Approaches to History (393-0-20)
Topic
Holocaust Memory
Instructors
Stefan Cristian Ionescu
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 2-325: Mon, Wed 3:30PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
The most well-known and best documented case of genocide of the 20th century, the Holocaust, attracted the attention of both the general public and academics, who were especially interested in understanding what happened during WWII and the reasons for human participation in such a horrendous event. Holocaust survivors and their families and communities and the broader postwar societies engaged in various forms of private and public commemoration and remembrance after the defeat of the Axis by 1945. Scholars seemed to have been less interested in Holocaust memory during the first postwar decades. The increased presence of the survivors' voices through various forms of public testimony, from the publication of ego-documents to their participation in education and commemoration activities and Holocaust representation in mass-media, including film and graphic novels, contributed to the growing interest in Holocaust memory in academic and the broader society. As the result, the last four decades had witnessed a boom in the research on Holocaust memory and commemorative practices. Our examination of Holocaust memory will be based primarily on historical texts of Holocaust scholars as well as on postwar autobiographical accounts of survivors and on their participation in commemorative practices.
Learning Objectives
By completing this course: Students will familiarize themselves with the major theoretical concepts related to memory studies and case studies of Holocaust memorialization. Students will learn to identify arguments regarding controversial historical questions and to formulate and support an original historical argument using primary and secondary sources. Students will improve their analytical, writing and communication skills through close readings of texts, class discussions, and writing papers. Learn how to properly structure a thesis-driven paper, how to apply appropriate methods of citation, and how to use a clear writing style that conveys historical knowledge, ideas, and evidence in a mature, readily understood manner.
Evaluation Method
Research paper; Canvas discussion posts; class participation
Class Notes
Concentration: European
Class Attributes
Historical Studies Distro Area