This is correct with regard to Burn's buying into the current polarized us-them view of our political conflicts. It is outrageous that Burns uses (and misuses) the divisions in our society now as analogs of Hitler's obsessions. They are not.
But I believe Ron Radosh has a better analysis of the flaws in Burns' take on the US response to …
This is correct with regard to Burn's buying into the current polarized us-them view of our political conflicts. It is outrageous that Burns uses (and misuses) the divisions in our society now as analogs of Hitler's obsessions. They are not.
But I believe Ron Radosh has a better analysis of the flaws in Burns' take on the US response to the Holocaust
Radosh's focus is on Burns failure to deal fully and honestly with the criticisms of FDR for his refusal to do more to help the Jews. Burns is a reliable liberal New Dealer and his demonizing of the American right has the effect of diverting not simply from all of our common humanity (as this piece correctly sees) but diverting from the failures of the left. FDR's role is a legitimate matter for debate, it's not settled one way or the other. But Burns avoids a good deal of the case against FDR on this. And in his ending's focus on the right, he is also avoiding the far more disturbing forms of antisemitism on the left these days -- among some elements of Black political culture, in our universities a la the BDS campaign, Ilhan Omar, etc.
I admit to finding Burns views on this disturbing for another reason. I posted the following in response to Radosh, and I will add it in here. In case anyone has an interest.
"My wife and I are just finishing up for the second time watching the Burns' documentary series Country Music. I consider it perhaps his best work (at least next to his Civil War series). Country Music is a magnificent depiction of the way that form of American music encapsulates the amazing assimilative power of this society and its capacity to promote cultural sharing across all class, racial, ethnic, generational, and geographic dividing lines. That is, it completely undercuts the crabbed nonsense on the left now about intersectional hierarchies, the overwhelmingly systemic nature of racism, the evils of cultural appropriation, etc. It fully examines the role of racism and class bigotry in its story, but its central and positive theme is its celebration of America's strengths. Hence, I was saddened greatly to see Burns now indulging in the most superficial form of polarized demonization of half the nation that has become all too prevalent across the board in America today."
This is correct with regard to Burn's buying into the current polarized us-them view of our political conflicts. It is outrageous that Burns uses (and misuses) the divisions in our society now as analogs of Hitler's obsessions. They are not.
But I believe Ron Radosh has a better analysis of the flaws in Burns' take on the US response to the Holocaust
https://quillette.com/2022/10/27/fdr-and-the-hol.ocaust/
Jonathan Tobin has a similarly focused critique
https://www.commentary.org/articles/jonathan-tobin/ken-burns-holocaust-documentary/
Radosh's focus is on Burns failure to deal fully and honestly with the criticisms of FDR for his refusal to do more to help the Jews. Burns is a reliable liberal New Dealer and his demonizing of the American right has the effect of diverting not simply from all of our common humanity (as this piece correctly sees) but diverting from the failures of the left. FDR's role is a legitimate matter for debate, it's not settled one way or the other. But Burns avoids a good deal of the case against FDR on this. And in his ending's focus on the right, he is also avoiding the far more disturbing forms of antisemitism on the left these days -- among some elements of Black political culture, in our universities a la the BDS campaign, Ilhan Omar, etc.
I admit to finding Burns views on this disturbing for another reason. I posted the following in response to Radosh, and I will add it in here. In case anyone has an interest.
"My wife and I are just finishing up for the second time watching the Burns' documentary series Country Music. I consider it perhaps his best work (at least next to his Civil War series). Country Music is a magnificent depiction of the way that form of American music encapsulates the amazing assimilative power of this society and its capacity to promote cultural sharing across all class, racial, ethnic, generational, and geographic dividing lines. That is, it completely undercuts the crabbed nonsense on the left now about intersectional hierarchies, the overwhelmingly systemic nature of racism, the evils of cultural appropriation, etc. It fully examines the role of racism and class bigotry in its story, but its central and positive theme is its celebration of America's strengths. Hence, I was saddened greatly to see Burns now indulging in the most superficial form of polarized demonization of half the nation that has become all too prevalent across the board in America today."