'This Is Not Happening To Me': Places of Holocaust and the Problem of Traumatic Representation

In this article, the problem of traumatic representation and the possibilities of experience and prosthesis in solving this problem are discussed. Through an analysis of trauma as an inherently ownerless concept, a (re)presentation of trauma becomes available to anyone by mass-mediated prosthetic ex...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Dutch crossing 2010-11, Vol.34 (3), p.215-227
Main Author: van Kaam, Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ACHTERHUIS
ANNE FRANK
HOLOCAUST
MEMORY
MUSEUM
SHOAH
TRAUMA
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Summary:In this article, the problem of traumatic representation and the possibilities of experience and prosthesis in solving this problem are discussed. Through an analysis of trauma as an inherently ownerless concept, a (re)presentation of trauma becomes available to anyone by mass-mediated prosthetic experiences. Not the reality of the experience, but the realness of it counts. The theory on prosthetic memory undermines authenticity and focuses on performativity, and, as this latter concept parallels the basic structure of trauma, can thus create a better understanding of massive traumatic events that are otherwise unavailable to representation, such as the Holocaust. This article exemplifies this thesis through the idea of 'places of Holocaust', which are spaces in which the Holocaust is remembered. The virtual museum of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam is such a space, as it gives its visitors the possibility of experiencing the (traumatic) event of living in the Achterhuis.
ISSN:0309-6564
1759-7854
DOI:10.1179/030965610X12820418688534