explain himself in between the lines of the novel, so his blunt explanations only reinforced previous opinions or drew a particular thought to the forefront of my mind for further analysis. Overall, this experience has truly been a learning one, from the author to the book to the history to the new perspective of the blog, it was entirely enjoyable. I have had the chance to reflect on the novel and interview, then myself and, cumulatively, ‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’ (along with Mr. Racco) has encouraged me to act.
I personally truly agree with this statement mentioned by Mr. Racco. I believe that it is very important to learn about different cultures in order to expand our understanding of ourselves. And it is important to understand ourselves because if we know the way we act well enough, we will be able to treat others with more respect and encouragement. Anything to be able to treat others like WE would like to be treated! This story is based on Bruno unable to understand what his kind is doing to people of the Jewish culture. Thus, Bruno is unable to understand the other culture. This is something we all can relate to. If we are not exposed to certain cultures, we may in fact register an unfair bias or prejudice against that culture. And that is not how we are instructed to behave as Christians. Bruno and Shmuel were fictional characters that tried to make piece. This is something we should consider as we all should try to make peace with other people and cultures. Overall, this novel does reinforce the statement previously mentioned on this blog
ReplyDeleteThe interview with the author of the book gave us a better understanding of the different lessons there is to learn from reading the novel. He explains that he did not mention Auschwitz period in order to allow people to apply it to other issues going on currently in the world. This is important because the Jews were not the only ones who were targeted in history.
I strongly agree with this statement, since no one is the same and know thinks the same the more we work together the more we will learn. Two minds do work better than just one. Two people of two cultures can look at one thing but it can symbolize two completely different things. For example the in the “Boy in the Striped Pajamas” the fence to Bruno symbolizes something that separates his friend Shmuel from coming and playing over at his new “home,” but to Shmuel the fence is the only thing that is in the way of him escaping such an awful place he is currently in. Everyone perceives things differently so with everyone inputting ideas and piecing them all together can make a much bigger picture that covers all spaces. The more we share the more learn, so by sharing cultures we can realize our cultures privileges and its flaws. We can continuously improve and grow. Ignorance is bliss. I believe the more you know the better it is. Even if you learn things that are unpleasant or that you never wanted to realize it builds you as a person and will affect you in life. We learn mistakes and without them it would be hard to learn at all. Bruno and Shmuel converse and share memories and see that though they are taught to believe that they should hate each other and be completely different, but when closely observed they lived quite similar lives before their move to “Out-With.”
ReplyDeleteThe interview talks about John Boyne and how he developed the story “Boy in the Striped Pajamas.” He explains the process of how he wrote the book and what inspired him. A big thing that inspired him was that he believed that you always need to hear different “stories” to fully understand anything. Not to always believe the single “story” that is drilled into your mind. You need to broaden the area which you are focusing on. He wrote it in less than a week, he just wrote and that is all. He felt an urge to continuously write, just like the reader does. In one sitting, you can finish the book, just enjoying the story and absorbing the meaning behind the book. He believes his book, is a story; not a literary fiction; not a crime; not a children’s book; not an adult’s book; just a story that is all. By reading this interview you get a new sense of sympathy for Bruno. He gives you a clear description of how he sees we should think of Bruno. An innocent nine-year old boy who is unaware of the world around him. With this we can add our thoughts together and make the story even more meaningful.
Mr. Racco's statement could not be truer. I agree that by learning 'about others, promotes cultural awareness' and in itself makes us realize our own cultures. We become more open minded as we discover that all cultures are very similar yet completely different and unique. In addition, we get to broaden our perspectives and escape from our stereotypical views.
ReplyDeleteReading this novel, I had jumped into the world filled with fences, barriers and people refusing to acknowledge others cultures and differences. Bruno, as a child, was the only one who questioned this fence, wondered why it was even there. He ventured into the other side and had made a new friend who was just a little boy like him. By using Bruno's innocence the author creates a stark contrast between the good and evil of the situation.
In the interview, the author had mentioned that the only reason why the genocides are taking place is because of people's complacency (including Bruno). I don't believe that all Germans had thought that they were superior to the Jewish (such as the grandmother and Bruno's mother)but because they had done nothing, they are also complacent. In a way, this is exactly like bullying. There is the instigator, witnesses/ willing executioners (pg 8) and victims.
