This book is a study of the Berlin Holocaust Memorial Competitions of the 1990s, with a focus on designs that kindle empathetic responses. Through analysis of provocative designs, the book engages with issues of empathy, secondary witnessing, and depictions of concentration camp iconography. It explores the relationship between empathy and cultural memory when representations of suffering are notably absent. The book submits that one design represents the idea of an uncanny memorial, and also pays attention to viewer co-authorship in counter-monuments. Analysis of counter-monuments also include their creative engagement with German history and their determination to defy fascist aesthetics. As the winning design for The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is abstract with an information centre, there is an exploration of the memorial museum. Callaghan asks whether this configuration is intended to compensate for the abstract memorial’s ambiguity or to complement the design’s visceral potential. Other debates explored concern political memory, national memory, and the controversy of dedicating the memorial exclusively to murdered Jews.

This book considers tourism to memorial sites from a visitor’s point of view, challenging established theories in tourism and memory studies by critically appraising Germany’s often celebrated memory culture. Based on visitor observations and exit interviews, this book examines how domestic and international visitors negotiate their visits to the concentration camp memorials Ravensbrück and Flossenbürg, the House of the Wannsee Conference and the former Stasi prison Bautzen II. It argues that memorial sites are melting pots where family, national and global narratives meet. For German visitors, the visit to memorial sites is a confrontation with Germany's responsibility for the two dictatorships while for international visitors it can be a form of 'seeing is believing'. Ultimately, it is the immediacy of the space that is the most important part of the visit. Rooted in an interdisciplinary approach, this book will be of interest to academics and students in German Studies, Tourism and Heritage Studies, Museum Studies, Public History, and Memory Studies.

Visitor Experience at Holocaust Memorials and Museums is the first volume to offer comprehensive insights into visitor reactions to a wide range of museum exhibitions, memorials, and memory sites. Drawing exclusively upon empirical research, chapters within the book offer critical insights about visitor experience at museums and memory sites in the United States, Poland, Austria, Germany, France, the UK, Norway, Hungary, Australia, and Israel. The contributions to the volume explore visitor experience in all its complexity and argue that visitors are more than just "learners". Approaching visitor experience as a multidimensional phenomenon, the book positions visitor experience within a diverse national, ethnic, cultural, social, and generational context. It also considers the impact of museums’ curatorial and design choices, visitor motivations and expectations, and the crucial role emotions play in shaping understanding of historical events and subjects. By approaching visitors as active interpreters of memory spaces and museum exhibitions, Popescu and the contributing authors provide a much-needed insight into the different ways in which members of the public act as "agents of memory", endowing this history with personal and collective meaning and relevance. Visitor Experience at Holocaust Memorials and Museums offers significant insights into audience motivation, expectation, and behaviour. It is essential reading for academics, postgraduate students and practitioners with an interest in museums and heritage, visitor studies, Holocaust and genocide studies, and tourism.

This is the first book to explore national representations of slavery in an international comparative perspective. Contributions span a wide geographical range, covering Europe, North America, West and South Africa, the Indian Ocean and Asia.

How do you experience a public space? Do you feel safe? Seen? Represented? The response to these questions may differ based on factors including your race, age, ethnicity, or gender identity. In Empathic Design, designer and architecture professor Elgin Cleckley brings together leaders and visionaries in architecture, urban design, planning, and design activism to explore what it means to design with empathy. Empathic designers work with and in the communities affected. They acknowledge the full history of a place and approach the lived experience and memories of those in the community with respect. Contributors explore broader conceptual approaches and highlight design projects including the Harriet Tubman Memorial in Newark, which replaced a long-standing statue of Christopher Columbus; and restoration of the Freedom Center in Oklahoma City, first built by civil activist Clara Luper to provide a safe place for gathering and youth education; and The Camp Barker Memorial in Washington, D.C., which commemorates a "contraband camp" used to house former slaves who had been captured by the Union Army. Empathic Design provides essential approaches and methods from multiple perspectives, meeting the needs of our time and holding space for readers to find themselves.

This book asks a deceptively simple question: what are states actually doing when they do penance for past injustices? Why are these penitential gestures - especially the gesture of apology - becoming so ubiquitous and what implications do they carry for the way power is exercised? Drawing on the work of Schmitt, Foucault and Agamben, the book argues that there is more at stake in sovereign acts of repentance and redress than either the recognition of the victims or the legitimacy of the state. Driven, it suggests, by an interest in 'healing', such acts testify to a new biopolitical raison d'état in which the management of trauma emerges as a critical expression of attempts to regulate the life of the population. The Penitent State seeks to show that the key issue created by the 'age of apology' is not whether sovereign acts of repentance and redress are sincere or insincere, but whether the political measures licensed in the name of healing deserve to be regarded as either restorative or just.

