Trauma, Museum and Tourism: Case of Jewish Museum Berlin
CHO LING School of Architecture and the Built Environment University of Newcastle, Callaghan University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Trauma, Museum and Tourism: Case of Jewish Museum Berlin CHO LING School of Architecture and the Built Environment University of Newcastle, Callaghan University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
ABSTRACT This paper analyses the intention of a memorial museum in expressing the history of an atrocity nature. There has been a strong link between the domains of Architecture, Ar chitecture, trauma, memory, and the impacts of those factors interplayed as a part of a museum. The case study of the Jewish Museum Berlin is used to analyse Architects intent with the tensions to both provocatively and respectfully consider representing the Jewish history, heritage and Holocaust experience and related memories. A series of literary works of a similar thematic agenda are considered in order to contextualise the research and to further demonstrate the critique proposing a new form of Tourism.
Keywords: memorial, atrocity, trauma, memory, Architecture, Jewish Museum Berlin, Holocaust, tourism
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT LIST OF FIGURES LIST OF TABLES 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
BACKGROUND RESEARCH GAP AND QUESTION RESEARCH AIM RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5
INTRODUCTION ROLE OF MUSEUM, ARCHITECTURE AND CONTEMPORARY MUSEUM MUSEUM, MEMORY AND TRAUMA MUSEUMS AS A FORM OF TOURISM CONCLUSION
3
METHODOLOGY
3.1 3.2 3.3
INTRODUCTION RESEARCH APPROACH APPLICATION OF METHODOLOGY
4
DISCUSSION
4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6
INTRODUCTION CASE STUDY: JEWISH MUSEUM BERLIN INTENTION OF THE ARCHITECT IDENTITY, MEMORY AND TRAUMA JEWISH MUSEUM BERLIN AND DARK TOURISM CONCLUSION
5
CONCLUSION
5.1
OBJECTIVE 1- IDENTITY, MEMORY AND TRAUMA
26
5.2
OBJECTIVE 2- JEWISH MUSEUM BERLIN AND DARK TOURISM
26
5.3
SCOPE FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
27
BIBLIOGRAPHY
4-5 5 6 6
7 7-8 8 9 9
10 10-11 11
12 13-15 15-17 18-21 22-25 25
28-29 2
LIST OF FIGURES
COVER PAGE
Daniel Libeskind, Jewish Museum Berlin Berlin, 1999
FIGURE 1
Aerial view of the Jewish Museum Berlin. Libeskind Building, Old Building, Garden of Exile, Holocaust Tower and Museum Garden.
FIGURE 2
Plan of Jewish Museum Berlin. Counterpoint Daniel Libeskind
FIGURE 3
Exterior View of the Jewish Museum Berlin. The Star of David.
FIGURE 4
The Holocaust Tower
FIGURE 5
Shalechet (Fallen Leaves) by Menashe Kadishman
FIGURE 6
Andres Serrano , Piss Christ, 1987
FIGURE 7
Damien Hirst, Mother and Child Divided , 1993
FIGURE 8
Museum of Garden. Jewish Museum Berlin
FIGURE 9
Museum of Garden. Jewish Museum Berlin
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE 1
Principles of Heterotopia
3
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND
This paper provides an overview and insight into the relationship between museum, trauma and eo. These topis ae otetualised i a oade ie as Meoial useus. The folloig
writing will provide an overview of the background to which the study is founded on, and the relationship between history and memory as an intertwining field. In order to construct a clear idea of how the topic emerged from the discourse, the relevant topic of how the field of trauma came into the interest as being represented in a museum is explore. Along with the understudy of what trauma is defined by. The research follows with the interpretation of some literary readings giving stance to trauma memory and its position within the history and museum discourse. The notion of what is considered important memory of our history has shifted dramatically over 1
tie. The histoial eo oe etold the elatio of a ouit o a atio to its past… . The 2
merging of past into present creates a very different way of distinguishing temporal boundaries . 3
The current debate regarding history and memory has been a challenging topic that Huyssen has provoked. He states that the understanding of memory is to be understood as a personal concept, and history, as a manifest of social, culture and public life. The argument is based upon deciding whether this is good or bad. However, it is not the intention of the research to imply whether history and memory museum is either, instead, this paper attempts to position the study as part of the whole contribution and outline key debates to explore the neglected permutations of the research. The importance of outlining the relations between history an memory and The sedutio of the ahie ad its toe of stories of human achievement and suffering hae ee ee geate
4
In attempt to conjure a popular and authentic sense of the experiential, the discourse of contemporary memory, concerned with the phenomenon of …remembering and forgetting, seeing and not seeing, transparency and occlusion, epeiee ad its asee i epetitio
5
was negotiated into the narrow definition of memory associated with conflict, violation, pain, suffering, loss and turmoil. Although this negotiated understanding of memory appeals to the domains of this research paper and agenda, the discourse of memory, as stated before, is only a narrow definition and may also be associated with other means of interpretation. With the term trauma being more defined in respect to the research alignment, the discussion of how the idea of trauma became a fundamental approach for memorial museums will be evident.
1
Huyssen, A. 2003. Present Pasts: Urban Palimpsests and the Politics of Memory. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
2
The temporal boundaries referring to the spati al dimension (place) combined with temporal dimension (time). 3
Huyssen, A. 2003. Present Pasts: Urban Palimpsests and the Politics of Memory. Stanford: Stanford University Press
4
Ibid. p. Ibid.p.8
5
4
The perspective of trauma in the discourse of memory often focuses on the personal aspect and occasional public occurrence where human relevance applies, however the reference to trauma in a historical sense is being stipulated as a means of relating the whole world to an event. This functions as a means of historical commemorative trauma to which forms an opening for the challenge of museums to represent and pervade.
