Holocaust and Memory — HIS
Instructor: Dr. Andrea PETŐ
E mail: petoand@t-online.hu Time: Tuesday 14.15- 17.00
Required Text: Reader available at the administration
Imre Kertesz, Fateless. Northwestern University Press, 1992.
Available at the CEU Bookshop 5th district. Zrinyi 18, Tel: 327 3096, Website: www.ceu.hu, E-mail: bookshop@ceu.hu, Metro: M1 Deák tér/M2 Kossuth tér, Open: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 10am-5pm.
Course description
The course aims to explain how the Holocaust happened, how "ordinary men" became ruthless killers and how everybody else let it go on, remains one of the most perplexing issues of the twentieth century, if not all of history. The frame of the discussion will be an overview of history of Nazism in Europe and consideration of such issues as the problems of doing Holocaust history, representations of the Holocaust, and Holocaust memory. The course also aims to interrogate the emerging field created by the intersection of Jewish Studies and memory to study the literary and artistic representation of the Holocaust. The course covers the topics of how Memory of Holocaust is inscribed, framed, mediated and performed. The course also consists of field trips to the Jewish monuments of Hungary and to the major memorial sites.
COURSE REQUIREMENT:
Classes will consist of lectures and discussions. You are expected to read the readings and check the required websites before the class. The discussions are an integral part of the course and your participation in them and engagement with the material will be factored into final grades. Familiarity with readings and films is crucial for success in the course. Course requirements are midterm (40%) and one paper from the list of papers submitted on the last class (40%) and an active participation in class discussions and in the field trips. (20%). The papers should follow clear structure (introduction, statement, discussion, conclusion, bibliography) and should demonstrate your ability to master the required readings (3 references to concepts discussed in the readings).
Papers (1500 words total, use MLA style)
Choose ONE from the three topics!
1. Read the novel by Kertesz and choose one topic for analysing it! For help see the e version of Tottosy,Vasvari volume.
2. After the visit of the Holocaust Memorial Center analyze the representation of different experiences of the Holocaust?
3. Compare your own experiences with the textbook: how to teach the Holocaust!
Guidelines for reading
1. Compare the information in the articles with the novel you have read, would the same argument apply? Why? Why not? What are the differences?
2. How does the reading of these articles change your view of the Holocaust?
3. Whose problems are being addressed in these articles, who is asking questions, who provides the answers and who may profit from the knowledge and insights provided by these historians?
4. How do the historical scholarship and mainstream academia address the issue of experiences?
For basic history and links see
http://www2.dsu.nodak.edu/users/dmeier/Holocaust/holocau.html
Timeline
http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/holocaust/timeline.html