https://padlet.com/dmaster4/n33jpx8wb01wbnqi en-us 2021-02-13 18:14:25 UTC 2023-05-11 07:52:18 UTC hello@padlet.com dmaster4 https://padlet.com/dmaster4/n33jpx8wb01wbnqi/wish/1199640933 Escape From Camp 14’s main character Shin grew up in an environment where he had no personal connections and lived only for himself, essentially numbing himself to anything other then the thought of survival. With this said a fitting theme song for the film adaptation of this book would be Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd, this song gives the listener a lethargic feeling which goes well with the sad and deprived feeling Camp 14 radiates. Comfortably Numb relates to the book as they share a common theme of numbness, the song starts with a doctor talking to a patient asking where it hurts, the patient later exclaiming that he has a feeling of numbness “ I have become comfortably numb”(Floyd 22). Due to the harsh conditions Shin endured during his time in Camp 14, he became more tempered and learned to survive without any consideration for others he felt no guilt, no pain, no love, and no attachment to people even his own parents were not an exception. “I am evolving from being an animal,' he said. 'But it is going very, very slowly. Sometimes I try to cry and laugh like other people, just to see if it feels like anything. Yet tears don't come. Laughter doesn't come.” (Harden 231). Numbness became a requirement in Shins life even during his transition to society he still had trouble getting attached to anyone or opening up. Shin even went as far as to lie during his interview as even after all this time he still had this same feeling of self-preservation which manifested as numbness. The song fit perfectly as through all the gloomy and horrific scenes this song seems fitting due to its slow tempo and its lyrics which speak of pain and numbness. Additionally, Pink Floyd at the end of the song mentions how as he grew and got rid of his dream and became numb, just like Camp 14 does to its prisoners it takes away any hopes of escaping or living life making the people grow into soulless animals.

]]> 2021-02-13 18:16:30 UTC https://padlet.com/dmaster4/n33jpx8wb01wbnqi/wish/1199640933 dmaster4 https://padlet.com/dmaster4/n33jpx8wb01wbnqi/wish/1199642308 This memoir had lots of unexpected twist and turns as Shin tried his hardest to survive in grueling winters and through famine. Escape from Camp 14 had many aspects that infuriated me, being held in a closed pen as if they were livestock being sent to death or punished for seemingly innocent acts, like eating rodents they would find running around. The camps were created to punish people who have wronged yet they go beyond that and punish the innocent, those who are related to the criminals or those who knew the criminals. Through all these hardships people became less than humans, they turned against one for just a small chance of surviving for another day. “’I was more faithful to the guards than to my family. We were each other’s spies.’” (Harden 88). Shin grew up in these conditions and never knew why, he never had any past to remember or pride to protect all he wanted was to survive. This lack of morals surprised me, Shin even went as far as to turn his own brother and mother into authorities just so he could gain something from it, he watched as they executed his mother with not even one tear in his eye. Looking back at it I do not think he even understood that family wasn’t just a title it was a relationship that was to never be broken. It was not his fault though; it really helps put me in my place on the outlook of my life I sometimes complain about small hardships I go through yet Shin despite living in the most grueling conditions never complained once. It really helped me appreciate the small things in life like the food on my table and a bed to sleep in. It did make me question if this happened in 2004 what is happening now, has North Korea become less self-destructive or have they increase the amount of prisoners in their camps and implemented new ways to destroy people physically and mentally?

]]> 2021-02-13 18:17:28 UTC https://padlet.com/dmaster4/n33jpx8wb01wbnqi/wish/1199642308 dmaster4 https://padlet.com/dmaster4/n33jpx8wb01wbnqi/wish/1199643864 Escape from Camp 14 recounts true events about the North Korean internment camps, but this is not the only place in the world where people are being forced into labor and imprisoned. In Xinjiang, China the government claims to have started re-education facilities for the poor and to tackle religious extremists. Though many satellite images show forced labor making it a modern-day prisoner camp “The US has placed sanctions on Chinese politicians allegedly involved and earlier this month blocked some exports it said had been made with "forced labour".” (BBC ###). This is in many ways the same as Camp 14, they are taken into these camps as criminals and are forced into labor by either their beliefs or simply they status as people. China tries to make themselves seem innocent and doing it for the good of their country yet every government that started internment camps have being doing it for the “Good of their country” yet this is completely unacceptable. Through Shins recounts it is well known that these camps dehumanize people making them shells of their original self, these re-education facilities are the same as camps in North Korea.  To add to this horror, we still do not have a full image of the extent the prisoners of these camps are being tormented too. Shin gives a good idea of what happens in these places. “Shin's brother looked gaunt and frail as guards tied him to the wooden post. Three guards fired their rifles three times.” (Harden 108). Camp 14 took traitors and punished them for what they have done even though all they really wanted was to be free and able to have a life. The camps in china also did this they took innocent people and made them into criminals forcing them to the verge of death and punishing them for nothing.

]]> 2021-02-13 18:18:34 UTC https://padlet.com/dmaster4/n33jpx8wb01wbnqi/wish/1199643864 dmaster4 https://padlet.com/dmaster4/n33jpx8wb01wbnqi/wish/1199645084 Shin never understood or knew of the outside world so when he meets Park a man who used to live in the capitol of North Korea he was intrigued with his stories. As of that moment he was not on a straight road to  his death in the camp he was finally able to think about getting out of Camp 14.  This picture shows a man and instead of going straight he takes a road leading in another direction. This shows the theme of change, Shin was willing to leave this life of starvation and tragedy and able to escape “He suddenly understood where he was and what he was missing. Camp 14 was no longer home. It was an abhorrent cage.” (Harden 152). Shin now saw Camp 14 for what it is and wanted to change his life around. This mindset of change also helped him adapt to the new world quicker and be more open to the world he never knew of.

]]> 2021-02-13 18:19:19 UTC https://padlet.com/dmaster4/n33jpx8wb01wbnqi/wish/1199645084 dmaster4 https://padlet.com/dmaster4/n33jpx8wb01wbnqi/wish/1199645349 2021-02-13 18:19:31 UTC https://padlet.com/dmaster4/n33jpx8wb01wbnqi/wish/1199645349