By: Eleanor Jackson,
on 5/30/2015
It is absolutely essential to take a critical view of source material when it comes to violent images and war photographs. Photos taken by perpetrators are always an expression of a relationship that is characterized by an imbalance of power between photographers and their subjects.
The post A picture of violence and degradation appeared first on OUPblog.
By: Briar K.,
on 5/22/2010
Elli was thirteen years old; clever, ambitious, funny, and terribly excited about her new bike. She had friends and a crush and a wonderful family—a pretty good life. Until the Nazis invaded her town. In one fell swoop, her life came out from under her. Her school was closed permanently, and all of her hard work and top-notch grades were forgotten, disregarded. Her shiny new bike was confiscated, and her bright teenage clothes were spoiled by ugly yellow stars that were fastened, one by one, to her lapels. All because she was a Jew. Yet in a few months time she would be wishing desperately for the days when she was simply discriminated against, when at least her family was united and her dignity remained.
I Have Lived a Thousand Years is haunting, stirring, terrifying, and most frighteningly of all, real. The book is survivor Livia Bitton-Jackson's autobiographical account of the Holocaust. Only thirteen when her family was carted off to different concentration camps, Elli endured a year of different camps and horrors, staying alive only by a series of lucky chances. She was first confined to a ghetto with her family, then sent to Auschwitz, Plaszow, Auschwitz again, Ausburg, Waldlager and was ultimately liberated in 1945. Elli saw and survived the very worst horrors of the Holocaust.
And she holds nothing back. With terrifying detail she tells us of the whispers about the smoke that rose over Auschwitz, the sickening and unbelievable reality that was the human bodies that made it. She tells us of her nerves the night before decimation, a process in which the entire camp is lined up and set to face a firing squad. Every tenth person is shot, yet one never knows where the count will begin or who will be the doomed tenth. She describes legs and limbs shot off live bodies, skeletal prisoners working torturous twelve hour days, and the constant, deep, gnawing presence of hunger. She describes the sun blisters that cracked and oozed upon her shaven head, the biting burns that pierced her skin, and the s
By: Julia,
on 10/28/2008
Monique Polak celebrated the launch of her new teen novel, What World is Left, held last Thursday night (October 23) at Marianopolis College in Montreal. Over 250 people attended, many books were sold and the star of the evening was Monique’s mom, Celien Spier (the book is based on Celien’s childhood).
Yesterday Monique and Celien were interviewed on the CBC radio show, All In a Weekend . It is a great interview, outlining some of Celien’s experiences during World War II and how Monique came to the decision to write this book. Listen to it here.
By: Rebecca,
on 4/29/2008
Coordinates: 48 15 N 11 26 E
Population: 40,570 (2007 est.)
The old village and sixteenth-century palace here attest to the fact that Dachau, located just north of Munich on the Amper River in Upper Bavaria, has been inhabited for centuries. In spite of such history however, it will forever be remembered as the site of the first Nazi concentration camp. When it was established in March 1933, the former munitions factory held just under 5,000 prisoners but in a little more than a decade, the population had swelled to more than 14 times that number. American forces liberated Dachau on April 29, 1945. Visitors who enter what remains of the walled camp today will find the foundations of numerous barracks, the crematorium, gas chambers, a museum in the main building, and numerous memorials scattered around the grounds.
By: Eric Orchard,
on 2/18/2008
Here's the third and last drawing I did for the pirate story, this one is my favorite. I finished a rough script for Josephine Pebbles last night, which was a surprise because I planning to do nothing yesterday. I wrote it fairly quickly and it need lots of revision but it's one of the few stories I've written with a beginning, middle and end and the conclusion makes sense. The theme came to me quickly too, usually I feel like I'm sifting through my words looking for what it means.
I got to see rough version of my next book, The Terrible, Horrible Stinky Pirate and it looks great. The publisher hired a design firm Co&Co, that does amazing work. The fonts are actually funny. The launch date is May 22nd.
