learntoquestion ltq discussions

Originally posted by star.lol on February 12, 2025 08:37

Spiegelman’s use of his comic form is very effective in conveying the emotional and historical weight of the Holocaust. The ability to be able to tell the story through a comic shows how powerful Spiegelman’s tools are to be able to keep the same deep meaning of the comic, and not erase or justify anything in the story. The graphic novel format allows for the reader to be able to tell and understand between words and images. In Maus, the story of Vladek talks and recounts his Holocaust experiences, which is intertwined with the present-day story of Spiegelman’s relationship with his father. Spiegelman achieves the back and forth between the past and present, as he alternates between two timelines through his different character depictions and differing his art styles and layout. The past, as he depicted Vladek’s life in Auschwitz and earlier is drawn in a detailed and realistic style, but the present-day scenes of Spiegelam as he interacts with his father which are seen in a more cartoonish style, which helps the reader go through the layers to understand the emotional separation between the trauma of the past. Therefore, the graphic novel format allows for a deeper emotional feeling and understanding than the text could give to the reader and provide. In Maus the characters are depicted as animals, Jews are seen as mice, Germans are seen as cats, which allows for the reader to immediately understand the hierarchy which is in the story depicted through animals, and for another additional layer of trauma understood which might not of been understand simply through text, but with the pictures and the hierarchy depicted as well. People who typically argue that comics are not a good medium for and lack the seriousness needed to discuss the Holocaust believe that it is simply just games and that comics can’t be used to show the seriousness of the Holocaust, but in reality it can, as it reaches a wide audience including younger and older generationions, who may not particularly connect with the problem. The graphic novel style allows for Spiegelam to show the generational gap between him and his father as it shows the tension between the graphic novel’s portrayal of the events which occurred in the Holocaust and the true reality of the memories and what happened in Vladek’s life and it is hard to fully comprehended this trauma especially not being in it full term.the guilt in which Vladek feels as a survivor shows how deeply hurt he was, and these scars are something that are deeply in him, not easily came off. In Maus II, the alternating between past and present is a helpful way as the Holocaust's narrative is shown through Vladek’s recounting of his experiences during World War II, but the present day interacts between Artie and Vladek show what is going on in their relationship, and the graphic novel allows for a smooth movement between both of these realities by using visual cues. Spiegelam’s use of animals to show different nationalities shows the distance which is between the narrator and the historical trauma, even though Spiegelam was not a direct witness to the events, however as depicted through animals helps to see the distance between trauma and memory. However, the only moment in Maus where characters are depicted as humans are in the comic insert “ Prisoner of the Hell Plant” where Spiegelam talks about the trauma of his mothers suicide, which contrasts with the Holocaust narrative which shows the severeness and intensity of his own trauma (Stanislav, 2013).

I really enjoyed your analysis of Art Spiegelman's Maus and believe you offered an extremely complex and compelling analysis of his use of the comic and graphic novel format. Particularly, I found it interesting when you emphasized the role the medium had in enhancing the emotional and historical depth of the Holocaust. Your ideas in this post were all very in depth and strong, specifically your argument regarding how Maus effectively conveys trauma and history through visual elements such as the use of different art styles and all of the characters being depicted as animals in order to symbolize the societal structures and hierarchies. Your points were all well-argued and did a brilliant job of highlighting Spiegelman’s artistic choices and how they contribute to the reader’s experience and understanding of both the Holocaust and the second hand generational trauma experienced by survivors and their descendants.

I strongly agree with your ideas about the graphic novel format allowing Maus to reach and touch a wider audience. I believe it is uniquely able to communicate complex emotions in ways that a typical book might not always be able to. For example, the use of animals to depict different group demonstrates the relationships between characters and reinforces themes of racism and stereotypes.

Originally posted by EastCoast11 on February 11, 2025 09:53

Originally posted by Ms. Bowles on February 04, 2025 12:58

Questions to Consider:

LTQ Post Option 1:

1. Is Spiegelman’s use of the comic form effective in conveying the emotional and historical weight of the Holocaust? How does the format of the graphic novel support movement between past and present, and integration of the two, as Vladek tells his story? What is the argument against the suggestion that the medium lacks the seriousness needed to discuss the Holocaust?

LTQ Post Option 2:

2. How does generational trauma impact the children of Holocaust survivors, like Spiegelman? How does the weight of the trauma experienced by direct ancestors as well as communities as a whole play into the lives of young people today? Is it possible to move beyond generational trauma, or is it better to live with and acknowledge it? (Please note you can also discuss generational trauma from other wars, conflicts or genocides in addition to what you notice in Maus).

Word Count Requirement: 500-750 words

Sources to Reference:

Please refer to the ideas, either using a description, quote or paraphrasing, from Maus I or II in addition to one other source in your response.

Maus I (Spiegelman,1986)

Maus II (Spiegelman,1991)

“The Shadow of Past Time”: History and Graphic Representation in Maus (Chute, 2006)

Intergenerational transmission of trauma in Spiegelman's Maus (Stanislav, 2013)

Rubric to Review: LTQ Rubric

A pure writer, Michelle Balaev stated, “The trauma novel demonstrates how a traumatic event disrupts attachments between self and others by challenging fundamental assumptions about moral laws and social relationships that are themselves connected to specific environments” in a Critical Journal about the Literary Trauma Theory (Balaev 2). A prime example would be the comic written by Art Spiegelman in 1980, Maus. Highly focusing on the famous but tragic era of the Holocaust and the survivors' trauma that eventually finds its way to their children's innocent minds.

