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WiSe 22/23: Representations, Traces and Silences: Depictions of the Holocaust and the Second World War in the Visual Arts of the XXth century

Agata Pietrasik

Kommentar

The Holocaust and the second World War are among the most represented historical events in the modern history. The memory studies scholar Marianne Hirsch called the Holocaust “one of the best visually documented events in the history of an era.” At the same this historical event triggered famous philosophical debates about the limits of artistic expression. In this seminar we will study how the Holocaust has been represented in the visual arts and unpack various paradoxes and questions posed by these representations. We will also study the way various images became entangled in different social and political agendas. The focus of the seminar lies in the second half of the 20th century and gives special attention to art made during the Holocaust and in its immediate aftermath. We will explore artistic practices from Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland, countries where the the Holocaust was perpetrated, collectively termed “the bloodlands” by historian Timothy D. Snyder. Moreover, we will study how the visual arts were involved in shaping public and private Holocaust remembrance during the Cold War interacting with the realms of politics. Finally we will also open up discussion on how representations of the Holocaust can be related to depictions of other violent and traumatic events in the 20th century such as the bombing of Hiroshima, or the Bosnian and Rwandan genocides. The seminar will offer an opportunity to reflect on wider questions of artistic practices in times of war, representations and the effects of trauma and violence in visual arts. The seminar will be mainly held in English and aims to encourage students to improve and apply their academic language skills in a supportive atmosphere. Readings will be in German and English. Schließen

16 Termine

Regelmäßige Termine der Lehrveranstaltung

Do, 12:00 - 14:00 16 Termine

Do, 20.10.2022 12:00 - 14:00

Dozenten:
Agata Pietrasik