By: Eric Orchard,
on 2/16/2008
Here's another pencil rough from the story I wrote. I'm now considering redoing it as a picture book illustrated by pencil drawings, more finished than this one. I've started re-writing it. The working title is Josephine Pebbles and it centers on a girl who is extremely bored until she has an adventure on a coin operated, rat crewed flying pirate ship. In the new version the ship is held aloft by a balloon, which is easier to draw than all those sails. It might be a lot of fun to do.
On an unrelated note, actress Ellen Paige from Juno was in front of me in line at the organic food market this morning. It's my wife's birthday party today so I was stocking up. I made a point of not staring but I kept thinking " Wow! You're going to be at the Oscars!"It sort of shook up my image of living at the end of the Earth.
By: Yankeerat,
on 1/2/2008
This was originally intended to be a "What I am Reading" entry with a short list of rat faves, when I made the connection that 2008 is indeed the Year of the Rat. So how fitting that the first novel tucked away in the new year is Judy Cox's The Mystery of the Burmese Bandicoot. This is the first of, what will presumably be many, Tails of Frederick and Ishbu (yes, 'tails', not simply 'tales'.) Cox tells the story of two ratty brothers who escape (only as a matter of self-preservation) from their home in a fifth-grade classroom. In an absolutely fantastic sequence of events they find themselves traveling half-way around the world in search of the fabled Burmese Bandicoot, a jeweled figurine said to hold great powers and able to destroy mankind. The action is pretty much non-stop from start to finish with short chapters to keep the attention of reluctant readers. Cox's knowledge of rats is evident from the very start, and her detailed Author's Note reveals the extent of her research into all things ratty. Of course, as a school teacher herself, she has plenty of first-hand experience.
While Children's literature is sometimes unkind to rats (Brian Jacques' Redwall comes to mind,) there are plenty of titles which show rats to be the clever, sensitive animals that they are. Among them:
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh (O'Brien, Robert C)
Space Station Rat (Daley, Michael J)The sequel, Rat Trap, is due out in March.
Vasco Leader of His Tribe (Bondoux, Anne-Laure)
The Christmas Rat (Avi)
Ratspell (Mounter, Paddy)
By: Eric Orchard,
on 11/20/2007
By: Eric Orchard,
on 10/23/2007
Here's the cover for my next book. I went for a bright look in these illustrations. Lots of primary colours and open spaces. I've been looking a lot at American illustration from the golden age lately, mostly Howard Pyle and N.C. Wyeth and I think they're impacting my work more. I wanted to say " Thank You! " to Paige Keiser for including me as one of the blogs she's diggin'. Thanks Paige!
I love these pencil sketches - they are so full of life!
Thank you so much, Gail!
Strong design and well drawn. That's great that you finished the rough script. It sounds like a winner to me.
That is cool that you got to see the rough of the new book too. Must make you feel good after all the wait.
Thanks Frank!I've always really liked this piece. I'll keep you updated on the story, I'm actually looking for some readers to bounce ideas off of.
nice! the cloud sailing post looks very good.
Grazie molto, Allesandra!
For some reason things that work out quickly often seem the most successful.
Struggling with things is awful.........
I particularly liked the previous drawing for this series.
Thanks Elizabeth! My theory is that you struggle with things then one day it all comes together.
I'm really liking this sketch. There are a lot of great posts here that I've missed recently.
I know you've already received one or more, but I'm sending you another 'You Make My Day' Award! :)
Thanks Angela!
Amazing drawing. There's so much happening, and you've tied it all together beautifully.
Thanks Ambera, I find this type of composition really thrilling, both to do myself and to see other people do. I love trying to make sense of complexity.
I find that when I stop thinking about something (or have nothing planned), things just happen:) I can't wait to see what the final product will be.
Thanks, Mary Beth. It's a project I'd like to have done within 6 months. I'm not sure that's realistic but it's what I'm shooting for.