Forms of representation of Nazi crimes in the context of Austrian film productions

Abstract

In my dissertation, I investigate different forms of representation of Nazi crimes in Austrian films and films co-produced with Austria. My selection of films focuses on the use of different forms of representation such as re-enactments, interviews and the use of archival material. The central questions of my investigation are: With which cinematic means are memories, narratives, and images represented? How do films influence the culture of memory? How can something as intangible as memory be visualized? The dissertation also investigates the question of whether the messenger report is a suitable alternative to the dominant cinematic forms of representation of Nazi crimes. Contrary to the frequently used cinematic method of staging scenes by actors as re-enactments that pretend to be authentic, the messenger in the messenger report does not claim to be a witness of what s/he reports, i.e., to have been “there.” S/He is and remains a distanced mediator and is aware of it.

Short biography

Christoph Kolar lives and works in Vienna. 2005 School Friedl Kubelka for Artistic Photography; 2006: International Summer Academy of Arts Salzburg, Class: VALIE EXPORT; 2006-2011 Academy of fine Arts Vienna, Department for Conceptional Art: Marina Grzinic; Since 2011 Doctorate in philosophy at the Academy of fine Arts Vienna; 2017 Vienna – Jerusalem Graduate School/„Memory and the city“, Austrian Academy of Sciences/Hebrew University of Jerusalem; 2019 Vienna – Jerusalem Graduate School/„Memory and media – media of memory“, Austrian Academy of Sciences/Hebrew University of Jerusalem; 2021-2022 Academy of fine Arts Vienna: Lectureship Program for Doctoral Student. Participate at national and international film festivals (selection): Filmbüro Bremen, Dresdner Schmalfilmtage, European Media Art Festival, PROYECTOR: festival international devideoarte, Madrid, Loop Film festival Barcelona, Dok Film Kassel, VIENNALE, Athens Video Art Festival. Participate at national and international exhibitions (selection): „UnortNung V“, „Was wäre Wien ohne Gemeindebau“, „Art Stays“ Slovenia, „MOST“ Budapest, Architekturzentrum Wien, Soho in Ottakring.