On the former site of KL Auschwitz, Witnessing Auschwitz students conducted several types of research and challenged themselves to present information in the video format. The videos that you may navigate to via the menu on the left are the result of select students’ interest and commitment to digital humanities.
Digital humanities is a interdisciplinary field that aims to digitize and revolutionize education in the humanities. This can involve the creation of a wide range of digital learning tools, such as videos, podcasts, interactive maps, digital archives, oral history projects, statistical models, geospatial analyses, and other multimedia and data-driven mediums.
The creation of digital humanities videos disrupts traditional paradigms in humanities education by contesting the notion that knowledge is solely derived from text-based evidence and secondary sources. This paradigm shift holds particular significance in contexts where conventional/accepted sources of knowledge are tightly controlled by powerful institutions.
These digital humanities videos about Auschwitz mark a step in the shift in paradigm. They provide an accessible and engaging medium to convey historical knowledge and insights about Auschwitz, allowing them to reach a broader audience with varying academic backgrounds and sensory preferences.
The relatively short length of these videos presents a unique advantage in the context of Holocaust education. In an era of information overload and inclination for concise “scrollable” content, these digital humanities videos can capture viewers’ attention while providing information in efficient manners.
However, the process of creating these videos was not without challenges, such as ensuring that the tone and language are appropriate given the subject matter. Additionally, these videos were filmed in a place that has essentially become a tourist destination, which caused significant disruptions during the filming process.
Nevertheless, these videos are not only important to the Witnessing Auschwitz students who created them but also Holocaust education itself. Please feel free to explore them by clicking on any of the videos using the side menu.