Language:
English
Year of publication:
2008
Titel der Quelle:
Journal of Modern Literature
Angaben zur Quelle:
32,1 (2008) 86-110
Keywords:
Reznikoff, Charles, Criticism and interpretation
;
Arendt, Hannah,
;
Jewish poetry 20th century
;
American literature Jewish authors 20th century
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945), in literature
;
Eichmann trial, Jerusalem, 1961 Public opinion
;
War crime trials History 20th century
Abstract:
Views Reznikoff's book of documentary poems as a response to the controversy amongst Jewish intellectuals regarding the Eichmann trial. Reznikoff opposes the view of his wife, Marie Syrkin, who attacked Hannah Arendt for criticizing the Israeli establishment for having politicized the trial by using survivor testimony to encourage people to identify with Israel. Reznikoff combines identification and disidentification to describe the distance between the audience at the trial and the witnesses on the stand. This is clear, for example, in the way he cites trial testimony by Chełmno survivor Shimon Srebrnik. The poet's approach presents an alternative one not only toward Israeli use of survivor testimony but also for trauma theorists who believe that the Holocaust experience is unknowable.
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