At first, when Boyne had mentioned that Bruno was also complacent I was confused. Bruno had helped Shmuel by giving him food and "searching" for his father, he had not done anything too cruel to Shmuel. After much thinking, I realized that the author did make a point. Boyne had made me open my eyes to see that Bruno might not be completely innocent as he may appear.
Bruno was too naive and ignorant to understand the terrible situation at hand. It makes you wonder if it would've made a difference in his actions towards Shmuel if he understood what was happening. Would he see it from his father's point of view and feel disgust towards the Jews? Or would he see it as a political injustice and would want to help Shmuel even more?
In the book, you are already given a hint that Bruno might've not helped Shmuel at all. I had suspected this, but reading the author's interview it had confirmed my belief.
In chapter fifteen, when both boys were in danger from Lieutenant Kotler, Bruno had abandoned his friend. Even though he had not understood the genocide taking place, Bruno understood that if he had admitted the fact that he gave Shmuel the food, he would be in trouble. Therefore he left, leaving the blame on his friend who would undoubtedly be punished far worse than Bruno.
This is only a mere observation from a critical bystander. I could be wrong, the author had already made it clear that this book would be full of misunderstandings, but I extremely enjoyed myself when I read this novel.
Even though there was that one falter in their relationship, I found it amazing that something as beautiful as friendship can bloom in a dreary and cruel world.
Stereotypes, hatred, and barriers are made because we want them to be. It is because we ourselves have made them. These two boys did not create the physical or emotional fence that their two cultures have set up, yet they got over both fences by being with each other and mutual understanding.
Friendships are all based on the same thing, kindness, trust and loyalty. By judging a single person based on their culture's stereotype, we are being ignorant and foolish. We do not know them yet we label them because of how they look. Just by doing this we are already doing the reverse act of kindness and without kindness trust and loyalty will not grow.
At the end of this book, Bruno had proven his loyalty by standing by his friend's side, comforting him even though his own life was also in danger.
Their friendship had grown so strong that even in the end, they both remained inseparable.
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ReplyDeleteAnalyzing the statement at hand, many powerful concepts around culture and acceptance come to mind; about Bruno and Shmuel and about the present world as well. Initially, this assertion brings up the key idea of cultural acceptance being draw from one’s education on the culture. The more we know about the person living next door to us, or the student sitting behind us in class, they more respect we grow for these individuals. Many times, misunderstanding and misjudgement of a different culture begins with what we do not know about it. In the process of immersing ourselves into another culture, we shattering the barrier: taking down the fence. Bruno’s curiosity brings him to Shmuel, but it is Shmuel’s kindness and acceptance that sways Bruno to become friends with him; Bruno looks beyond Shmuel’s physical differences and into his heart and mind to find a little boy just like himself, only looking for a friend. And this is what we must all have the maturity to do – to discover the special qualities about each person and each culture that we encounter.
ReplyDeleteIn a world so large, I sometimes find myself wondering, how is my contribution to a more culturally understanding society going to make a difference? But then, it is important to for each person to realize that their role in shaping the world is a building block that will lead us all to a more culturally accepting place. Spreading cultural acceptance is like starting a trend – the same kind of trend that the Germans began with their discrimination towards Jewish people. Did the Nazis even know what who they were killing? Did they seek for answers or simply fall into this ‘trend’? Well I think that we have to begin a reverse trend where more and more people look around them and seek to understand and co-operate with their neighbours and fellow citizens.
Through the interview with John Boyne, I came to the realization that Bruno’s naivety is not very outstanding when stepping back and comparing it to the rest of the world at that time. As Boyne points out, people during the holocaust were not aware, did not react and thought that it wasn’t their responsibility to respond to the situation. Yet this is a continuous reality today! We are not stupid in the sense that we do not know of all the horrid events that are taking place this year, but are rather ignorant of them and their victims – who these people are, where they come from. It is time for all of us to being to create borderlands throughout every aspect of our lives and with each new person and culture that we encounter, because differences should foster curiosity and a desire for learning, not push people apart. The magic of Bruno’s story is that he allows each difference that he finds between himself and Shmuel to pull the two boys closer together. He fills his lack of knowledge with an overflowing friendship and satisfies his desire for answers by learning from a person, not their label.
