Language:
English
Year of publication:
2000
Titel der Quelle:
Social Research
Angaben zur Quelle:
67,1 (2000) 61-79
Keywords:
Proust, Marcel,
;
Antisemitism History 1800-2000
Abstract:
In the 19th century, popular prejudices depicted the Jews as possessing specific physical characteristics. The image of the infected and the infecting Jew arose in relation to the connection of Jews with syphilis. This association is present, inter alia, in Proust's novels, and later on in Hitler's "Mein Kampf". When facial surgery began to develop in mid-century, a great number of patients were Jews. The facial operation helped the Jew to "pass as invisible" and thus to integrate into a society infected with prejudices. Operations to change the form of the nose or the ears were in special demand among the Jews, because of popular beliefs regarding those appendages. The desire of some Jews to acquire a non-Jewish appearance found expression in their endeavors to acquire scars from duels on their faces. Facial operations were in greater demand among Jewish males than females, because the man's career was contingent on Jewish conspicuousness or invisibility.
Note:
Appeared also in "Transversal" 2,1 (2001).
URL:
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