"Eyes of the World" By: Marc Aronson and Mariana Budhos
Review and Teaching Resources Presented by: Keilah Gallardo, Jordan Tharp, Joseph Yep, Jessica Yslas & Elissa Saucedo
Book Review:
The ability to take a snapshot of an event can capture more
than the superficial details at first glance. Andre Friedmann, a Jewish man
later known as Robert Capa, becomes personally invested in his quest to take
photographs of the people’s revolution in Spain against the ever-growing danger
of Fascism with his love interest Gerda Taro (Gerta Phryolle) and his camera. Photographs
are integral to the story in Eyes of the
World and by Photojournalism, the context associated with the Spanish Civil
War in the book is amplified with corresponding photos of each event.
The book
sets the story with the origin of Robert Capa and Gerda Taro and how they changed
their names in response to the Nazis’ Nuremberg rally that happened in
September 1935, where Jews were rejected citizenship. Additionally, a
propaganda picture accompanies the text that teachers can utilize to help
students gain an understanding of the growth of the Nazi party and how it
directly impacts Capa and Taro. Capa and Taro’s quest to tell the story of the
average person within the war brings them to the revolution in Spain where the
pictures range from families enjoying things such as bullfighting in Barcelona,
a woman aiming her pistol towards the distance for a change in Spain, to
farmers who live their everyday lives in the ideals of Spain. Capa’s ideology
to take photographs within the heat of battle, paints the story and motivation
behind every person, and the destruction through the cities that are still seen
as home despite the war. Moreover, these pictures go straight from the
battlefield to the newsletter, and the meaning behind each photograph is still
accessible through the eyes of the modern generation of students who may not be
familiar with the Spanish Civil War. As the Spanish Civil War progresses, so does
the story through photography as the two are tied together. Eyes of the World features the creation
of Photojournalism as Capa and Taro capture moments in history, emotion and
all. The evolution of the camera is remarked upon early in the novel since the
photos captured in Eyes of the World
required mobility and intermittent positioning possible through the portable
camera.
The relationship between Capa and Taro helps strengthen the connection students have to the book since it uses photos to relate and convey different events in the book that may be difficult to visualize without it. Eyes of the World serves as a perfect example of Photojournalism for a high school setting where it can be expressed not only in a historical level, but as literature. Students can analyze photographs and expand on it through writing since like concepts in literature, the significance of the material will vary. Moreover, the introduction of Photojournalism in a class setting assists in retention of material, as photographs are timeless and can be interpreted differently depending on the individual. Capa and Taro’s work creates a timeline that can be not only interpreted through the text but also the story each picture tells.
The relationship between Capa and Taro helps strengthen the connection students have to the book since it uses photos to relate and convey different events in the book that may be difficult to visualize without it. Eyes of the World serves as a perfect example of Photojournalism for a high school setting where it can be expressed not only in a historical level, but as literature. Students can analyze photographs and expand on it through writing since like concepts in literature, the significance of the material will vary. Moreover, the introduction of Photojournalism in a class setting assists in retention of material, as photographs are timeless and can be interpreted differently depending on the individual. Capa and Taro’s work creates a timeline that can be not only interpreted through the text but also the story each picture tells.
Biography on the Authors:
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Husband and wife team Marc Aronson and Mariana Budhos are the brilliant writers behind the novel Eyes of the World, giving young adult audiences insight on the inspiring story of Robert Capa and Gerda Taro and how photojournalism inspired their lives. Coauthors Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos have used their childhood and passion for the young adult culture to create different forms of literature that highlight young adult experiences to further encourage an interest in reading and self-growth. Marc Aronson is a public speaker, professor, author, editor, and publisher who is focused on inspiring a young adult audience and bringing awareness to the lack of representation for the young adult audience in literature. Aronson received a doctorate degree in American History and encourages students at Rutgers University to learn how to reach a young adult audience. Aronson advocates for this in his article: “The YA phenomenon in America: Books that match teenage experience and inspire discovery.” Aronson also authors other works entitled: Sugar Changed the World, The Skull in the Rock, and Master of Deceit – all of which are historical pieces bringing awareness to unjust behavior or practices towards minorities. In his work Eyes of the World, he skillfully works with Marina Budhos to capture the experience of the struggle of Jewish refugees.