1.2
RESEARCH GAP AND QUESTION
Radical changes made in the cultural and social domains of the world, l eads to the evolving nature of predetermined theory, ideas and architectural building types. It is from these revolutionary shifts in history, that the museums museums require alternate means means of representing those events events of the past. The 6
knowledge gained from the displays of event, objects or slices of time are important for the growth of society. It is imperative to study those specific moments of our history to transform the body of knowledge into a domain which carries human relevance and in the case of this research, a greater means of reaching and educating society with that history. The paper proposes that the museum building should be able to exhibit the history and architectural expression as part of the appeal for showing collections and exhibitions within the museum itself. The architecture of the institution should be an integral part of the a genda the museum is pushing to communicate. The discussion leads to the question, which pays particular attention to the genre of trauma-memory based museums, and not just to those with an emphasis on art or singular-themed collection focus. The emphasis of the research is on memorial museums that display dissolved social history, which solidifies the point of interest with using architecture as an apparatus to represent the unpresentable. The question of the paper is to analyse the relationship and investigate what architecture design methods are used to re-present a traumatic memory as a historical memoir in the form of a museum building type. The question leads onto debate what the outcomes of the memorial architecture generate.
6
Fouault, M, . Of Othe “paes. Othe “paes. The Affai of the Heteotopia. Ed. ‘itte, ‘olad. & Kalle -Vlay, Bernd. Austria: HAD Dokumente zur Architektur
5
1.3
RESEARCH AIM
The paper aims to address how the Design and Architecture of a Museum is now becoming an important part of informing and displaying a piece of History. By using architecture with a building type such as a museum, the institution is able to represent itself as a sculptural piece along with eig a itegal pat of o f the useus ageda eig ouiated .
The paper also aims to educate the reader on how the nature of museum has transformed over the years, with specific focus on the trauma-history and how that has been applied in the way of an architectural-museum. The paper also proposes that museums have potentially opened up an avenue of continued research as the institution becomes a gateway into a new form of Tourism.
1.4
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The objective of the research is:
To observe contemporary roles and agendas for museums that have focus on social and cultural significance
To gain a greater insight into the relationship between the Jewish Museum Berlin and its intended role as a museum
Understand that a museum is a form of Architectural sculpture piece that can further inform a visitor on the agenda the museum is representing
6
2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1
INTRODUCTION
The museum and the relationship it has with identity, empowerment and representation, has been a fuelled agendas for many years in the discourse of Architecture and its related fields. It continues to be a large domain in theory and practice of Architecture, being discussed alongside with key concerns such as the desig of the uildig ad ho it a aptue a slie of tie. The major issues that are fundamental in contextualising this research are the Role of Museum, Architecture and Contemporary Museum; Museum, Memory and Trauma; and the Museum and Tourism.
2.2
ROLE, ARCHITECTURE ARCHITECT URE AND CONTEMPORARY MUSEUM
The field of museology has been addressing the role of a museum as an educational vehicle articulating natural, science, social, and political agendas for centuries. The museum, as a public institution, as Bennett describes, is a istuet fo iilisig the oal s and manners of the 7
populatio . The museum is established as a place that is not just informative with the ordering of 8
objects and knowledge, but acts as a way of organising social routine and regulation . The role of the m useum has been deemed a platform where individuals are able to debate openly to different perspectives of displayed objects and knowledge, according to Knell, MacLeod and 9
Watson . The critiques suggest that a museum should adhere to set standards of organisation, for consistent evaluative purposes. Janes also confirms with this stance, by pointing out that the 10
institution of the museum has the social responsibility to uphold . Whilst we can consider how museums can set policies of reform, perhaps the role of a museum is more likely to be discussed along-side with the intention of a museum instead. As a building type intended for the educational and informative purposes of society, each museum argues for a different function, which is defined by what Agenda they are communicating. The contemporary shift of museums is identified mainly through the intention of the institution, and the ways in which the museum represents its intention, forming the topic of address for many critiques. It defines how the revolutionary nature of Museums is transforming so dramatically. Due to the rapidly changing intentions of contemporary museum and exhibitions today, questions about the what the focus of the institutions are pushing for, is becoming a critical debate. Understanding that there are critical moments being created in history that are becoming more challenging to communicate in a form of an exhibition, Architects, and professionals relevant to the field of
7
Bennett, T. 1995. The Birth of the Mu seum: History, Theory, Politics. London: Routledge. Beett, T. . The Ehiitioa Cople, New Formations 4: 73-102. 9 Knell, MacLeod, Watson (eds).2007. Museum Revolution: How Museums Change and are Changed. London & New York: Routledge. 10 Abram, R.J. 2005. Histor is as Histor Does: The Eolutio of a Missio -Drie Museu in in R.R. Janes & G.T. Conaty (eds) Looking Reality in the Eye: Museums and Social Responsibility . Calgary, Alberta: University of Calgary Press, pp.19-42. Also in Janes, R.R. 2009. Museums in a Troubled World: Ren ewal, Irrelevance or Collapse? Abingdon: Routledge. 8
7
Museum design, need to re-evaluate how to capture these services in a way that holds social 11
interest and relevance to the public . The classification of the museum as an institution that holds a higher power in educating and acting as a medium to which the general society gains knowledge from, offers a critical debate on what 12
topics a museum can teach to society . The potetial fo a useu to futio as a fotie to promote social and political agendas, or topics to promote truth, injustice or act as an icon for 13
empowerment, are all interpretations to what a contemporary museum can communicate . The methods in which a museum adopt to display the knowledge, can also determine the degree of 14
inspiration, stimulation and emotional experiences of the individual . Key literary works of Golding and Watson, elaborate on the need for museums to be representatives of key social issues, and as a key role in the community, are expected function in a specific way.
2.3
MUSEUM, MEMORY AND TRAUMA
The necessity to study and hold onto specific moments of our history, is observed by Pierre Nora, 15
stating the ipeatie of ou epoh…is to pesee ee idiato of eo , and as the useus oditio, it osides the site of eo par excellence par excellence. The relationship between an
object, place, or event in history displayed in a museum, can trigger a memory that contains human 16
relevance and interest . The way in which these elements are represented and communicated can register the genre of Museum, rather than based on what it displays. Architecture and museum has always been a collaborative field, with many examples of museums using the tool of Architecture as a way to express the design of the building or organise the interior of museum space. However, for some critiques, such as Hornstein, architecture has the ability to create beyond what is the physical site itself, a state of iagiatio, aifested ito a phsial plae to pooke a etal spatialised isual of epeiees. This sheds light oto hat is eessa to displa i a useu i ode to
provoke an emotional response or trigger a memory of the past. The writings of Hornstein reiterate that materials and Architecture can create spaces and or forms to make an individual remember and hold memory beyond what is the physical site itself. Since the shift in contemporary media, museums face challenges of reaching the desensitised interest of the viewer to value the experience and knowledge provided within a traditional building. Instead, museum designs and intentions are drifting toward phenomena, and recent interest in capturing the memory of events framed as unspeakable, traumatic and violent histories
17
. The relationships with how a museum can
commemorate trauma history has been, at large a social interest that has been contextualised with 18
the phenomena of memorial museums .
