Kommentar |
Germany, especially Berlin, is no stranger to exhibitions and memorial sites that have aroused much controversy and often acrimonious debate. In this course, however, we will explore a number of controversial exhibitions and their media fall-out from around the world in order to analyse the roots of controversies and address some the questions arising from them on an internationally comparative basis. In addition to some German examples, controversial exhibits from North America and Europe will be reviewed with a view to exploring the causes and consequences of displaying sensitive topics and prepare students for the challenges they might encounter when planning exhibitions on potentially difficult topics. While some secondary sources will be on a recommended reading list (Young, Welz, Ostow, Kischenblatt-Gimblett) we aim to have students predominantly explore the primary sources surrounding the exhibitions themselves (catalogues and excerpts from print and visual media). |