Overview

Both Eyes Open – Educator Site

Using Art to Tell the Story

In 1942 during World War II, 125,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated through President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066.  About two thirds of these were American citizens. The resulting upheaval, polarization, and generational suffering of the Japanese American community continues to this day.

There are historical, films, plays, books, documentaries, and other resources available through many different outlets. While keeping these resources alive is essential, there are very few stories of the Incarceration that focus on the psychological and emotional impact.

“Both Eyes Open” (BEO) is a chamber opera by composer Max Giteck Duykers and librettist Philip Kan Gotanda, which premiered in San Francisco in 2022, and continues to be performed and garner acclaim.  Both Eyes Open focusses on a central character who lost his livelihood, his family, and his faith in his country, and the piece suggests paths toward healing.  It is a fictional story based on true events. 

We have compiled these “Educator Modules”, which include clips from the opera with historical annotations, bullet points for discussion, and some classroom activities.  This content has been developed with our advisory committee.  We hope this BEO Educator project may be useful to support classroom discussion about the emotional and psychological impact of the Incarceration, and to inspire other creative projects which use art to tell the story.