11
Hooper- Greenhill, Greenhill, E. 1994. Museus ad their Visitors . Lodo: ‘outledge Watson, Sheila E.R, 2007, Museums and their communities, Psychology Press 13 Golding, V. 2009. Learning at the Museum Frontiers: Identity, Rac e and Power . Farnham: Ashgate. 14 Hooper- Greenhill, Greenhill, E. 1994. Museus ad their Visitors . Lodo: ‘outledge 15 Noa, P. . Betee Meo & History: Lieux de Mémoire , Representations 26(1): 7-25. 16 Hornstein, S. 2011. Losig “ite: Arhiteture, Meor ad Plae . Canada: Ashgate Studies in Architecture 17 Williams, P. 2007. Memorial Museums: The Global Rush to Commemorate Atrocities . Oxford: Beg. Chapte : The Surviving Object: Presence and Absence in Memorial Museums, pp.25-50) 18 Ibid. 12
8
2.4
MUSEUM AND TOURISM 19
During the last decade, museums have been continually re-inventing themselves and shifting what use to be a focus on scholarly and cultural based exhibitions to a higher level of creativity. By displaying the collections of history in a new light, the museum is attempting to meet the public expectations. The act of visiting a museum, in the contemporary sense, can interpreted as a form of time and culture travel, where an individual may encounter various sites representing the experience of that time or place. It eales a idiidual to gai a sap -shot ad iagiatie experience. A journey through history, history, where the result is the visitor feeling empowered with with knowledge and engagement. The museum, as an institution of education, has taken the fundamental ways of transferring knowledge and produced a method to allow the visitor to learn using their own perspectives and debates to question what is, and what is left ambiguously unanswered. In a way, a museum and a theme park have very similar qualities, in that they are both 20
sites that are visited to re-live the experience of history . The qualities of tourism that the museum is linked to, is in reference to the recreational and leisurely activity that draws attention to that particular place, bringing social, cultural and economic opportunity. This form of tourism is a selfdirected activity that appears to be freely organised and accessible. However, as an architectural building type, there comes a system of logic and spatial organisation. Although it may not appear so, spaces within and surrounding museums, are arranged in such a way, as to gain maximum attention 21
and flow of people, allowing the best possible experiential learning . The intentions of the museum are to gain public interest and are of the utmost importance, whilst creating experimental displays for museum agendas. All these conditions will support the level of popular interest, and will provide economic opportunity. As much as the museum is a facet of education, it couples alongside with the motive to gain iconic popularity and appeal to society in a popular culture sense, rather than the connotations of an education institute, similar to that of a school.
2.5
CONCLUSION
In summation, the literature review has illuminated the intention of the museum, whilst directly influencing the representation of knowledge, objects and collections. To a small degree, the motive for the museum can influence the architectural form and sources of the institution itself. The museum, as a place of interest for individuals and societies to enlighten themselves with the agenda of the museum, are becoming obsolete, as a recreation place. This led to part reasoning for the revolutionary shifts in the way of contemporary museums conduct, organise and exhibit the knowledge. The quest to capture and preserve the experience of a place or time has been the forefront of contemporary design intent, and will continue to challenge the social and culture agendas to generate popularity and public interest.
19
Message, K. 2006. New Museums and the Making of Culture . Oxford: Berg. Ostwald, Michael J. 1996, "Understanding Cyberspace: Learning from Luna Park," Architecture Australia Volume 85, no. 2 21 Grenier, R.S, Sheckley, B. 2008. Out on the Floor: Experiential learning and the implications for the preparation of Docents. The Journal of Museum Education. Vol. 33. No. 1. Adult Learning in Museums. Left Coast Press. P.79-93 20
9
3
METHODOLOGY
3.1
INTRODUCTION
The dissemination of theoretical developments posits the origin of the focus in memorial-traumaemphasised museum, contributing to the body of understanding, as necessary information to begin with. Due to the evolutionary state of museums and the role architecture plays in developing it, the theory that supports each field must coincide with various other domains of study in order to create new and extended avenues of research. By looking at social and cultural domains that project knowledge from art and literature, society is able to study more specific permutations as a result. It is crucial for the knowledge gained from the projections of cultural insights to hold human relevance and contributes to the overall body of knowledge in the discourse of architecture.
3.2
RESEARCH APPROACH
The pia seletio ad sigifiae fo stud speulates the ok of Daiel Lieskids Jeish
Museum Berlin project and its exemplary condition in describing the key arguments of historical representation by architectural means, to provoke an experience highlighting a socially abominable history. 22
The use of a qualitative research paradigm allows for discovery and insight using the interpretation of featured literature with visual aid of the project. This process of data collection and analysis will provide a large body of work for exploration. Similar use of research approach will be applied to the field of museology, providing a foundation of study used to create a supporting framework. Secondary data sources collated through the essential texts of key writers of the field alongside with peer reviewed literature sources for the assurance of credibility form the bulk of the research. Through dismantling the project of the Jewish Museum Berlin, the strategy of the Case Study is adopted. In selecting the research approach, the next section of this paper will outline another research approach, which was a not used. It outlines a brief reason as to why the case study has been selected as the most appropriate for the research paper and not no t the alternate. By concentrating on the main literature of Holocaust museum critique, the descriptive explanation 23
of Lieskids desig itetios, ad the hose stae of Hoope -Greenhill , the study is grounded 24
through theoretical underpinnings to support the analysis. The literary readings of Hornstein , 25
26
Holtschneider and Golding , all present as prime methods of approach in developing the study for Atrocity Memorial Museums. By engaging in the exploration of the highlighted texts, a new interpretation of the evolving nature of the museum may be scrutinised. These readings invite the
22
Creswell. J. 2002. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Boston:SAGE Hooper-Greenhill, E. (ed.) 1999. Museum, Media, Message. London: Routledge. 24 Hornstein, S. 2011. Losig “ite: Arhiteture, Meor ad Plae . Canada: Ashgate Studies in Architecture 23
25
Holtschneider, H. 2011. The Holocaust and Representations of Jews: History and Identity in the Museum. London: Routledge. 26
Golding, V. 2009. Learning at the Museum Frontiers: Identity, Race and Power . Farnham: Ashgate.
