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Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine public memory of the Holocaust and to analyse whether representations of the Holocaust have distorted the accuracies of the atrocities. By creating this potential distortion of the truth, several issues are raised concerning trivialisation and appropriation. Thus, resulting in the possibility of the Holocaust becoming a popular transgression opposed to accurate memory within visual culture. This thesis will first explore the truth, by verifying memory of survivor reflections and testimonies. The memory of survivors will then be compared to the fictionalised depiction of the Holocaust in visual culture. Firstly, taking into account Hollywood’s distorted portrayal of the atrocities, by the creation of the ‘Holocaust subgenre’. It will be argued that the Holocaust subgenre has created a distance between fact and fiction. To fully comprehend this distance, a textual analysis of popular Holocaust films, such as Schindler’s List (Spielberg, 1993) and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (Herman, 2008) will be required to thoroughly study the genre conventions and narrative structures evident within these texts. Subsequently, a new form of distance will become apparent; the distance between victim and spectator. An investigation will take place on social media, using platforms such as Instagram and TikTok as the premise for this study into the distance between victim and spectator.

Course: Media Studies - BA (Hons) - C1346

Date Deposited: 2022-08-10

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13983.html