New Books Network Ofer Ashkenazi and Thomas Pegelow Kaplan, "Rethinking Jewish History and Memory Through Photography" (SUNY Press, 2025)
Sep 6, 2025
Ofer Ashkenazi, a history professor at Hebrew University, and Thomas Pegelow Kaplan, chair of Jewish History at the University of Colorado Boulder, delve into the powerful intersection of Jewish history and photography. They explore how visual narratives reshape collective memory, particularly in the context of Nazi Germany. The discussion highlights the unique challenges Jewish photographers faced and the role of images in documenting marginalized struggles. They also draw parallels to contemporary conflicts, emphasizing photography's ongoing impact on historical interpretation and memory.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Mix Generations In Edited Volumes
- Build edited collections with mix of senior and younger scholars to map a field comprehensively.
- Use broad calls and targeted invitations to combine established theory and fresh methods.
Photos As Arguments
- Photographs act as arguments about reality rather than objective reproductions.
- Historians should analyze the claim a photo makes, not treat it as straightforward evidence.
Frame Clear Research Questions
- Start research by asking explicit questions about what 'Jewish photography' and photographic memory mean.
- Invite contributors to address those central questions directly to map the field.