10
reader to develop ideas that lead to evidently show the shift the museum has as a motive toward a 27
new form of Tourism . The selection of this research strategy is based on the understanding of various other methodologies 28 first outlined by Groat and Wang, 2002 . The similarities of the methodologies explained as a key literary source for the methodology of this research depicts how multiple approaches may be adopted. In the case of this paper, a combination of strategies will be used; Qualitative, Case Study and the use of Gro unded Theory.
3.4
APPLICATION OF METHODOLOGY METHODOLOGY
This chapter will outline the various phases to which the research r esearch methodologies were conducted. PHASE 1:
Analysed the key texts using literary r eadings and visual analysis. 29 Approach method of Grounded theory to establish firstly the key issues common in the literature and sources, grouping of key concepts to form a series of argument and discussions and the collation of explanations to explore the research topic. Identify nature of museum Role, Intention and the transformation via the Literature Review.
PHASE 2:
Analyse the relationship of Trauma, Memory and Museum relating to the Background information supporting the rationale of Memorial Museums. Relate case Study analysis with the impact of memorial museum Design and Identify intentions to create Deviance and a new form of Representation. 30 Qualitatively describe the intention for a new avenue of research to pursue; Memorial Museums, in particular the case of the Jewish Museum Berlin, may open toward a new form of Tourism.
PHASE 3:
Discuss the outcomes of the analysis, with respect to the major arguments discussed as part of the Literature Review. Draw conclusively a stance and suggest any further research potentials.
27
Lennon, J.J. & Foley, M. (eds) 2000. Dark Tourism. Andover: Cengage Learning EMEA. Groat, L, Wang, D. 2002. Architectural Research Methods. New York: John Wiley and Sons 29 Glaser, B, Strauss, A. 1967. The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Chicago: Aldine 30 Walliman, N. 2010. Research Methods: The Basics. New York: Routeledge 28
11
4
DISCUSSION
4.1
INTRODUCTION
The following chapter looks at the techniques used in Architectural design and practice though the oks of Daiel Lieskids Jewish Museum Berlin. Studying the complexities of architectural intent
required of the commissioned museum, the examination will involve firstly investigating the descriptions from the Architect on how the project was designed, as well as a visual analysis of photographic material to support the literary descriptions. The discussion is able to fuel the integration of further study into how the architecture represented the traumatic event of the Holocaust. This enables the reader to explore more developed ideas into the most critical assessment of unconventional depictions of trauma, in order to re-create and present an identity. Ironically, the museum representing the unpresentable draws critical judgement in its ability to empower a nation and unification of Berlin City. The Jewish Museum Berlin themes of combining Deconstructivism and socially contested history into a heterotopic site is the complex phenomenon that re-invents this new built environment. The dismantling of themes such as memory, identity, trauma and its ability to transform the institution into a new understanding of social complexity, are explored through prolific key texts. Furthermore, an investigation into the concept of a new form of tourism and an uncanny form of popular culture is embraced as an a n extension of unconventional memorial museum design.
12
4.2
CASE STUDY: JEWISH MUSEUM BERLIN
Figure 1. Aerial view of the Jewish Museum Berlin. Libeskind Building, Old Building, Garden of Exile, Holocaust Tower and Museum Garden. Photograph from Official Website.
The arguments put forth in the paper are supported and illustrated by the case study analysis of the Jewish Museum in Berlin, where the selected museum displays a controversial illustration of socialhistory. The design of the institution uses aesthetic means to engage the participant in the history of 31
Genocide and systematic Anti-Semitism .
The Jewish Museum Berlin presents and incorporates the social and cultural history Post-war Germany, exposing the damaging effects of the Holocaust. It was announced accessible to the public in 2001, where the design integrated three key concepts; the inability to comprehend the historical agendas of Berlin without the understanding of the cultural, intellectual and economic contribution that was made by the Jewish people of Berlin. The next concept, being the capturing of the physical and spiritual journey linked to the experience of the Holocaust and its repercussions on the society of Jews and non-Jews as well as ingraining the disturbance into the memory of Berlin. The final foundation of the design sought to make amends by the acknowledgment, erasure and the integration of voids, through which, can the future of Berlin move on, but with a humane existence.
31
Systematic Anti-Semitism denotes to the hostility toward Jewish people, coined in 1879, the theory behind the derogatory word stemmed from the Anti-Jewish agitation, believed to have been used with biblical reference with being egaded as the killes of Jesus Chist. Late ad ost ope usage of the od ae fo the ea of Natioal “oialis Nazism.
13
According to architect, …the …the new extension is conceived as an emblem was the not visible has made itself apparet as a oid, a iisile…the idea is er siple: to uild the useu aroud 32
a oid that rus through it, a oid that is to e eperieed the puli.
