Visual Representation and Testimony
This unit is designed for grades 10–12 and is adaptable to English, social studies, and humanities courses. Prior to entering this unit, students should have a foundational understanding of the events and impact of the Holocaust on Jewish people and other marginalized groups targeted by the Nazi regime. Building on this foundation, this unit shifts the focus from broad historical narratives commonly found in textbooks to personal narratives, specifically survivor testimonies. Students will explore the historical significance and relevancy of Holocaust survivors’ testimonies through class discussion and individual research.
Additionally, students will read Two Roses and uncover the techniques and devices utilized by comics to create layers of meaning outside of what we typically find in traditional prose—such as timing, silence, symbolism, and visual metaphors. Finally, students will understand their role in preserving Jewish memory both effectively and respectfully through the creation of their own visual narratives.
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- understand the historical significance of Holocaust survivor testimonies and learn to engage with them respectfully and ethically.
- analyze and interpret visual narratives (comics) and recognize how visual elements and devices convey deeper meaning.
- produce visual narratives based on a survivor’s testimony that are accurate, respectful, and utilize comic devices to create additional layers of meaning.
- collaborate and offer peer feedback to refine and enhance storytelling practices and ensure alignment with Guidelines for the Respectful Retelling of Survivor Testimonies.
Guiding Questions
- Why is it important to respect and remember personal testimonies of painful or difficult events?
- How can comics communicate experiences of trauma and survival in ways that written or oral stories alone cannot? How do comic devices create additional layers of meaning?
- What responsibilities do we have when retelling someone else’s story, especially one involving injustice and genocide?
- What techniques can be used in comic-writing to enhance the work? How can artistic choices affect a reader’s response to the work?
Sequence
- Lesson 1 – Introduction to Holocaust Testimonies and Visual Narratives
- Lesson 2: Reading Comics as a Medium
- Lesson 3: Retelling Testimonies Respectfully and Planning Comics
- Lesson 4: Comic Preparation
- Lesson 5: Visual Narrative Planning Peer Review and Workshop
- Lesson 6: Visual Narrative Show and Tell