What I had viewed as naivety prior to reading John Boyne’s interview, I now perceive as clarity into the young boy’s mind. We can all live as the world did in the years of the Holocaust, being ignorant to other people and world-wide events, or we can at the very least live as ‘Brunos’, where we seek answers even when they aren’t given to us. I finally understand why Bruno’s character was developed to give off the impression of cluelessness, and I have realized that it is hard to point fingers at the people on either side of the fence, for all of them were living behind boarders and not in borderlands. With cultural awareness, we can stop this way of thinking and capitalize on our true understanding of one another.
"Upon reading and investigating, we realise that not everyone was aware and not every single German condoned of this treatment of specific religious/cultural/belief groups. For example, Bruno’s grandmother whole-heartedly disapproves of the job that her son has and what happens on the other side of the fence. I think it is very clever that Boyne lets us learn of the Jewish culture through the most unlikely source, Bruno, a German boy." Great comment David. This shows us that we really have to stop and think critically and ask, "Who is telling this story?" Yes, Bruno was a most unlikely source; however, that's what makes this book so interesting.
ReplyDeleteThomas's statement reminds us of why we are engaged in this unit.....right on Thomas: " An integral part of this education is cultural awareness. By educating ourselves about other cultures and understanding that they are not that different from our own, we are able to reflect on our culture and realize that we are all fundamentally the same. We may dress differently or wear different clothes but as humans we are all capable of love, we are all able to set aside our differences and work for the good of all. When we come to this realization, we truly have become culturally aware."
How many times have you asked the same question? "During the interview with Boyne, he says that he considers his novel a STORY, neither an adult’s book nor children’s book. In my opinion, what Boyne is trying to say is that he does not want his book to be labelled as something when it may not exactly match all the “qualifications” so to say as an “adult’s” book is “supposed” to have. These are my exact feelings toward my culture; I do not want to be labelled as just an Italian- Canadian young girl when I am much more than JUST that." Excellent discussion Veronica!
Sofia says, " It is time for all of us to being to create borderlands throughout every aspect of our lives and with each new person and culture that we encounter, because differences should foster curiosity and a desire for learning, not push people apart. The magic of Bruno’s story is that he allows each difference that he finds between himself and Shmuel to pull the two boys closer together. He fills his lack of knowledge with an overflowing friendship and satisfies his desire for answers by learning from a person, not their label." I couldn't have said it any better myself. Thanks Professor Sofia.
Hey,
I think was are becoming border crossers ... and culturally responsive. Good job everyone!
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ReplyDeleteThis quote is entirely correct, as it is referring to the connections between cultures throughout the world. Being culturally diverse lets society understand just how similar each person in the world is. In the novel, Bruno, a German boy, befriends Shmuel, a Jewish boy. Through conversation and multiple learning experiences, Bruno realizes that he is no different than Shmuel. Of course, the obvious physical differences are present, including their clothing and build, but Shmuel is solely a nine-year-old boy who wanted innocence. The fence was the only barrier that was stopping Shmuel and Bruno from being together, but it seemed as though they mentally forgot about the fence and continued their friendship, regardless of which side of the fence either one of them was on. This is a perfect example of how we, as people, are supposed to support and accept all cultures that are around us, aside from the dissimilarities we may encounter. At the back of the book, a quote is used: “Fences like this exist all over the world. We hope you never have to encounter one.” Clearly, John Boyne is referencing the physical fence separating the Jews and the Germans. But perhaps, when thinking back, he may even be trying to mention the mental obstacle between the two cultures. When he says that he hopes we never have to encounter such a fence, could he be referring to the mental state of mind that each culture is individualized, and therefore, different? In John Boyne’s interview, he mentions that Bruno wasn’t expected to do the actions he continuously performed, but he did anyways. Most people just watched as innocent people were struggling, dying, and hopeless. Bruno helped a friend without even knowing it, despite their clothing, despite their bodies, and despite their cultures. All of his actions tie into the saying given to us. When we converse with and discover cultures, we learn to accept them and appreciate them.
ReplyDeleteSORRY FOR THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED.