Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Art
Oskar seems to have the ability to influence people with the sound of his tin drum and his voice. During the Nazi rally, he plays his tin drum and takes control of the rally, curbing the violence. Then his scream shatters glass. He uses the scream to help people steal from shop windows for awhile. He claims that it helps them realize their true natures since most of them will steal from the shop. When Oskar plays on the tin drum he influences people with his music, often times reducing them to tears and sometimes bringing out their anger. I think Oskar's music on the tin drum (which is a form of magical realism in itself) is a representation of the power of art to influence people. Art means not just music and vocals, but all forms - music, song, writing, theater, and paintings. Art has the ability to give rise to emotions in people and, with powerful art, move people into action. Art in propaganda was a huge part of the Nazi regime - and in any country's war movement.
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4 comments:
Oskar appears to struggle with what is good and what is bad. As Lindsay said, Oskar first plays his Tin Drum at the Nazi rally which curbs the violence. Then, however, he screams and shatters glass. His struggles to fit into society are part to blame for this confusion he has. His size and three year old personality leave him alone without knowing the correct way to act.
In response to Austin's comment, I wonder if Oskar was really struggling with what is good and what is bad. Yes, he curbs the violence at the rally, but I feel as though it is more because he enjoys playing his drum than he really wants to stop the violence. And shattering glass seems to be more for his own entertainment. He stalks his nurse neighbor and enters her room without really considering how wrong his actions are. He is willing to kill over his drum and is manipulative to keep it. If anything Oskar seems to feel as though he is above right and wrong.
I think that Oskar doesn't use the drums or screams primarily for music, but more as a tool to deal with the emotional problems he is experiences at the time. Whenever Oskar finds himself in a situation where he is uncomfortable or unstable (eg. Herbert's death) he has the NEED to play his drums rather than the desire to influence people. I feel like instead of recognizing his emotional instability and inability to control himself he calls his urges a calling or a duty to help people when he is really only trying to help himself.
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