As for coauthor Marina Budhos, growing up in a community in New York for U.N. families allowed her to gain experience and a passion for intersectionality within different cultures and applied this to young adult literature. Budhos is currently a professor of English at William Paterson University and also focuses on writing books that bring exposure to different young women in minority groups. As Budhos is very eager about this, this theme is projected to be seen in her upcoming novel The Long Ride, and also mentioned in her previous novel Watched– exposing issues of racism. Other young adult novels she has written include: Tell Us We’re Home andAsk Me No Questions.Budhos has also written a variety of short works including: “From Village to Global Village”, “The Khans’ Real Triumph Over Trump”, and “YA Meets the Real: Fiction and Nonfiction that Take on the Real” – all of which encourage readers to think for themselves when encountering history and politics, and apply it to their futures. The passion that both Aronson and Budhos have for young adult audiences and exposing them to different cultures within literature fuels the main premise of Eyes of the World.
Aronson and Budhos use their experience to work together in making this novel a relatable and easily digestible read so that young adult readers at a junior-high or high-school level alike can understand and appreciate the novel and how photojournalism can be used as an important tool for literature, capturing moments such as the ones experienced by Jewish refugees. Marc Aronson and Mariana Budhos work together cleverly as a husband and wife team in their book, Eyes of the World.
Instructional Resources:
This link provides photos from the book in digital format, with a bit more info on each specific photo than the book provides.
This website provides an archive of of civil war materials and a detailed timeline, to give background for the book.
This page provides posters from the International Brigade that give some interesting visuals for the kind of propaganda and protests of the time.
A good guide on photography basics to give context on the methods Capa and Taro used.
This webpage provides information on the camera used by Taro.
This webpage provides information on the camera used by Capa. When used with the one above, it shows how different cameras produce different images of the same subject, as seen on page 53 of the book (below).
PBS Biography on Capa from 2003
This video provides extra background information on Capa.
PBS Biography on Capa from 2003
This video provides extra background information on Capa.
A rare radio interview with Capa from 1947, which is the only recording of his voice.
Instructional Activity and Assignment Worksheets
Preview:
This instructional activity will be done through the course of two days. The activity will start with a lecture in the form of a PowerPoint, in order to discuss the major themes and topics of the book. In this lecture students will go over various quotes and images to discuss the purpose of the authors, Aronson and Budhos, and the photographers, Capa and Taro. Students will analyze and discuss quotes and photos before beginning the outdoor activity at the end of class. Students will be reminded of the materials they need to collect for homework in order to complete the assignment the next day, or this can be incorporated into the classwork on day two. The second day of class will consist of two worksheets, using photos from the outdoor activity and the news article from homework. As part of the lecture and discussion students will develop an understanding of the main ideas and events of the book and how these ideas are being developed throughout the book. Through these in class activities students will analyze text and images from the book, using textual support. Students will also use information from the lecture to support their analysis in the worksheets on day two. Overall, students will be analyzing different artistic mediums, literature and photography in understanding the Spanish Civil War and the purpose of photojournalism.
Common Core State Standards:
CCSS.LITERACY.RL.10.1 Cite strong and thorough textual
evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as
inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS.LITERACY.RL.10.7 Analyze the representation of a
subject or a key scene in two different artistic mediums, including what is
emphasized or absent in each treatment (e.g., Auden’s “Musée des Beaux Arts”
and Breughel’s Landscape with the Fall of Icarus).
CCSS.LITERACY.RI.10.3 Analyze how the author unfolds an
analysis or series of ideas or events, including the order in which the points
are made, how they are introduced and developed, and the connections that are
drawn between them.
Instructional Activity Introduction Powerpoint
Teacher Instructions and Prep for Assignments
In-Class Assignment #1
In-Class or Homework Assignment #2
Works Cited:
Aronson, Marc, and Marina Budhos. Eyes of the World: Robert Capa, Gerda Taro, and the Invention of Modern Photojournalism. Henry Holt and Company, 2017.
“Crossing Over – The Website of Author Marina Budhos.” Crossing Over - The Website of
Author Marina Budhos, 2019, www.marinabudhos.com/.
California Common Core State Standards. California Department of Education, 2013.