In Maus, Art Speigeilman illustrates the indifference he faces in his life due to being the son of a holocaust survivor, Vladek. It starts in the town of Auschwitz, which continues to haunt him from past to present, but this traumatic persona also seems to seep into the relationship between him and his son. For instance, when Artie is staying over his fathers house along with his wife accompanying him, there is a lot of tension that reveals a lot about the dynamics. Vladek is seen to be excessively hoarding and resourceful as a trauma response to the tragic events he went through. Year after year of being poorly mistreated, used as labor tools, not being properly fed, it was normal to see each jews bones seeping through their skin. Though, Artie only sees it as excessive and over dramatic, therefore forming a physical and emotional distance between the two.

The majority of Maus is constructed through time stamps and scenes that Vladek is explaining from memory for the sake of Arties new book. Throughout the book, it's crucial to take notice that Artie is hearing the long history of what his father went through in Auschwitz, so he is able to try and understand it. Considering how dehumanizing that lifetime was, from living a good life with his girlfriend to stepping over thousands of dead bodies, it's expected to see Artie feel a certain type of weight on his shoulders as the son of a survivor. Amy Hungerford asks, “How can the children of survivors be survivors themselves?”, because we tend to overlook Artie’s personal emotions, we don't recognize the pressure he's feeling himself. Artie has stated, “I know this is insane, but I somehow wish I had been in Auschwitz with my parents so I could really know what they lived through! I guess it's some kind of guilt about having had an easier life than they did” (Spigielman 176). Corresponding to a dream his father had told him about, the Parshas Truma with his dead grandfather, hinting that things will be okay. Despite the miracle that Vladek was able to physically survive the Holocaust with Artie's mom, Anja, Artie often feels like there are high standards and expectations to how his life should be so that he’s able to make his father feel as though his survival was worth it.

I think that the idea of Artie not being able to understand how his father’s experience affects him and him just deeming it as his father being over dramatic to be the reasoning behind why their relationship has so much tension is a very compelling argument. This is because although that is heavily prominent there are a lot of underlying things one can take away from this. First off, Artie doesn’t understand his dad which is what creates tension, yet he has a longing to understand him. So one could also interpret this as less of a longing to understand but a longing to have a relationship with his father and destroy that tension, which has likely stemmed since childhood. Also, as they pointed out Artie deems his father as over dramatic and fails to have empathy towards what he went through, which is seen in a lot of other people's posts as well. Therefore we can see how this idea that Artie lacks empathy is a huge block in his relationship with his father. However, as also pointed out in many posts he does truly decide he wants to further understand his father and what he went through, which is the first step towards him having a better relationship with his dad, and it is also most definitely the first step towards being able to write a whole novel on the subject.

Originally posted by shirleytemple on February 07, 2025 08:49

Generational trauma is proof of how lasting the impact of events like the Holocaust can be. Children of Holocaust survivors endure their struggles due to the Holocaust’s lasting impact. Survivors can unintentionally be harsh on others due to their past struggles. For example, in the book Maus, Vladek (Artie’s dad) is constantly harassing Artie about money, he says how he should save more and spend less. This comes from a place of trauma with Vladek, money being the only way to survive during World War 2. In the war, Vladek was able to pay people to hide him and Anja, and buy food. This bought their safety for a while before the money ran out. It is also seen with other survivors, who were able to buy passage into other countries. Money wasn’t wasted back then, and Vladek out of fear tells Artie to not spend all the time. Vladek wants Artie to have money in case something like the Holocaust could happen again. The horrors he faced were so traumatizing that they instilled a permanent fear in not only Vladek but other survivors as well. This was also noted in Shadow of a Past Time by Hillary Chute, “ "But look what you do, Artie! You're dropping on the carpet cigarette ashes. You want it should be like a stable here?” (52). Joshua Brown points out that this incident…suggests that "Vladek's account is not a chronicle of undefiled fact but a constitutive process, that remembering is a construction of the past" (95). …Artie's cigarette smoke as the smoke of human flesh drifting upward from the crematoria of Auschwitz (Maus II 69).” Here, it is saying how even the simplest things like smell and sight, can trigger traumatic memories and ultimately impact the children too. Often, Artie is scolded throughout the book, and while it can seem harsh, Vladek does it out of love and care for his son. His only son. He lost his first, and the way he acts towards Artie in Maus suggests that he is just trying to keep his life son safe from the same fate. In some ways, Vladek could feel like he wasn’t able to save Richeu, but he has control over Artie, which gives him even more sense of responsibility for his life. I think that it is possible to move on from generational trauma, but it takes hard work and dedication. It won’t happen right away either, with time, the pain doesn’t go away but becomes more bearable. You learn how to accept it and live with it. It takes both work with a parent and child. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is one solution for all or an easy way to move on from such a traumatic event. Everyone’s family is different, with different dynamics,, and therefore there isn’t an easy solution. However, the first step is to acknowledge the trauma is there and that you have to live with it, even if it is unfair. Children not only feel pressure firsthand from their parents but also from themselves. The phrase “Well my parents went through XYZ, so I can’t complain/I can’t have my problems,” is a common one, even used today. This is shown in Maus, as stated in Intergenerational transmission of trauma in Spiegelman's Maus. “Art’s depression arises from his feelings of incompetence, which only intensifies his feeling of guilt.7 He is convinced that he is nothing more than an imperfect surrogate of his brother Richieu who was killed during the war. Although he could never have met him personally because Art was born after the war, he knows he will never emerge from his brother’s shadow”. Often, trauma survivors will unintentionally make their children feel like they have to live up to their standards, and the children agree because of the argument that what their parents went through was worse, and therefore if they don’t succeed then they are weak. People will compare their struggles, and invalidate their feelings based on which experience is “worse”. Kids of trauma survivors often do this, as seen in Maus, when Artie even questions if he takes everything for granted. This is a toxic idea, that has combed its way into society, and causes vast amounts of pain and strain on relationships. A way to combat this is to remember that just because someone went through something considerably worse, it doesn’t mean your experiences aren’t valid. Generational trauma can have lasting effects, and be passed down through multiple generations even after the one who experienced the trauma is gone. That is why it is important to acknowledge why survivors might inflict their trauma unknowingly onto their kids, and help avoid that.