At the opening of the museum, the building was empty; the building existed alone without any displays or exhibits. The provocation of the building drew attention to 350000 people during that time, despite not functioning as a means of educating, or acting in any informative role. It then suggests that the act of the museum being built, gave rise to the active commemoration of the Jewish History, invigorating a new light into the demonstration of its History. For the significance of discussion, the generated attention from the opening of an architectural building depicting historical significance solidifies the idea of an architectural form such as a museum, having the capability to be iconic as a mode of representation of a history, without the conditions of displays and exhibits. In light, the building form becomes the exhibit itself, representing a symbol of commemorative behaviour amongst the visitors. This form of symbolism, gives way to a new form of empowerment for the citizens of Berlin, both Jewish and non-Jewish, as it becomes a world-wide statement expressing the ipotae of Jeish ad Holoaust histo ad the eed fo its the itizes eoiliatio,
despite past events. As stated in the literature review 2.2 Role, Architecture and Contemporary Museum , the museums of the contemporary time, must capture the interest of the visitors using other eas of epesetatio ad aketig i ode to eate populait ad attetio to the
Museum. The Jewish Museum Berlin achieved this, through its radical Architectural form. Viv Golding, 2009, in Learning at the Museum Frontiers, explains how museums have the ability, as a reputable and creditable institution of education and promoting truths, to be portrayed as a frontier to to take on injustice, challenge social dilemmas such as exclusions in the form of racism, and social exclusive behaviours, as well as becoming a beacon for 33
promoting truths to society that may be considered contested . This particular text, along with the literary work of Sheila, E. R, Watson, Museums and their communities, 2007, eaies the uet deate egadig the ole of the ifoes the JMBs ole to
empower and make the most of being an influential power to not ignore the communities, but to empower the community through the means of representation, identity of the useu ad efletig the eoial sigifiae of the peoples ahieeets i ode to
preserve that identity. Both literary texts justify the same critique given to the institution of the JMB, signifying the architectural form as a testament to the challenging of social exclusion of the Jewish people, since before the events of the Holocaust to the present day. The museum promotes the
32
Daiel Lieskid, Betee the Lies, i Daniel Libeskind: Erweiterung des Berlin Museums mit Abteilung Abteilung Jüdisches Museum, Kristin Feireiss, ed. (Berlin, 1992), 63. 33
Golding, V. 2009. Learning at the Museum Frontiers: Identity, Rac e and Power . Farnham: Ashgate.
14
truths about the contributions the Jewish people have made, in the forms of economic, social and culture attributes, which many acts have gone un-noticed.
4.3
INTENTION OF THE ARCHITECT
American Architect, Daniel Libeskind, born in 1946 to a Polish-Jewish family, survivors of the decimation of the Holocaust, was one of many selected architects invited to propose a solution for 34
the competition of an integral design for a Jewish Department within a larger museum in the city . Libeskind studied under the influential teachings of Peter Eisenman and John Hejduk, founders of 35
Deostutiist Ahitetue . Lieskids desig suissio leal efleted the ahitetual
ethos toward the solution, with his primary concern for the design being the process to which the 36
uildig is alas o the ege of Beoig - no longer suggestive of a fin al solutio . The olletio of daigs that eeged fo the opetitio ee regarded as masterpieces of process 37
art as well as architectural design design Afte the ofiatio of Lieskids ok to e oissioed,
the first action from the inspiring Ar hitet, as to hage the ae of the pojet to Betee the Lies, statig:
I all it [Betee the Lies] eause it is a projet aout to lies of thikig, organization, and relationship. One is a straight line, but broken into many fragments; the other is a tortuous line, but continuing indefinitely. These two lines develop architecturally and programmatically through a limited but definite dialogue. They also fall apart, become disengaged, and are seen as separated. In this way, they expose a void that runs through this museum and through architecture, a 38
disotiuous oid.
34
Counterpoint Daiel Lieskid, Daiel Lieskid i Coesatio ith Paul Goldege, p. , Bikhause Pulishe, 2008 35 Jaes E. Youg, Visual Cultue ad the Holoaust, Daiel Lieskids Jeish Museu i Beli: The Ua Ats of Meoial Ahitetue, p. -197 36 “tated Kut Foste i Atho Vidle, The Ahitetual Ua, p. 37 Jaes E. Youg, Visual Cultue ad the Holoaust, Daiel Lieskids Jeish Museu i Beli: The Ua Ats of Memorial Ahitetue, p. -197 38 Ibid
15
Figure 2. Plan of Jewish Museum Berlin. Counterpoint Daniel Libeskind.
The museum is located as an adjoining part of the Old Berlin Museum which has an uoetioal zig-zag pla, hee the aessile etae poit is fo the udegoud alka though the Beli Museus aoue ig as seen in figure 1. and Figure 2. for
the layout of each element of design, including the Garden of Exile, the Holocaust Tower and the Museum Garden. The zinc façade of the JMB are slashed with lines representing the Star of David. The positioning of the incised windows is the connecting link symbolising the Jewish tradition and German Culture, and plotting the location of the citizens on a map of pre-war Berlin via the representation of a mapping system. See Figure 3. Without having to enter the building, already the sense of experiential effect is playing a large role in informing a passer-by and non-visitor through visual representation of the architectural form. The maze like entrance into the museum depicts the disorder and confusion ingrained in a logial laithie passage. The itetio of Lieskids fageted passage as, eate a
physical journey to which the viewer experiences their own spatial orientation and perspective on the Holocaust experience. Libeskind uses means of Deconstructivism as a key approach in designing, as he explains; it is more a process than a logical spatial organisation within the museum that makes it what it is.
16
Figure 3. Exterior View of the Jewish Museum Berlin. Zinc Cladding with the Star of David.
17
4.4
IDENTITY, MEMORY AND TRAUMA
The question for architecture intent of designing a museum based on the prolific socially abominable events such as a Genocide of the Holocaust, evokes numerous debates regarding the impact architecture must make as a physical, mental and emotively provoking space. It questions the relationship between the architecture and how that relates to the memorial significance of the genocide, and to what degree does the architect enable the representation of those scenes of the past. The sae theati deates ee spaked the autho “helle Hostei, , Losig “ite,
as she addresses addresses and explores what
ways architecture captures and triggers memory memory in an
individual. For Hornstein, an object of materiality is able to register itself as a token of place that as an individual, have come to remember and hold a visual image of what that physical site might be in real life. In this case of the JMB, Libeskind has captured this identity of Jewish heritage and history through an iconic form of the building, to which passer-bys may remember, and always associate that form, or photo, as being in response to that moment in history. This form of memory bank, is a vital part of this discussion, as Libeskind utilises this human characteristic as a major element to the interpretation of representations. The journey through to the Holocaust tower, with a singular light source in the form of a slit, narrow and high off the ground evokes an experience of contemplation, and a prolonged passage, in order to give to the visitor the time to
identify
themselves
as
insignicant
and
finding
theseles i a uoetioal oido. See Figure.4
Figure 4. The Holocaust Tower The importance of memory relies on two dimensions, the first is the way in which the memory is remembered, either through a physical means or through a symbolic representation. It is often the in visual place that allow the memory to crystalise and discharge itself. As expressed by Rhetrorica ad Herrinium, one of the oldest Latin based texts regarding rhetoric and persuasion, translated by Harry Caplan (Loeb, 1954) The The artificial memory includes backgrounds and images. By backgrounds I mean such scenes as are naturally or artificially set off on a small scale, complete and conspicuous, so that we can grasp and embrace them easily by the natural memory — for example, a house, an intercolumnar space, a recess, an arch, or the like. An image is, as it were, a figure, mark, or portrait of the object we wish to remember; for example, if we wish to recall a horse, a lion, or an eagle, we 39
ust plae its iage i a defiite akgroud.
