Although the Holocaust took place in the middle of the 20th century, its remembrance has become as a major presence in contemporary life, both across the United States and in countries around the world. The Holocaust is recalled not merely, or even primarily, because of its historical significance, but for its value as a moral paradigm. This Contemporary Challenges course examines how Holocaust remembrance figures in contemporary social and cultural practices as a model for deriving lessons from the past in order to respond to traumatic losses, address present social injustices, and prevent future acts of intolerance.
The course analyzes the development of Holocaust memory from the end of World War II to the present. Examples studied include works produced in the Americas, Europe, and Israel, and in an array of forms, including documentary and fictional film, radio and television broadcasting, museum displays, tourist practices, monuments, and visual art.
Fulfills Core Learning Goal CCD.