Course Assignment – Adolek Kohn dancing in Auschwitz

 Introduction – Who is Adolek Kohn

• Watch the documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esDxLw6ARyY
• Summarize who Adolek Kohn is! (age job, place of living)
• What were his and his wife’s experiences during the Holocaust?

 Part I

The original has been deleted due to copyright claims by Universal Music

Use this video, skip to 1:18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf3T4q9PVPU&NR=1&feature=endscreen

• Where does Adolek Kohn and his grandchildren dance besides Auschwitz?
• How does it make you feel?
• Besides the title of the song, can you see connections between the lyrics and the film scenes?

Part II

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_Np3aZh6sU

• What role does dancing play for the Kohn family and their friends?
• Look for the lyrics of ‘Dance Me to the End of Love’ by Leonard Cohen. What connections do you see to the movie?

 Part III – The Kohn’s visit Auschwitz and Lodz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=DpfID7pLe7M&feature=endscreen

• What’s the meaning of the Polish questions Adolek poses from the train car?
• What is so amazing for Adolek being back in Poland?

Part IV – Interviews with Adolek Kohn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4Wou79PZ98

• Why did Adolek Kohn return to Auschwitz to dance?

Part V – Media responses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPgKloQMeh8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf3T4q9PVPU&NR=1&feature=endscreen (from beginning to 1:17)

• What are arguments for and against the dance?
• Why do you think Universal Music had the original film deleted? Only for copyright reasons?

Part VI – Your Opinion

• What do you think about Adolek Kohn’s dance in Auschwitz?
• Is it appropriate?
• Was the posting of the video on the Internet appropriate?