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Fact or Fiction?

Stereotypes. They are generalized assumptions about a group of people like "Asians are smart," or "Americans are fat and dumb"-- statements we all know too well. And the thing with stereotypes is that they hold true to a certain extent. That's why they can be so offensive! But have you ever wondered how or why these stereotypes came to be?

Jews, in particular, are often seen as frugal and even greedy, and in Maus, Spiegelman makes no attempt to hide that. Repeatedly, Spiegelman interrupts the chronology of Vladek's Holocaust account to allow Vladek to complain about his family's use of money. On page 116 of Maus I, Vladek picks up a telephone wire laying among some trash, and in response, Art becomes irritated and asks, "can't you just buy wire?" This kind of reaction is understandable, as Vladek seems to reinforce such a negative stereotype. 



What Art and most people don't realize, though, is that Vladek's experience has shaped him to act in such a manner. During the Holocaust, Vladek and his family soon realized that their wealth could not guarantee their safety and comfort. His attempt to pay his way out of Poland only led to his imprisonment, and his provision of food to the man outside the bunker led to his discovery. And later in the camps, money lost its value; having money did not necessarily allow for buying food or products. This sort of realization became reflected in Vladek's current lifestyle as he explained that "this wire they don't have it in any stores." 

By emphasizing Vladek's concern to hoard his money, Spiegelman conveys a point that the behaviors people display are wired and truly understandable as an effect of trauma and impactful experience. So although we, Americans, may be seen as gluttonous and ignorant, I guess you could say... look on the bright side?

Comments

  1. Ashley DavisOctober 6, 2019 at 6:53 AM

    I really liked how you started your piece with examples of stereotypes that everyone can understand and relate to in some way. I also thought you did a very nice job describing how the events Vladek took place in shaped him to act the way he does and how that ties to people not being able to understand another's traits or actions.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ajay SureshOctober 6, 2019 at 9:48 AM

    I liked how you centered you blog around stereotypes and how it effects Vladek and his actions. I also liked how you related everything back to Americans at the end of your blog. I also liked how you describe how Art acts in this event because it is critical to understanding the relationship between the two.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Julia StarrOctober 6, 2019 at 12:35 PM

    I really liked how you started your post about stereotypes that are so prevalent today, and continued to relate everything back to it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Saumyaa SinhaOctober 6, 2019 at 1:09 PM

    The beginning with a broad claim, which was then narrowed down to it's application in Maus, was great format, and I also liked the way you had American as an example in the beginning and then brought it up again in the end, kept the consistency.

    ReplyDelete

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