Remembering to Forget: Holocaust Memory through the Camera's Eye

by Barbie Zelizer

Barbie Zelizer reveals the unique significance of the photographs taken at the liberation of the concentration camps in Germany after World War II. She shows how the photographs have become the basis of our memory of the Holocaust and how they have affected our presentations and perceptions of contemporary history's subsequent atrocities. Impressive in its range and depth and illustrated with more than 60 photographs, Remembering to Forget is a history of contemporary photojournalism, a compelling chronicle of these unforgettable photographs, and a fascinating study of how collective memory is forged and changed.

"[A] fascinating study. . . . Here we have a completely fresh look at the emergence of photography as a major component of journalistic reporting in the course of the liberation of the camps by the Western Allies. . . . Well written and argued, superbly produced with more photographs of atrocity than most people would want to see in a lifetime, this is clearly an important book."—Omer Bartov, Times Literary Supplement

Genres: History, Holocaust, American History

300 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1998

Reviews

[Chloe Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating to follow the idea of following the holocaust memory through the lens of the camera

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for a class. Like the other readers, if I had just picked it up to read, I wouldn't have finished it. The author spends a lot of time quoting other people and saying the same thing in one continuous loop. HOWEVER, this is the first Holocaust book I have EVER read that admits that the world put a lot of emphasis on the Holocaust, and none on many other atrocities around the same time and the ensuing 50 years. So very few scholars will admit this, and it drives me crazy. The thesis of the book was how the Holocaust coverage in image and text has actually caused the West to witness and forget future atrocities, as though images leave us feeling morally excused to move on, since we faithfully bore witness by looking. This was a refreshing, non-political viewpoint, although still an assertion that politics plays a significant role in collective memory.

[Donnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compelling book about photography and the Holocaust, but mostly its about the impact photojournalism has had on how we conceptualize atrocity in our society. It's not an easy read, but it is very stimulating.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't complete Remembering to Forget. It was a very difficult book to read, and I just couldn't make it to the end.