The Irony of Artistic Expression: Part 2

World War II saw the branding of the yellow Star of David as the representation of the Jew.  In November of 1938, head of the German Gestapo, Reinhard Heydrich suggested that every Jew should be required to wear the yellow Star of David on his or her clothing.  Prior to this, it was very difficult to distinguish European Jews from non-Jews.  Once implemented, the yellow Star of David became the badge worn by every Jew, and the very public persecution of the Jews was underway.  Forced to wear the star, Jews were immediately recognizable, kicked to the edge of society, herded into open-air prisons called ghettos, cattle cars, and, eventually death camps.

At first, Jews were humiliated by the badge.  Eventually, they were terrified. A Jew caught without a badge could be fined, beaten, imprisoned, or killed.  Caught with a wrinkled Star or one slightly out of place could result in a severe beating.  Wearing a yellow star meant exclusion from society, access to schools, and business.  Before long, people wearing the Star mysteriously began disappearing, never to reappear.

Simultaneously, the Star of David was painted on the window of Jewish owned shops.  A very public campaign to boycott all of the Jewish economy was underway as people stayed clear of any shop tagged with the Star of David.

 

Today, because of the atrocities of the Holocaust, the Star of David has become a national symbol.

But it has also become a symbol of racism, power, hatred, and occupation.  Today, closed down Palestinian shops are being tagged with the Star of David.

Here lies the second irony of artistic expression.