I thought that shirleytemple's reflection on Maus and generational trauma raised interesting points on how parents affect how their children grow up and function. The idea that a trauma as deep as the Holocaust can lead to survivor parents being overbearing or malicious towards their children unintentionally as a side effect of the trauma is interesting. The interactions between Vladek and Art were a good reference that the Holocaust has on families, even those of survivors. The dynamic between Vladek as an overbearing father, constantly critiquing his son for the smallest digressions was hard on Art, yet he couldn't complain because of the things his father had gone through. On the flip side, shirleytemple brought up how benign behaviors of Art would accidentally trigger traumatic responses from Vladek, which must be difficult for both him and Art. Although they had some good points, I feel that shirleytemple could have explored that idea and some of the ramifications of that further than they did. I think that Dolphin315 had some similar points about how parents treat their children may be affected by the trauma they faced, but I think they developed their claims a little better. Overall, shirleytemple's reflection was interesting to read, especially since I wrote about the other prompt.

Originally posted by Merry on February 10, 2025 20:55

In Maus I and Maus II the use of comic form is incredibly effective in conveying the emotional and historical weight of the Holocaust due to the visual representation it gives us as readers. In the graphic novel, not only do we see Vladek’s stories but we see a symbolic drawing for it. For example, in the novel, Artie uses different animals to represent the different groups of people such as Nazis, Jews, Poles, and Americans. This is useful in showing us the relationship between the groups because he makes Nazi’s cats and Jews mice, which feeds into the well known metaphor of the cat and the mouse. The Nazis are also depicted as semi larger cats really showing us the power dynamic. As I stated earlier we also see the Poles depicted as pigs, and when Jews are pretending to be Poles, they wear a pig mask. By seeing this visual representation of Jews having to put on a mask and pretend to be something which they are not purely to survive, really helps the readers to see the extent which Jews had to go to to erase their identities in order to survive. Also, not only does the comic form help us to visually understand the groups, it also helps us to understand the timeline of the things which Vladek experienced and we also see the order in which he told Artie about said events, as seen by the way there will be squares set in their current time and then smaller ones depicting the story which Vladek is telling us. And with the timeline bouncing back and forth it can be very helpful for the reader to follow everything happening. Also, in Artie’s workings he connects the events that his parents experienced to more present day things, as recognized by Hillary Chute when she stated that “Art Spiegelman draws connections between his experience of 9/11 and his survivor parents’ experience of World War II,” giving us an example of the timeline connections used in the novel. This too adds to the depth of the novel aside from its powerful depictions. However, many believe that the comic format takes away from the seriousness of the topic. This is likely due to the fact that comic format is mostly found in things like superhero stories and other mythical tales, however, that doesn’t really mean that comics cannot be serious, rather that they aren’t for everyone to understand. With this, we could also understand why people find the novel to lack seriousness, because they don’t understand the novel as told with a comic book depiction. This is likely due to the fact that Artie’s depiction of his father’s story is a new approach compared to what we have seen in the past. Typically when we see survivor stories recounted through literature it is normally the typical novel form. But, Art takes a different, more artistic approach which most definitely caught many off guard, subjecting the novel to lots of criticism.

The most compelling idea in the post is how effective the Maus comic book format was able to portray the weight that comes with the holocaust. This is an interesting idea because Spiegelman himself was afraid of whether or not he would be able to capture the gravity of the holocaust, an extremely tragic event, within this medium that’s typically very cartoon-ish and this style of writing. I liked how the writer of this post went into depth on the animal forms within the comic and how they helped to propel the story as well. Specifying how the Jewish were mice, the Polish were pigs, and the Nazis were cats which goes into the idea of cats and mice with one being the predator and one being the prey. However, I feel like it was really abrupt when the writer switched topics within their response and started writing about Spiegelman’s connection between 9/11 and his parents' experience within WW2. Maybe in this part they could implement a smoother transition in order to help the writing flow more smoothly. Mechanically, there's not much that's needed to help with this writing piece. There are a couple sentences that are run on but ultimately, the piece is understandable.

