Date of Award
8-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Rhetorics, Communication, and Information Design
Committee Chair/Advisor
David Blakesley
Committee Member
Aga Skrodzka
Committee Member
Johannes Schmidt
Committee Member
Michael Meng
Abstract
This dissertation examines the potential role of short-form video as a new form of Holocaust representation in the 21st century. The need to forge connections between present/future generations and this chapter in history has taken on greater urgency, given that the last remaining survivors and eyewitnesses will soon be gone while white nationalist sentiment has swelled in recent years. This work addresses the question, How can we ensure that the Holocaust remains a contemporary subject, especially for young people? For decades, the public has relied on museums, movies, classroom lectures, and recorded testimonies to learn about the Holocaust. However, these long-trusted sources of knowledge have seen their influence decline in an age of increasing interactivity. Thanks to ever-evolving communication practices and the widespread availability of smartphones and other portable devices, people have more agency than ever regarding how they interact with media. Short- form video is one result of this, and because it is a democratized practice, more voices and perspectives can contribute to Holocaust knowledge, creating a more diverse understanding of this event while inviting digital users to play an active role in prolonging Holocaust memory.
Recommended Citation
Williams, David, "Traces From the Abyss: Short-Form Video, Self-Reflexivity, and Holocaust Visual Rhetoric" (2025). All Dissertations. 4096.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/4096