39
Rhetrorica ad Herrinium. See http://www.utexas.edu/research/memoria/Ad_Herennium_Passages.html
18
The museum accomplishes the capture and trigger of memory through the installation of art in the void of the building, Shalechet (Fallen Leaves) by Menashe Kadishman. Made of very heavy weighted circular disks, are ingrained screaming faces. The eerie and ghostly appeal creates a frantic visage, similar to the memory of The Scream, 1893. The sheer number of screaming faced disks cover the entire floor, making the visitor uneasy when walking through. The experience of walkingover the art pieces creates a metaphorical symbol for the emotional trauma. The hebrew word Shalechet, name of the exhibition, means fallen or dead leaves, which resonates the tragic calamity of the powerless 40
victims . See Figure 4.
Figure. 5 Shalechet S halechet (Fallen Leaves) by Menashe Kadishman
The notion of trauma as a theme represented in many memorial museums is a highly contested category of discussion. As part of the argument that the Libeskind Museum has penetrated this theme, requires first an importance to understand the rationale behind wanting to display controversial and radical events, objects and displays. A selected few images have been selected to express this background. The selected images are of highly extreme content to express the radical forms of representation as a method in pushing boundaries to inform in alternate ways. There have been various extreme controversial situations of museums depicting a deviance of agendas and or artworks, some of which are only exhibited in specific genres of museum
40
http://www.kadishman.com/works/shalechet/Articles/Arturo_Schwartz/
19
institutions, and even then, it has caused an er uption of disagreeing viewers. Take as an example the controversial depiction of “eaos Piss Chist. Depicting Depicting a small plastic crucifix submerged in a glass of the artist's urine. The piece was a winner of the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art's "Awards in the Visual Arts" competition, which was sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a United States Government agency that 41
offers support ad fudig for artisti projets.
Figure 6. Piss Christ (1987) Andres Serrano Used to suggest ambiguity, the artist and photographer had not attached any form of anti-religious overtones or means to offend, instead stating that it alludes to a perceived commercializing or 42
cheapening of Christian icons in Contemporary Culture . The intentions of these exhibitions are examined using the Labeling theory, which examines suultues ut shifts attetio aa fo the ule -breaking act to the societal reaction to rule 43
eakig aodig to Talo, Walto ad Youg, . A theoretical outlook that examines the 44
reaction of people toward an act of deviance is stated by Becker, 1963 . This argument and framework suggests that the intention of the museum may call for a controversial shift in opinion, ut aodig to Bekes theo of eatio , it can determine the degree of shock and deviance.
41
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ Ibid. 43 Taylor, L., Walton, P., & Young, J. 1973. The New Criminology: For a Social Theory of Deviance. Routledge. 44 Becker, H., S. 1963. Outsiders: A Study in the Sociology of Deviance. Glencoe Free Press. 42
20
As an extreme case of deviance, this visual paradigm does explain in the shift of contemporary museum displays and the evidence to suggest the shifting nature of museum intention.
Figure 7. Damien Hirst, Mother and Child Divided, 1993
The displa depitig Hists, Mothe ad Child, epesses the iage of a othe ad hild ith reference to religious Mother and Child, but is represented in alterative means. This form of representation deviates from the convention of normality. In an interview with Hirst, The The cows are removed from nature, both through their unorthodox presence within a galler settig, ad death. The artist eplais, I a a, ou uderstad ore about living people living people dealig ith dead people. people. Its sad ut ou feel ore ore ... cows cut up in formaldehyde have more personality than any cows walking about in 45
fields.
Hists stateet, In In a way, you understand more about living people by dealing with dead people. Its sad ut ou feel ore ..., resonates a connection to the work of the JMB in the way of
representing a difficult situation in an unconventional way and the effect it has on the person.
45
Daie Hist ited i A I teie ith Daie Hist , Stuart Morgan , No No “ese of Asolute Couptio Gagosian Gallery, 1996),18-19.
21
4.5
JEWISH MUSEUM BERLIN AND DARK TOURISM
As a popular destination for travel, and a highlighted place for r ecreational activity, the Jewish Museum Berlin, uses the tragic history of the Jewish people as a means of informing and entertaining visitors. However the Jewish Museum is also a result of the contested history being a factor of a dark-side of tourism. Without conscious intent of such, t he museum has created a site, ade up of petified histoi spaes. Usig to tets of peedetial ateial, Fouaults heteotopia ad Phillip “toes isightful itig o n Dark Tourism, Heterotopias and Post-Apocalyptic Places: The Case of Chernobyl , the exploration of dark tourism as a new framework branching from sites
displaying contested history will be examined. The Cheol ase stud is a eepla luepit tha t offers a detailed discussion on how, for
one, heterotopia framework is presented. Fouaults litea tet, Of Othe spaes, , desies, liteall of othe plaes. Essetiall, it is
the study of places and spaces that are neither here nor there. They are described as a physical site, to which they prescribe a place of another. The dichotomy of the term heterotopia, is Utopia, which 46
an an idea or an image that is not real but represents a perfected version of society society
Conversely, heterotopia is a physical representation of a utopia or a contrasted space to make a real utopian tangible. The Jewish Museum is a heterotopia site. The explanation of this will use the theoretical underpinnings and principles Foucault has described in his literary works. Foucault defines a heterotopia site under the concepts of six principles, each one, a condition of the site. They are described briefly below along with an example to which that principle most applies to. See Table 1.
Principle
Example
.Cisis Heteotopia- (Separate space)
Boarding School, Motels, Nursing Homes
.Heteotopias futio a hage oe tie -
Cemetery
.Heteotopia a e a sigle eal plae t hat
A garden, Cinema, Theatres
jutaposes seeal spaes
4.'Heterotopias liked to slies of tie
Museums, Libraries, festivals, Showgrounds
5.'Heterotopias of opeig ad losig
Saunas, Prisons
6.'Heterotopias have a function in relation to all
Brothels
of the eaiig spaes
Table 1. Principles of Heterotopia 46
Fouault, M. . Of Othe “paes. Taslated Jay Miskowiec.