Originally posted by mrgiggles!! on February 11, 2025 21:31

Although Art Spiegelman has continuously faced heavy criticism for his decision to use the comic form for his graphic novel, Maus, which recounts his father’s experience surviving the Holocaust and delves into the complex relationship between the two, I found this decision to be incredibly effective in conveying the emotional and historical weight of the Holocaust. Often, we associate comic books with superhero stories for little kids; jam packed in those small little panels is all the action, the dialogue, the bad guys vs. the good guys, the “POW!”s, the vibrant colors, and so much more. So naturally, it comes as a surprise to many when they discover that this story centered around the Holocaust and its lasting impact on Spiegelman’s family was written as a comic book. While it strays away from the typical light-hearted and “fun” comic approach, the simplicity and symbolism throughout the work makes the comic form extremely powerful. The novel is depicted in black and white panels, completely void of color throughout the entire thing. I think that this enhances the story and allows the reader to just focus on the story itself. There aren’t any other distracting elements, and the reader is forced to fully digest the story that’s presented. I also feel as though there is no room for imagination for the reader - Spiegelman is in full control of how the camps or major events are illustrated, restricting the freedom of the reader to come to their own conclusions about how the Holocaust unfolded. I believe that this is necessary because this keeps the story true to Spiegelman and his father’s lived experiences. The comic form also allows the reader to get some sense of the seemingly unreal reality felt during the Holocaust, as expressed by Paul Buhle in The Shadow of Past Time, who claimed Maus is “the most compelling of any [Holocaust] depiction, perhaps because only the caricatured quality of comic art is equal to the seeming unreality of an experience beyond all reason (5).” Spiegelman’s use of different animals, or caricatures, to differentiate all the races serves as a simple, yet powerful, tool as well. Jewish people are depicted as mice, Germans as cats, Poles as pigs, and so on and so forth. These distinctions allow for a clear outline of the power dynamics that were at play during the Holocaust. Jews were extremely vulnerable, like mice, at the hands of Nazi Germans (cats), and they often wore pig masks in hopes of hiding their true identity so that they could survive their predators. The readers are easily able to see the hierarchy that existed and the huge role that ethnicity played in determining who was prey and who was not. The movement and integration of the past and present within the comic contributed to the historical weight conveyed as the reader witnesses how Vladek’s past shapes both of their “present.” The reader can recognize the trauma from the Holocaust that weighs Vladek down even decades later, as well as the guilt that Artie sometimes feels burdened with. With all things considered, in my opinion, Spiegelman’s use of the comic form served as a brilliant way to depict a “Holocaust story,” as the simplistic, symbolic, and fluid nature of the novel help readers grasp at least a fragment of the emotional and historical weight of the Holocaust.

I really liked your post, especially your point about how the comic style of Maus makes the story more powerful. The black-and-white art helps focus on the emotions and history without distractions. Your explanation of the animal symbols was also really clear, and I think it shows the power structure during the Holocaust in a simple but effective way. One part that stood out to me was your idea that Spiegelman controls how the Holocaust is seen, leaving no room for the reader to imagine it differently. That makes a lot of sense, and I agree that it keeps the story true to his father’s experience. But I also wonder if some people might feel that using animals could make things too simple. Something that I really appreciate about Spiegelman’s use of animals is how it makes the idea a lot more digestible. Jack Trompeter was talking about how 8-9-year-olds were too young to talk to about this topic, but the comic form and simple colors and use of animals can make it easier to introduce the topic of genocides and holocaust to younger people. Overall, I liked your response a lot and agree with your points!

Originally posted by EX0 on February 11, 2025 10:23

A picture is worth a thousand words. Maus’s power comes in its form as a comic. While it being a comic is what made it so hard to get published initially and is the brunt of most criticism the book faces, the comic style is its strength as well. A big inspiration and resource for Spiegelman were the works created by survivors from the camps. He cites many people, including Mieczyslaw Koscielniak, who, during the day worked in the art barrack creating genealogies, signage, and portraits of SS officers in Auschwitz, and by night secretly made prints of life in the camps (they’re beautiful, I highly recommend looking up his work). Another example of this is the booklet called Ravensbruck, which is a collection of works by unknown artists that were discovered after the liberation of the camp. While the Nazi’s imposed harsh punishments for the creation of unsanctioned works of art, many people secretly documented their experiences through art and hid them or leaked them into the world through townspeople in neighboring areas. Creating art not only served as a powerful tool of documentation of what happened in the camps, information of which the Nazi’s attempted to suppress, but also was a method for the artist’s to cope with the trauma’s they were enduring and survive through the war. In the immediate post-war searches, hundreds of works were uncovered, some even buried in the ground and hidden in the walls. Spiegelman not only used these works for reference, but actually incorporated them into the novel. The image of the louse on page 251, for example, is directly pulled from a print that Koscielniak made for Auschwitz called “One Louse Means Death.” Spiegelman also incorporates powerful photographs from Nazi Germany into his art, like on page 35, when he uses a photograph of a Jew being paraded through a small village in Poland as reference for the panel he creates. All of this is to say that the comic format, while unique to the mainstream, actually pays homage to and continues a tradition that goes back to the camps themselves.The medium of comic form also makes Vladek’s story more universally accessible. While Spiegelman bemoans the the categorization of Maus as a young adult book and has said about giving the book to kids: “I think it’s child abuse” (from a New Yorker comic Art created), the work still is a valuable stepping stone for younger readers to gain some understanding of the Holocaust. The comic medium also makes the story more interesting and engaging than if it was written as a novel or a transcript from his many interviews with Vladek. Speigelman is able to convey more information through images than words too, especially considering he is not a writer. This is his (and his father’s) story after all, so telling it in the medium that he works in ensures it maintains its impact and integrity.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your analysis of Spiegelman’s use of the comic form - you brought up so many interesting points about the power of art, especially in this context, and even introduced new tidbits of information that the reader may not have known, which only enhanced your response. I appreciated how you included some of the artists and pieces that Spiegelman was inspired by and referenced throughout the comic book - I think that this brings in a completely new angle. He, too, like the people/artwork he drew inspiration from, uses art as a means to cope with the traumas or wounds they have from the Holocaust. I found the most compelling idea of your response to be your argument that Spiegelman actually is paying homage to and continuing a tradition that is rooted in the camps themselves. In my response, I mainly touched on what the comic form does for the reader and how it was effective in a more literal sense, but you focused more on the cultural and historical context behind artwork specifically tied to the Holocaust and bridged those ideas with Spiegelman’s work, which I find so interesting! I do agree with your point that the work can be a valuable stepping stone for younger readers in understanding the Holocaust, but I definitely do see why some believe it is more suitable for older ages. I believe that even if one reads it at a young age, it would be valuable to reread it as an adult so that the depth of the novel can truly be grasped and understood. Overall, you raised some great points, and your response was well thought out!

