Eng 1.8 | Introduction to Connections

Theme for connections- “Through the eyes of a child”

We will read/view/study and write about 4 texts that present some kind of conflict, crisis or dilemma that a child experiences. We as the audience experience this through their eyes. We are not studying children’s books/films as such (texts written for children), but rather, texts written about children.

Text 1/4 - Jojo Rabbit movie

1. How does viewing this text through a child’s perspective change the way we experience it? Explain using an example from the text. Jojo Rabbit was based on World War II; the holocaust, Hitler, and Nazi Germany were all prominent themes in the film. By viewing the film from Jojo's perspective, we see Hitler's action and life in Nazi Germany through the eyes of a naive, easily-manipulated child, reflecting on the true perspectives of Hitler's followers in World War II and comparing their views to those of a gullible child like Jojo in a satirical, impressionable way.

2. How would this text be different if it were told from the perspective of an adult? How would the audience’s experience be different? If Jojo Rabbit were told from the eyes of an adult- such as Rosie or Captain K - we would see the film from a very different perspective, and from more of a fixed opinion, as the adults were both more educated on the ethics and ideology of the Nazi party. Seeing Jojo Rabbit from a perspective of an adult, who would be much more educated and opinionated, would take away how Jojo was manipulated by the different people - notably Elsa and his mother Rosie - and how his own experiences changed the perspective. It would be a much more biased perspective on World War II and take away the satirical, mocking elements of the film.

3. Why did the filmmaker or author decide to tell this story from a child’s perspective? By telling the story from Jojo's perspective, it was more impressionable on the audience, as we see the once-innocent Hitler Youth scout Jojo, and how meeting Elsa, a jew, and the killing of his mother, Rosie, changed his own perspective on the war and Hitler. The audience is able to emphasise with Jojo's experiences and emotions, and how he realises the reality of the war and how awful it was.

4. How are children represented in the text? How are adults represented in the text? As Jojo is a child he is surrounded by other kids of his own age- they are represented as just normal kids- innocent, playful and optimistic about the world - despite the ongoing issues going on around them. Furthermore, adults are represented differently on the views we learn they have - Captain K, the Gestapo, the Hitler Youth leaders, etc - are represented almost childlike, immature and carefree on their views - whereas Rosie, who we learn was strongly against the views of the Nazi party, was represented as very hidden and secluded, always busy, always mysterious.

5. Does imagination help the young hero to cope? How so? Provide an example.

 Jojo's imaginary companion, Hitler, helped him to cope for majority of the film - he always was there when Jojo felt lonely, confused, or needed encouragement, and more often than not, Jojo would always end up much more energetic after talking to his imaginary companion. For example, at the start of the movie, when Jojo was feeling nervous about starting at Hitler Youth boot camp, Hitler 'hyped' him up, and instead of being nervous, he was really energetic and pumped up to go to camp. 

6. Does this text connect in any other ways to the other texts you have read/viewed? How so? Provide evidence and explain.

 Jojo Rabbit is definitely connected to lots of other literature- historical fiction, fiction, films, etc. But one connection I made was to The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas, another film about a young kid in Nazi germany.