#2

I had never seen Life is Beautiful in its entirety before, I really enjoyed it. It shows the difference that one person can make, it shows how sacrifice is awarded. I think one of the most interesting parts of the movie is when guido is reunited with his old "friend" the doctor. He thought that he and his family would be helped but was devastated to realize how selfish the man was and that he only wanted help with a riddle and cared nothing about Guido and the fate of his family. I suppose they included that to show what institutions do to people and maybe help to explain how these atrocities happen, people whom seem kind are engulfed so easily by rhetoric and their mission. the same is seen in the women's bunkers with the guard who was so kind and after a day become the cruelest one. Maus is a two part series that tells the struggle of the authors father during the Holocaust. It is intriguing because it is crafted using the what his father told him about his experience but it is written by someone who did not "see" the war or experience it directly. It is a survivors and his sons story and I recommend it, it is an easy good read.

I really enjoyed the museum, it truly did stir up feelings of gratitude for what individuals were willing to risk. I do always agree with American policy,especially lately, but I am a patriot and am so grateful and proud for what has been done to protect myself and my past generations. I really enjoyed looking at the the displays with all the artifacts because I feel that they help to connect you to your past. My great grandfather fought in WW II, I never got to meet him but I keep the bag that was issued to him with his initials and the date. Being able to hold something that he held is an amazing feeling. I have a lot of love and respect for our solders in service now, and am awaiting the safe return of my friend and all others. Emotions aside, I found the rhetoric and advertising very interesting. Visual posters and such were the main forms of media and the images are chosen carefully to inspire patriotism, machismo and honor. They are all glorified. I was not surprised really that the museum was an American experience but I did enjoy that they did include artifacts and information about other countries. I included these patriotic pictures, I find the paralles in the first intriguing, the second controversial, and the third I beleive represents what we are fighting for and pure love of ones country, I dont beleive that it has an angle(the farm one).

I love Vonnegut , I read slaughterhouse 5 for the first time in high school. Something about it grabbed me, I would like to read more of his work. There is a great moment where Billy, instead of time traveling as usual, faces his pain head on. It is a beautiful moment of self awareness and acceptance. He is facing his biggest fears and by taking the pain, he is healing himself. His narrative is a constant battle between the past and present and dealing with trauma just like in caruth and Craig and Egan. Who are we really telling these stories to and why? Is it for ourselves, do we need to vocalize our thought? When are we ready to let it go? if ever?