Originally posted by Dolphin315 on February 07, 2025 09:05

Generational trauma, as explored by Speigelman in Maus, is an extremely powerful force that can have lasting effects on not only individuals, but entire communities. Maus, a graphic novel, depicts the way trauma can be passed down from one generation to another both directly and indirectly, as Art struggles to bear the weight of his father’s intense experience during the Holocaust. Since Vladek, Art’s father, experienced such great suffering and constantly lives in fear, his relationship with Art is hindered. Although there is no way he can escape his post-war anxiety and stress, it still has an extremely large impact on Art growing up, as Art feels at times like he is the one who needs to take care of his father, when in reality it should be the other way around. While generational trauma is very common regarding the Holocaust, it is not isolated to this event. Many other genocides and traumatic events in history leave behind generational trauma. In Maus specifically, the way in which Vladek’s daily habits, relationships, and emotions were controlled by his trauma had a negative impact on his son and community. Rather than being a reliable source of love and stability for Art, he was unpredictable at times. Vladek also had a very controlling manner, as he did not have much trust in others, which did not benefit his relationship with Art, but rather widened the rift between them.

I think it is important to acknowledge the generational trauma a family might experience, and talk about it rather than suppress it. That being said, I think there is a choice one has to make about how they want to handle it, and whether they want to allow it to dictate their decisions and control their life. I think that Art takes a good approach of trying to understand what his father went through, and make a point to talk about his trauma. This allows for there to be a deeper understanding between these two characters about why his father behaves the way he does. This also most likely works to strengthen the bond between Art and Vladek, as it gives Vladek more reason to be able to trust his son. The most important factor in coping with generational trauma, in my opinion, is showing your support for whoever is struggling. Simply showing that you care and want to help them through their pain can be extremely beneficial to the one who was directly affected by the trauma.

Ultimately, generational trauma is a very common and powerful force that affects the lives of many. As it can be unpredictable and cause relationships to become tense, it is important to acknowledge its existence and support whoever may be struggling. In Maus, this can be seen as Art shows interest in his father’s past experiences, and wants to understand just how horrible his father’s experience was. The complication comes when Vladek becomes overwhelmed by his thoughts and anxiety and doesn’t feel as connected to Art since Art never experienced the same pain and suffering that he endured.

I agree that trauma affected Vladek’s habits and way of life, as well as his relationship with his son. I strongly agree with your point that acknowledging and discussing trauma is better than suppressing it because it can foster understanding. The idea that Art’s attempt to understand his father creates a way for connection is interesting because it suggests that communication can fix broken relationships and bridge divides between generations. However, even though Art does try to empathize with Vladek, their relationship remains strained. I think Art definitely could have been more patient and considerate towards Vladek and it could have benefited their relationship even more if Art was interested in learning more about Vladek’s stories that are outside of the Holocaust. It could’ve given them a more well-rounded relationship that wasn’t solely focused on learning about the Holocaust. Your point about generational trauma expanding beyond the Holocaust is important because many communities experience similar struggles due to war and oppression. I think you also touch on the significance of trust between Art and Vladek, which is a complicated aspect of their relationship. So I think expanding a bit on whether Vladek is ever able to fully shut his son could strengthen your argument.

Originally posted by Merry on February 10, 2025 20:55

Hello, I really enjoyed reading your reply! I agree with your assessment of the novel. Both parts of Speigleman’s Maus graphic form lends itself very well to explaining the emotions of the characters throughout the respective time periods. However, I would like to hear a little bit more about your personal experience. As a kid, I definitely read a lot of comic books, Asterix and Obelix, Calvin and Hobbes, Peanuts, etc. These were all intended for exclusively comedic purposes, and this was one of the first more serious graphic works I have read. As a summer reading book I think most people in my grade read both New Kid by Jerry Craft and American born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. These both touch on racism, codeswitching, and identity in coming of age stories which are closer to this novel. However, the two novels which I think, which most diverge from the superhero theme you mentioned, are Palestine by Joe Sacco and the March Series by John Lewis. These deal more vividly with the brutality faced by oppressed groups and have a level of gore and trauma not comparable. This is definitely a more modern trend and it will take some time to get away from the superhero archetype, but it is ongoing. Thank you again for your response!Post your response here.