22
The first principle, to which Foucault describes, is the heterotopia of crisis, where he explains they are specific places for those that have undergone a crisis, with which the crisis may have been under the influence of cultural social or political agendas. 47
For the Jewis h Museu Beli, ad its epesetatio of a dead zoe , meaning a place where the living visit the remnant objects and memorial symbols of the deceased, is a forbidden place that illustrates a time of crisis and trauma. The event of the Holocaust and Anti-Semitism presents an upheaval and separation in the continuation order of the everyday life. Similarly to the Chernobyl ase stud, itiall aalsed i “toes ok, the former state of the city of berlin and the world with the chaos of the Holocaust, genocide and Jewish heritage, now provide eats of the old old hih poides a fo of poeful idetit, ehoig the failigs ad pediaets of soiet i a slie of tie.
The museum thus, presents itself as a place of tourism, illustrating a world where contemporary visitors are transformed into the world of social, cultural and historical significance. Hornstein states that the etal o iagied spae, usig the tehiue of spatialised isualisatio is the poess to
which an individual is able to connect to the site of heterotopia. The revealing nature of crisis to the visitor may provide multiple meanings of contemplation, one, which emphasises that of the past, and the other, which provokes the future. The heterotopic site of the JMB is in fact a site of deviance, on describing crisis. The next principle of Foucault, states that the site assumed must have a specific function in society. As the istitutio it is soiall esposile to ifo the ouit ad geate soiet to found
knowledge, the museum permits itself to confirm this principle. As an extension of this argument, the ok of Fouault uses the eaple of the eete as a saed spae of the dead, hih
resonates into the similarities with which a cemetery has with the JMB. Cemeteries use to be argued to e the ell o f the it, istead, is o pushed to the oute suus. Ulike the foe
constitution for the cemetery, the JMB is a focal point for the city of Berlin, where, although does not house the physi al odies of the dead, still is a spiitual ete hee as desied Fouault, ad eiteated “toe, is a plae hee the liig go to isit the eo of loed oes.
Like, the precedent Chernobyl, it too, has become a place where the living goes to connect with the dead. The third principle of heterotopia is the ability for the site to juxtapose itself in a single site amongst several other spaces, which ideally appear incompatible. The JMB houses multiple spaces that juxtapose one another. They include the garden of exile, the holocaust tower and the museum garden. The contemporary usage for the museum also includes dinner functions and concerts/seminars. The experience of each space would c elebrate the third principle of heterotopia. See Figure 7.
47
Stone, P.R (2013) Dark Tourism, Heterotopias and Post-Apocalyptic Places: The Case of Chernobyl. In L.White & E.Frew (Eds) Dark Tourism and Place Identity . Melbourne: Routledge.
23
Figure 8. Garden of Exile. Jewish Museum Berlin.
Figure 9. Museum of Garden. Jewish Museum Berlin
24
The fouth piiple of heteotopia is the eakig of taditio tie slies of tie, tpiall
associated with that of a museum, the JMB, and is exemplary of this paradigm. The journey and relationship between temporal boundaries, as in the relationship between place and time offer the visitor the accumulation of time of the visual and mental journey along with over a real lapse of time of the tour. The fifth principle supposes that of an opening and closing system where the site becomes isolated and at the same time, is still penetrable. Although this principle does not demonstrate itself as strongly as the other principles, the opening and closing system may be claimed through the entrance of the museum itself, having to pass through the administrative area, before seeing the whole exhibition. The administrative framework of any recreational place, gestures the rituals of tourism, and gaiig tepoa aesses. I this sese, the JMB does suppose the fifth piiple of heterotopia.
The last principle of heterotopia explains the way a site may create an illusion which attempts to reeate that of the eal old. The puh lie to Fouaults theoetial faeok of heterotopia, is
essentially the illustatig a plae of Otherness. The contrast of the real and not real sites creates a surreal environment to which the visitor for the JMB is consumed within. Whilst the individual is exposed to the traumas of the holocaust and the related experiences, the experience of the subliminal nature can give way to a triggering of uneasiness and inherently anxious. This feeling reflects itself as a way to respond to the awareness of being in a fragile framework of ruins and the representations in the museum enhance the understanding of the way a traumatic and memorial museum inform its visitors. As a response to the Tourist debate, the JMB has become a mode of a darker –emphasis of tourism, as it echoes the ruins that are witnessed through the representations of the architecture, the memorial museum is a testament to the past to teach society fundamentally, on how to build for the future. The social exclusion and radical social situations, such as the Anti-Semitism movement, all indicative of a society that need to be educated to promote truth, reconciliation and ultimately to trigger the memory to commemorate what has gone wrong.
4.6
CONCLUSION
By extracting a large collection of thematic studies aligned with the research of memorial museum and its intentions, a wide range of theoretical an explanatory cases have been illuminated. The Jewish Museum Berlin and its technique and approaches in projecting the social history of Berlin are a liberating significance of memorial museum. The JMB has been dismantled to be studies against the oks of Mihel Fouaults heteotopia faeok, hih has otiuted to the oeall od of
knowledge to the discourse of Architecture.
25
5
CONCLUSION
5.1
IDENTITY, MEMORY AND TRAUMA
The objectives for the first part of the study were to identify the changing intentions of museum designs, particularly focused on the memorial museums. The study was to identify the ways in which aesthetic representation and architectural form was a method to illustrating a social history, other than that of the museum exhibitions within the building. It was also a key address to explain that the architectural form of the memorial museum was also a means to emphasise an iconic nature and representative of identity for a city. A landmark, that promoted liberal views such as promoting truths and the problems society is facing and have faced in the past with racism, and social exclusion. This objective has addressed the process of research by means of the literature review and the methodology approach. The issues explained in the literature review gave insight into the shifting rationale for wanting to propose a museum and explore the contested histories of the past. It also highlighted the rationale for significance of memory and what that means for the intentions of a museum exhibit. The exploration of prior knowledge to trauma was identified as a relationship with the depiction of memory. It was identified that there key features that are necessary in triggering memory.
