click here for movie (quicktime 2.5mb)
the new holocaust memorial in berlin , designed by Peter Eisenman. hard to describe the feeling as you walk through the seemingly endless lines of stones, i'm not really sure that this film even gets close.
thank you to sarah anderson (sazah_anderson@[NO SPAM]hotmail.com )
for composing the music, and for not losing me in the maze.
13 comments:
I saw a very interesting documentary about the creation of this memorial. It discussed the various concepts for the space and the attitude in Germany towards memorializing the holocaust. The current young generation is describing their development of guilt-over-saturation where everyone wants for them to condemn and atone for the holocaust - even though kids are feeling more and more removed from it as it recedes into a more historical context. On the other side, survivors and survivors' children were discussing how some of them thought that the memorial was necessary and more were needed - while yet others felt the memorial would be a cheap "out" for trying to absolve guilt. It was a really interesting documentary that allowed for a very interesting and necessary conversation.
Living in a country that performed it's own genocide - albeit less talked about and vilified - against the native people of North America, it brought up a lot of interesting points. In America, I can't ignore the fact that I have my position in life at the expense of our genocide and the enslaving of Africans. Sure I didn't do it. But what is my responsibility to atone for those crimes? We also have no memorial for those darker parts of American history, but would such a memorial feel like a tacky gesture and great imbalance compared to the atrocity it would be memorializing?
How about the british empire... shouldn't there be a memorial for all that happened from building that up? Why are Americans and British school children talk to feel pride in their wrongs, while Germans are taught to feel guilt? Perhaps if Americans were taught an honest and guilt-worthy version of our history we wouldn't be so prone to dumbing-down our current foreign policy into bumper-sticker justificiations like "Freedom Isn't Free."
Don't know. Thinking out loud.
it is a really great place...moving...I just wish more people had reverance for it...too many people running around screaming... but in your video the music and the images made the people running around seem ok.... http://flickr.com/photos/joshleo/33360319/
'In October 2003, it was discovered that the German company Degussa provided some materials for the memorial. Construction was halted, because a daughter company of Degussa had produced the Zyklon B poison used to murder people in the Nazi gas chambers. After some discussion, construction was resumed one month later, with continued involvement of Degussa.'
(from wikipedia)
i guess those guys didn't do it for free... now and then...
i think it's never to much about what had happened even if somebody is feeling more and more removed from guilt.
thanks for this video Duncan.
Nice work
I love the running kid - hi makes the video interesting. He wakes you up - makes you curious - he makes the beautiful pictures come alive.
I love him.
(And I agree - kids can be a pain in the ass)
yes everytime better and averytime harder to comment, sure they are a real lesson about making vlog
I often wonder about the Holocaust.
I believe that everything happens for a reason, and often it is our enemies who spur us to action and reveal our greatest life lessons.
I always say "beautiful gardens grow from dunghills."
But the Holocaust stands apart. It is the paradox of my personal theological philosophy.
Maybe someday, we will all understand.
I can only hope that from great tragedy, there will come great good.
that's really moving Duncan..
and her voice is amazing too!
I saw the same series of documentaries as Emoriot; aired on PBS, a whole, devistating, blatant, terrible honesty unfolded. No one can be absolved for carrying hate in their heart. The Memorial, as I see it here (thank you), doesn't stand to achieve this or to accuse anyone anymore. There is no anyone, because the pillars or columns have no voice to express fully the atrocities. Although the Memorial, its floor, reflects or replicates those of the many gas chambers, its a burdened heart perhaps that cannot see that the Memorial stands for all who are no more.
hey, not an arty film student or sort, but i thought it was a moving film. great work, esp with the music. love your blog too! linked it to mine.
I just signed up on your feed. well edited, moving post. the mood was very appropriate and it seems like you got a really interesting discussion going.
nice.
haunting, riveting, truly powerful beyond words
Such a simple yet moving movie. Thank you for making it available to me. It's incredible.
oh my this one rocks.. a good 10/10 , makes me see new places too .. the picture is so clear.
nice work duncan
John
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