The Arts and the Holocaust
Lessons from the past for the citizens of today
A new pack containing a dynamic set of resources and stimuli for educational leaders and learners to explore together has been produced by Glasgow-based theatre company Reeling and Writhing with funding and support from the Scottish Executive and East Renfrewshire's education department.
When Tim Nunn and Katherine Morley were asked if it hadn't been depressing writing an education pack about the Holocaust, they replied, categorically, 'no.' It had, in fact, been 'an amazing experience.' That's because the new pack, 'The Arts and the Holocaust - Lessons from the past for citizens of today', focuses not just on the arts but on a group of heroic German students who sacrificed their lives to undermine the Nazi regime.
The group of students, none of whom were Jewish, came together through a love of the arts and a distrust of Hitler. They formed an organisation called the White Rose Society and dedicated themselves to the production of protest leaflets and graffiti against the war and the Holocaust.
In 2004, 'Arts and the Holocaust' was the theme of a Holocaust Memorial performance that Tim and Katherine, directors of the Glasgow-based theatre company, Reeling and Writhing, created for East Renfrewshire Council. Drawing on music, literature, diaries and poetry from the Holocaust, the couple worked with 16 senior pupils from the Council's seven secondary schools to produce 'White Lament.' The story of the White Rose Society was the narrative through the show.
The show impressed East Renfrewshire Council and the Scottish Executive so much, they asked if the couple could produce a Holocaust teachers' pack based on the project.
'To be able to do the Holocaust performance and then the pack was such a privilege. A lot of what we discovered during our research for 'White Lament' didn't end up in the show but we've been able to use it for the pack. So it was a gift, really. We were overjoyed to get the chance to do it.'
Katherine Morley, Reeling and Writhing
The Arts and the Holocaust pack which has been funded by the Scottish Executive and co-ordinated by East Renfrewshire's education department, is being sent out, free, to every secondary school in Scotland. Tim and Katherine who brought in education consultant Katie Branigan to help them with the job, are particularly well-qualified to produce such an important learning and teaching resource. Both are arts trained and have worked in education for a number of years. Tim has also been a professional human rights campaigner. The pack is dedicated to Katherine's father Brian, a Religious Education, Citizenship and Music teacher, who died in early 2005.
Given their backgrounds, perhaps it's not surprising that The Arts and The Holocaust is so impressive. It must be one of the most comprehensive and thoughtfully-designed education packs available. Produced in loose leaf format to make photo copying easier, it not only looks good, it also feels good.
East Renfrewshire Council's subtle corporate colours have been used effectively and the pack includes two DVDs (one of the entire 2004 Holocaust Memorial ceremony, the other of 'White Lament' and relevant pieces of music and other teachers' resources) and a selection of full-colour visuals printed on card.
'It was an opportunity to educate young people about the Holocaust through the arts and by introducing a positive role model rather than rely on goose-stepping stereotypes. Here was a group of German students, some of whom were practising artists, some catholic, some protestant, who chose to engage in political protest totally against the odds. To do so was, basically, suicide and eventually they did pay with their lives. There was a classic moment after we had introduced the White Rose story to the pupils involved in 'White Lament' when, all of a sudden, language had to be corrected because the 'bad guys' were still the Nazis but the 'good guys' were also Germans!'
Tim Nunn, Reeling and Writhing
Although most people outside of Germany have never heard of the White Rose Society, it was a subject which, according to Katherine, Tim had had 'up his sleeve' for a number of years. In Germany today, it states in the education pack, members of the group are regarded as heroes, with schools and town squares named after them.
'The citizenship strain runs all the way through The Arts and the Holocaust' says Katherine, the message being that everyone can do their bit - no matter how small - to make a difference and change society for the better. But, Tim adds: 'We have not shied away from the complexity of that time and the complexity of human behaviour. There is no 'straight line' through it.'
In their introduction to the pack, its authors explain that: 'A large number of discussion topics and activities are provided in order to give the widest choice to suit particular needs and teaching styles. It isn't necessary to complete each exercise but to choose the tasks most relevant to the group.
'The pack functions on two levels: as an aid for teaching the Holocaust and as an aid for teaching Arts and Humanities, using the Holocaust as subject matter. It is also designed to generate discussions and activities core to Education for Citizenship. The pack aims to get people thinking and participating responsibly on issues that reflect their political, economical, social and cultural lives. It also encourages and stimulates its readers into seeking answers and, most importantly asking questions.'
Comprising just over 150 generously illustrated A4 pages, The Arts and the Holocaust is divided into five subject headings: Resources, White Rose, Visual Art, Music and Literature. 'Resources' features an excellent and clearly written background to the Holocaust; a chronology; glossary of terms; useful websites and other information.
'White Rose' includes biographies of the Society's members (one of whom cried 'Long live freedom!' just before his execution); translations of the leaflets they distributed, urging other German citizens to beat the Nazis by using passive resistance; and speeches by Martin Luther King and Donald Dewar. The use of graffiti in today's society is one of the suggested topics for discussion.
'Visual Art' tells the story of the purge of more than 100 German artists whom the Nazis declared were 'degenerate'; relates that artists secretly continued to draw and paint even in concentration camps; and features Nazi propaganda posters and some of Hitler's own art work.
Activities include creating a contemporary poster advertising 'The Future of Scotland.'
Hitler's favourite composers; why jazz was condemned as 'immoral'; and the protest songs that were written in the camps and ghettos, all feature in the pack's 'Music' section where a simple but fascinating activity, based on the Importance of Music, suggests listing: 'all the instances where you come across songs in an average week, e.g. lullabies, ice cream van music, football, advertising, mobile phone ringtones etc.'
'Literature' includes the writings of Holocaust survivors; the diary of Anne Frank; and the awful details of public book burnings which sometimes drew crowds of 40,000 people 'although we cannot assume that all those people were there of their own free will.' A topic for discussion is: 'Are we willing to take a stand against intolerance and violence? What are the risks/benefits?'
In a section of 'Notes' on how to use The Arts and The Holocaust, teachers are advised to 'be vigilant: This pack deals with disturbing events. Make sure that you monitor the way in which the information is being received by the group and adapt its delivery accordingly.'
A downloadable version of the pack and further information on The Arts and the Holocaust resource are available from The Arts and the Holocaust area of the Reeling and Writhing website.