Passing illusions : Jewish visibility in Weimar Germany / Kerry Wallach.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wallach, Kerry, author.

Series:

Social history, popular culture, and politics in Germany

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Jews--Germany--History--1918-1933.

Jews.

Jews--Germany--Identity.

Passing (Identity).

History.

Germany.

Identity (Philosophical concept).

Passing (Identity)--Germany--History--20th century.

Antisemitism--Germany--History--20th century.

Antisemitism.

Germany--Civilization--Jewish influences.

Civilization.

Germany--Ethnic relations.

Ethnic relations.

Civilization--Jewish influences.

Jews--Identity.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

viii, 276 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press, [2017]

Summary:

Weimar Germany (1919-33) was an era of equal rights for women and minorities, but also of growing antisemitism and hostility toward the Jewish population. This led some Jews to want to pass or be perceived as non-Jews; yet there were still occasions when it was beneficial to be openly Jewish. Being visible as a Jew often involved appearing simultaneously non-Jewish and Jewish. Passing Illusions examines the constructs of German-Jewish visibility during the Weimar Republic and explores the controversial aspects of this identity--and the complex reasons many decided to conceal or reveal themselves as Jewish. Focusing on racial stereotypes, Kerry Wallach outlines the key elements of visibility, invisibility, and the ways Jewishness was detected and presented through a broad selection of historical sources including periodicals, personal memoirs, and archival documents, as well as cultural texts including works of fiction, anecdotes, images, advertisements, performances, and films. Twenty black-and-white illustrations (photographs, works of art, cartoons, advertisements, film stills) complement the book's analysis of visual culture.

Contents:

Passing, covering, revealing

Methods of projecting and detecting Jewishness

Coming out as Jewish: print, stage, and screen displays

Hostile outings: when being seen was undesirable

Mistaken identifications and nonrecognitions

German-Jewish passing in comparative contexts.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780472073573

0472073575

9780472053575

0472053574

OCLC:

969202267