Originally posted by shaquille.oatmeal123 on February 12, 2025 21:11

Generational trauma impacts children of Holocaust survivors just as much as the survivors themselves. This can be seen especially in Spiegelman, his form of trauma is transmitted from the emotional and psychological scars that his father sustained within the Holocaust. The events of Maus describe this perfectly, with Vladek’s story in itself impacting Spiegelman immensely. Art becomes frustrated with his inability to connect or relate to his father and his experiences, causing pain to himself and his family.

The trauma experienced by Vladek leads to him developing a form of PTSD, affecting his relationship with his son in the process. Art is unable to really understand what his father goes through, and acts rather insensitive throughout the story. I think this is clearly a product of his father being a Holocaust survivor, as Art’s struggle to understand his father’s trauma exemplifies the notion that children of survivors face complex burdens and guilt that are passed down from their parents. In Maus II Spiegelman conveys how he almost feels guilty for not having experienced the Holocaust for himself. In a way, Art’s younger brother who passed away (Richieu) actually symbolizes this exact guilt he feels, wondering how he would have been if he had been there to experience the Holocaust. As Kolar Stanislav says in Intergenerational transmission of trauma in Spiegelman’s Maus, “Art’s story confirms the assertion that generations which have never been exposed to a traumatic event can ‘inherit’ the trauma of their ancestors and that the most common channel of this intergenerational and transgenerational transmission is through the family.” This collective history of trauma becomes not only a part of the identity of the individual, but also the community itself. The survivors, in the case of the Holocaust, become a part of the cultural memory.

One of the main questions in Maus is if it is possible to move on from such trauma, I think it is answered with no. It isn’t possible to move beyond the trauma that his dad experienced for Art, he has an inability to fully escape it and it causes him to instead seek acknowledgement rather than resolution. I believe that the Holocaust was such an event that it is impossible to really move on from it, to fully understand Vladek and his trauma is almost impossible to Art. This is why he has such discourse and almost hatred for himself due to not experiencing the Holocaust. It is odd in a way that Art would have wanted to experience such a traumatic event, but it would give him a reason to connect with his father.

You make a great point in this response. I agree with you that this trauma can impact the children of survivors just as much, and I think Maus does a very good job at representing this truth. Vladek struggles to grapple with his past, and your last paragraph hits it home that the Holocaust is not an event that can be moved past. Instead of ignoring it, we as the younger generation must learn about it, because the trauma of it still impacts people like survivors and their families today. I think that the reason Art wishes to have gone through what his parents went through is because he wants to understand them better and to stop feeling so guilty for having a better life that they could not have. He struggles with connecting with his father, and it could be a point that could help them bond- even if it was through trauma. Overall you make a very powerful point, and I liked reading your response!

Originally posted by historymaster321 on February 08, 2025 21:54

Art Spiegelman's Maus is a graphic novel that tells the story of his father's experience in the Holocaust and it does this through the format of a graphic novel. It's a classic comic format with a little more than six panels per page and is in complete black and white. The use of the comic is effective in the way it conveys the emotional and historical weight of the Holocaust. Primarily, the whole book has no colors and is just in black and white. Without the use of bold and bright colors the story can be told without any distractions of these loud shades and the reader can read the story for just what it is. The history and Vladek's own story can be the main focus rather than the impressive drawings and their colors. The use of simple drawings and simple colors allows for the words to come more to life and leave a great effect on the reader. The use of the comic makes the story feel less official than it would be in a regular nonfiction novel. Its overall simplicity makes the history easier to digest so to speak.

Maus switches from past to present throughout the entire book when it discusses Vladek's past as well as his current life with Artie and Mala, the woman he remarried after the death of his first wife. Switching from past to present and getting to see Vladek's modern life with Artie and Mala gives the story an almost relatable feeling. By relatable, the story isn't implying that everyone can relate to the Holocaust but through the relation of even one part of the story this occurs. When stories have this effect it comforts the reader and makes them feel safe, all in an unintentional, subconscious way. For example, the comic shows Artie and Vladek going to the grocery store, going on vacation, making tea and cooking, and even arguing with each other. All normal things that occur in almost everyone's life. The switch from his tragedies during the war and his life now demonstrates these ideas. A great example of switching from past to present seamlessly in the book is when Artie describes the time his father and him were going to the grocery store while also describing an event that occurred while his father was in the camps. The event was a tragedy where four girls who were involved in a revolt against the S.S. officers were hanged (Maus pg. 79). The comic portrays this by showing Artie and Vladek walking to the car while discussing the story, getting into the car, and soon driving off. As they drive off, to do their errands, over the car hangs the bottom halves of the four girls to show their savage death. This also highlights, in a way, how Vladek has been desensitized to the things that he experienced in the camps. So when retelling these stories the especially brutal parts do not affect him as much as they would the average human who has not gone through something like this. Being able to tell his story like this simply shows how he is able to just share these tragic events without a second thought because of the multiple other layers of tragedy that he has faced.