5.2
JEWISH MUSEUM BERLIN AND DARK TOURISM
The second objective of the research paper was to discuss the case study framework of the Jewish Museum along with an architectural concept of Heterotopia. By means of qualitative description, as stated in the methodology of the paper, the theory was disseminated to further discuss its relevance to the case study of the Jewish Museum Berlin. The results of the relationships established, also gave way to the integrated discussion of a e fo of touis. It idetified the atue i hih traumatic sites such as the precedent, was able to provide a place where society was able to preserve the memory of ruins and of a past time. The strength of comparing the precedent with the case study for the research paper, exemplified how historical memories may be articulated as a form other than that of a memorial representation. It may also be classified under the study of an architectural debated discourse of heterotopia. The discussion concludes with the impact of memorial museum being a positive stance, where although the result of the discussion alludes to the museum being of a darker-tourist nature, it also displays how through these provoking representations, the society may be able to f urther educate and emphasise more powerfully the social difficulties of society.
26
5.3
SCOPE FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
The study paper had an emphasis on one case study, using a singular example of a memorial museum and thereby, giving way to further research as well as suggesting a means of a new methodology, perhaps by comparative case study. Due to the limitations of time-frame and resources, this research could have been furthered with the approach and means of a more thorough research strategy. It may have been approached, if possible, by the way of primary sourcing. By visiting the actual site of the Jewish Museum Berlin, a first-hand account experience the prolific representations of history could have been explored. The suggested approach would change the outcome and potentially the direction of the research altogether. The paper also did not focus on the art- exhibit side of museum design, where critique upon the works of other museums could have benefited to the contribution of knowledge. As dissertation explored memorial histories, the benefit of broadening the scheme of examples would impact the account of study. By means of broadening the scheme, that is meant to imply different types of museums, different time frames, and different locations-other than that of a Western history approach.
27
BIBLIOGRAPHY Missio-Drie Museu in Abram, R.J. 2005. Histor is as Histor Does: The Eolutio of a Missio in R.R. Janes & G.T. Conaty (eds) Looking Reality in the Eye: Museums and Social Responsibility . Calgary, Alberta: University of Calgary Press, pp.19-42.
Becker, H., S. 1963. Outsiders: A Study in the Sociology of Deviance. Glencoe Free Press. Bennett, T. 1995. The Birth of the Museum: History, Theory, Politics. London: Routledge. Beett, T. . The Ehiitioa Cople, New Formations 4: 73-102.
Creswell. J. 2002. Research Design: D esign: Qualitative, Quantative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Boston:SAGE Daiel Lieskid, Betee the Lies, i Daniel Libeskind: Erweiterung des Berlin Museums mit Abteilung Jüdisches Museum Museum, Kristin Feireiss, ed. (Berlin, 1992), 63.
Daiel Lieskid, Daiel Lieskid i Coesatio ith Paul Goldege, p. , Bikhause Publisher, 2008 Fouault, M, . Of Othe “paes. Othe “paes. The Affai of the Heteotopia. Ed. ‘itte, Roland. & Knaller-Vlay, Bernd. Austria: HAD Dokumente zur Architektur Fouault, M. . Of Othe “paes. Taslated Jay Miskowiec.
Golding, V. 2009. Learning at the Museum Frontiers: Identity, Race and Power . Farnham: Ashgate. Glaser, B, Strauss, A. 1967. The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Chicago: Aldine Groat, L, Wang, D. 2002. Architectural Research Methods. New York: John Wiley and Sons Grenier, R.S, Sheckley, B. 2008. Out on the Floor: Experiential learning and the implications for the preparation of Docents. The Journal of Museum Education. Vol. 33. No. 1. Adult Learning in Museums. Left Coast Press. P.79-93 Daie Hist ited i A Iteie ith Daie Hist , No Sense of Absolute , Stuart Morgan , No Couptio Gagosian Gallery, 1996),18-19.Hooper- Greenhill, E. 1994. Museus ad their Visitors. Visitors. London: Routledge
Hooper-Greenhill, E. (ed.) 1999. Museum, Media, Message. London: Routledge. Hornstein, S. 2011. Losig “ite: Arhiteture, Meor ad Plae . Canada: Ashgate Studies in Architecture Holtschneider, H. 2011. The Holocaust and Representations of Jews: History and Identity in the Museum. London: Routledge.
28
Huyssen, A. 2003. Present Pasts: Urban Palimpsests and the Politics of Memory. Stanford: Stanford University Press. Fouault, M, . Of Othe “paes. Othe “paes. The Affai of the Heteotopia. Ed. ‘itte, Roland. & Knaller-Vlay, Bernd. Austria: HAD Dokumente zur Architektur Jaes E. Youg, Visual Cultue ad the Holoaust, Daiel Lieskids Jeish Museu i Beli: The Ua Ats of Meoial Ahitetue, p. -197
Janes, R.R. 2009. Museums in a Troubled World: Renewal, Irrelevance or Collapse? Abingdon: Routledge.
Knell, MacLeod, Watson (eds).2007. Museum Revolution: How Museums Change and are Changed. London & New York: Routledge. Lennon, J.J. & Foley, M. (eds) 2000. Dark Tourism. Andover: Cengage Learning EMEA. Message, K. 2006. New Museums and the Making of Culture. Oxford: Berg. Noa, P. . Betee Meo & History: Lieux de Mémoire, Mémoire, Representations 26(1): 7-25.
Ostwald, Michael J. 1996, "Understanding Cyberspace: Learning from Luna Park," Architecture Australia Volume 85, no. 2 Stone, P.R (2013) Dark Tourism, Heterotopias and Post-Apocalyptic Places: The Case of Chernobyl. In L.White & E.Frew (Eds) Dark Tourism and Place Identity . Melbourne: Routledge. Taylor, L., Walton, P., & Young, J. 1973. The New Criminology: For a Social Theory of Deviance. Routledge. Watson, Sheila E.R, 2007, Museums and their communities, Psychology Press Walliman, N. 2010. Research Methods: The Basics. New York: Routledge Williams, P. 2007. Memorial Museums: The Global Rush to Commemorate Atrocities. Oxford: Berg. Chapte : The “uiig Ojet: Pesee ad Asee i Meoial Museus, pp. -50)
29
