Self Image and Influence in Media Narratives

Self Image The meaning behind a book or film is to teach the readers and watchers the moral of a story. Morals are meant to provoke good behavior, persuading people to carry them into their lives. The most important lesson gained from watching The Wave, Confessions of Hitler Youth and reading Night is to listen to yourself, not the majority because having certainty demonstrates confidence and assurance which others lack. The Wave, a short film, presents how students are easily influenced by authority and not bothered of what they think of themselves. David Collins and Laurie Saunders are high school students who at first are lured into the thought of being apart of discipline and community but later on realize how this affects themselves and their fellow classmates. They confront their teacher, Mr. Ross and point out that The Wave is limiting people’s freedom to do or believe in anything they choose. Mr. Ross’s “belief” in The Wave is teaching students to devote themselves only to the group

Alfons Heck, a man who has lived as a member of the youth, describes this horrid time and how it has managed to change the lives of many. He indicates that when the night of Kristallnacht or the “Night of the Broken Glass” happened, he believed that German innocence had come to an end. Heck himself was under the impression that the Germans did terrible things to people that were not the “master race” and knew it was wrong. Although he knew this, he did not bother to tell anyone about his different thoughts. If anyone dared to try, they would get brutally punished. Instead of praising Hitler he kept things to himself, and eventually when others found out about Hitler’s true identity they all understood. The youth began to understand the importance of having opinions and learned to use them to create something different from everyone