In other examples, comics have portrayed stories that are less serious and more playful. These stories have been fictional and depicted amusing and entertaining superheroes that many have loved to read about and still do. When we think about comics we don't think about the holocaust, causing many to believe that you can’t depict something as serious in a comic book and graphic novel format. Although the author shouldn't have to worry about whether or not the story is entertaining, because that's not its purpose, this format allows for it to be. The interesting detailed writing coupled with the simple yet interesting images, the book's comic format tells this survivor tale in a unique way. Reading Vladeks story in a chapter book format would be impactful as well but it would be hard to get through. Getting to read the story this way makes it more interesting, especially for readers of all ages. All in all, I believe that none of us really get to decide how Vladeks story should be told, not even Artie even though it is his book. It is Vladeks struggling, hardship, trauma, and tremendously hard battles that we are getting the privilege to read about no matter the way in which they are displayed. These are all real events, in which millions of people had to experience so even getting to learn about a fraction of that is a generous opportunity.

I think that the most compelling idea in this post is the mention of the switch that Artie uses between the past and the present and how this gives the story a more relatable feeling. I do agree with this idea because Artie showing the present and his current situation and relationship with his father allows us to view how the Holocaust has not only impacted Vladek, but also Artie. I think that interactions between Artie and Vladek are a very important part of the story as they show the generational trauma that Artie has faced and how this has impacted his relationship with his father. Additionally this display of Artie’s generational trauma makes the story more relatable for other children of not only Holocaust survivors but also of other genocides.

In addition to the mention of the switch between past and present, the statement that the simplified comic form and the effectiveness of black and white drawings in portraying the atrocities of the Holocaust are also present in other posts. I find the point that the simplicity of the drawings makes the story easier to understand particularly interesting.

In terms of improvements, I would suggest that this post could have added more depth by expanding on the images that Spiegelman chose to use. For example the post could have talked more about the use of animals to represent different nationalities and why this is significant.

Originally posted by EX0 on February 11, 2025 10:23

A picture is worth a thousand words. Maus’s power comes in its form as a comic. While it being a comic is what made it so hard to get published initially and is the brunt of most criticism the book faces, the comic style is its strength as well. A big inspiration and resource for Spiegelman were the works created by survivors from the camps. He cites many people, including Mieczyslaw Koscielniak, who, during the day worked in the art barrack creating genealogies, signage, and portraits of SS officers in Auschwitz, and by night secretly made prints of life in the camps (they’re beautiful, I highly recommend looking up his work). Another example of this is the booklet called Ravensbruck, which is a collection of works by unknown artists that were discovered after the liberation of the camp. While the Nazi’s imposed harsh punishments for the creation of unsanctioned works of art, many people secretly documented their experiences through art and hid them or leaked them into the world through townspeople in neighboring areas. Creating art not only served as a powerful tool of documentation of what happened in the camps, information of which the Nazi’s attempted to suppress, but also was a method for the artist’s to cope with the trauma’s they were enduring and survive through the war. In the immediate post-war searches, hundreds of works were uncovered, some even buried in the ground and hidden in the walls. Spiegelman not only used these works for reference, but actually incorporated them into the novel. The image of the louse on page 251, for example, is directly pulled from a print that Koscielniak made for Auschwitz called “One Louse Means Death.” Spiegelman also incorporates powerful photographs from Nazi Germany into his art, like on page 35, when he uses a photograph of a Jew being paraded through a small village in Poland as reference for the panel he creates. All of this is to say that the comic format, while unique to the mainstream, actually pays homage to and continues a tradition that goes back to the camps themselves.The medium of comic form also makes Vladek’s story more universally accessible. While Spiegelman bemoans the the categorization of Maus as a young adult book and has said about giving the book to kids: “I think it’s child abuse” (from a New Yorker comic Art created), the work still is a valuable stepping stone for younger readers to gain some understanding of the Holocaust. The comic medium also makes the story more interesting and engaging than if it was written as a novel or a transcript from his many interviews with Vladek. Speigelman is able to convey more information through images than words too, especially considering he is not a writer. This is his (and his father’s) story after all, so telling it in the medium that he works in ensures it maintains its impact and integrity.

I really enjoyed reading your reflection on Maus, EX0! Your take on the impactful power of Maus as a comic book was especially interesting because I personally responded to the alternative reflection prompt about Art’s experience with generational trauma. Thank you for also sharing about the hidden art about life in the camps. This certainly demonstrates how art is an effective method of conveying to the world what the survivors’ experiences were like, perhaps in a way that words alone are unable to. I had no idea that Art was bringing these unknown works into the spotlight by incorporating them into his novel, which brings to mind some of the panels I had read and causes me to reconsider them in the context of the time period rather than as a retelling from the present day. The fact that Art used art from Nazi Germany as references for his own panels makes his novel incredibly impactful and real. I agree that the comic book form of his novel provides a more engaging and interactive medium for different audiences as well. Now that I’ve learned more about the use of art from the time period in the novel Maus, I’m unsure why Art has received criticism for his choice to present this Holocaust story through art; by removing art altogether, it seems that we may be losing crucial elements of his and Vladek’s story.