This volume extends the theoretical scope of the important concept of empathy by analysing not only the cultural contexts that foster the generating of empathy, but in focusing also on the limits of pro-social feelings and the mechanisms that lead to its blocking.

Global Perspectives on the Holocaust: History, Identity and Legacy expands coverage of the Holocaust from the traditional focus upon Europe to a worldwide and interdisciplinary perspective. Articles by historians, political scientists, educators, and geographers, as well as scholars in religious studies, international relations, art history, film and literature are included in this volume. Contributors include Gerhard L. Weinberg, Alexandra Zapruder, and Paul Bartrop, as well as scholars from five continents. The "History" section features new scholarship on the Holocaust in Scandinavia; the p.

Discover the riveting story of Stalingrad, a battle that shaped the course of history, with our exclusive book bundle "Stalingrad: Siege and Soviet Victory." This carefully curated collection takes you on an immersive journey through the harrowing events, personal accounts, and lasting impact of one of the most decisive battles of World War II. Dive into the pages of these four captivating volumes and unlock a deeper understanding of the Battle of Stalingrad. Book 1 - "The Battle of Stalingrad: Turning the Tide": Immerse yourself in the heart of the conflict as you witness the ebb and flow of the battle that turned the tide of World War II. Uncover the strategic maneuvers, the heroism of the soldiers, and the monumental moments that shifted the balance of power. With gripping narratives and expert analysis, this volume brings to life the intensity and significance of the battle that changed the course of the war. Book 2 - "Voices from the Ruins: Surviving Stalingrad": Step into the shoes of those who endured the unimaginable horrors of Stalingrad's siege. Through firsthand accounts, memoirs, and interviews with survivors, you'll witness the courage, resilience, and unbreakable spirit of the soldiers and civilians trapped in the city. This poignant volume illuminates the human side of the battle, offering a profound perspective on the indomitable nature of the human spirit. Book 3 - "Stalingrad: The Cold War Echoes": Uncover the far-reaching implications of the Battle of Stalingrad beyond the confines of World War II. Delve into the post-war era and explore how the battle reverberated through the Cold War, influencing military strategies, shaping diplomatic relations, and defining the ideological divide. This volume provides a unique perspective on the enduring legacy of Stalingrad and its impact on global geopolitics. Book 4 - "Stalingrad Revisited: Commemorating the Past, Shaping the Future": Engage with the present and reflect on the commemoration and remembrance of Stalingrad. Discover how the battle is memorialized, study its lasting impact on national identities, and explore the lessons learned from this historic event. This volume examines how Stalingrad continues to shape the future, inspiring efforts for peace, reconciliation, and a deeper understanding of the human experience. With the "Stalingrad: Siege and Soviet Victory" book bundle, you'll have a comprehensive collection at your fingertips, providing a panoramic view of the battle from different perspectives and dimensions. Immerse yourself in the meticulously researched accounts, powerful narratives, and thought-provoking analysis that bring this pivotal moment in history to life. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a student of military strategy, or someone captivated by human resilience, this book bundle is an invaluable addition to your library. Dive into the rich tapestry of Stalingrad's siege, the Soviet victory, and the enduring legacy that still resonates today. Don't miss this opportunity to own the complete "Stalingrad: Siege and Soviet Victory" book bundle. Order now and embark on a journey through the depths of history, where bravery, sacrifice, and the human spirit shine through amidst the chaos of war. This collection is a must-have for anyone seeking a profound understanding of Stalingrad's significance and its lasting impact on our world.

This book analyzes contemporary visual art produced in the context of conflict and trauma from a range of countries, including Colombia, Northern Ireland, South Africa, and Australia. It focuses on what makes visual language unique, arguing that the "affective" quality of art contributes to a new understanding of the experience of trauma and loss. By extending the concept of empathy, it also demonstrates how we might, through art, make connections with people in different parts of the world whose experiences differ from our own. The book makes a distinct contribution to trauma studies, which has tended to concentrate on literary forms of expression. It also offers a sophisticated theoretical analysis of the operations of art, drawing on philosophers such as Gilles Deleuze, but setting this within a postcolonial framework. Empathic Vision will appeal to anyone interested in the role of culture in post-September 11 global politics.