Originally posted by Dolphin315 on February 07, 2025 09:05

"...I think it is important to acknowledge the generational trauma a family might experience, and talk about it rather than suppress it. That being said, I think there is a choice one has to make about how they want to handle it, and whether they want to allow it to dictate their decisions and control their life. I think that Art takes a good approach of trying to understand what his father went through, and make a point to talk about his trauma. This allows for there to be a deeper understanding between these two characters about why his father behaves the way he does. This also most likely works to strengthen the bond between Art and Vladek, as it gives Vladek more reason to be able to trust his son. The most important factor in coping with generational trauma, in my opinion, is showing your support for whoever is struggling. Simply showing that you care and want to help them through their pain can be extremely beneficial to the one who was directly affected by the trauma..."

I absolutely agree that the only way to process generational trauma and prevent its perpetuation is to discuss it. I think this is especially clear with Artie and his parents. As a child and as a young man, Artie was never interested in his mother’s story; she didn’t understand that he wanted to escape the shadow of survival that hung over his parents. This led to their relationship deteriorating, her depression worsening, and her eventual suicide. Thus, Artie himself becomes traumatized and his mother’s struggle is pushed onto him. It’s possible that if they had been more open to listening to each other, this wouldn’t have happened. Similarly, it seems like Artie’s renewed interest in Vladek’s early life (whatever his motives) is extremely comforting for Vladek in his final years. Though the discussions are hard, he finally feels like he has someone to talk to. Artie’s guilt over not having to have lived through what his parents did weighs heavily on him, but he is also able to feel more understood by processing his own existence through his father’s story. That’s why the point about not suppressing this from loved one’s is so important—Artie and Vladek would never fully be able to understand each other otherwise. Though their relationship remains far from perfect, it might be just a little bit less strained by the end of the story.

Originally posted by star fire on February 11, 2025 20:43

Generational trauma impacts the relationship between parents and children of Holocaust survivors. According to the experience given in Maus, it makes it very hard for the two parties to connect. Many things are lacking between them making it much harder for them to relate to each other. One cannot fully explain the trauma he went through and the other doesn’t know what he went through so he doesn’t understand and thinks that the actions taken are foolish or just strange overall. For instance, Vladek’s desperate desire to keep food such as the Special K cereal and the almost physical pain that it caused him to even think about throwing out was related to the lack of food and necessities he had in Auschwitz. But being unable to communicate that to his son, when Vladek goes and bargains with the store owner Artie just thinks that his father’s being over the top and he simply views him as an embarrassment. Vladek and Artie’s relationship is extremely strained and it is through this book that Spiegelman truly comes to understand what his father went through. But unfortunately, many families do not have an opportunity like this. The weight of the trauma experienced by direct ancestors as well as communities plays a huge role in the lives of young people today. Many survivors may not want to talk about their experience, maybe because of trauma or because they don’t want to be perceived as weak, but that comes with abandoning the culture that they were raised in as well. In Vladek and Artie’s case, from what was shown in Maus, Artie didn’t grow up in his father’s culture, he became “Americanized”. And this is not the fault of the parents but simply the effect of the Holocaust. It doesn’t help that many survivors didn’t have any family members left behind so there really wasn’t anyone else for their children to connect with. It would be very hard to move beyond generational trauma because trauma isn’t erasable. One cannot just simply forget about all the heartache and immorality that they’ve experienced. That trauma manifests itself in different ways and manages to travel down from generation to generation shaping the way that they live their lives. It would be better to live with it, acknowledge it, find a way to manage it than to think of a way to get rid of it entirely because that is simply not possible. In Intergenerational transmission of trauma in Spiegelman's Maus by Stanislav he mentions that “throughout the whole work, Art’s depression arises from his feelings of incompetence, which only intensifies his feeling of guilt. He is convinced that he is nothing more than an imperfect surrogate of his brother Richieu who was killed during the war” (Stanislav 231). One important aspect of generational trauma in Vladek and Artie's relationship is the loss of Artie’s older brother Richieu whom he never got to meet. Parents obviously would not be able to let go of the death of their child even more so in the circumstances that Richieu died (being poisoned to death in order to avoid being sent to a camp). However, to Artie it seemed like they worshipped his older brother and wished that he was more like him leading him to be jealous of his brother’s ghost because his parents were not able to sit down and work through that trauma with him.

The most compelling idea in my peer’s post is how generational trauma in the case of Holocaust survivors shows in the way that communication and the understanding between parents and children are hard. It shows that trauma is not something that can be easily erased but it is passed down and shapes the lives of the next generation, which I agree with because trauma especially the Holocaust can leave a lot of emotional scars on a person which is hard to let go of, especially when the next generation does not understand what really happened. The part where Artieis being perceived as a “surrogate” for his brother Richieu, and how this affects his relationship with his parents is interesting to me, it shows the idea of trauma being loss, especially the loss of a child which is something that is deeply and cannot be easily forgotten. My views align with the complexity of the generation trauma and how difficult it is resolving it. I do believe that trauma carries down and that these effects are felt by future generations who might not be able to get what their ancestors went through, because I know there are other scenarios and aspects where things got passed down in my family. However, I would emphasize that it is important to try to break the cycle whether it is therapy or trying to live healthier and move beyond the trauma. Suggestions wise, I think this post was good and everything was made clear and very understandable.