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Re-Vision: A Rhetorical Analysis of Change in the Holocaust Memorial Center

Dunckel, Ramona Lee
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1118705976

Abstract Details

2005, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, English/Rhetoric and Writing.
While the number of Holocaust museums in the United States has grown in recent years, few of these museums which serve as memorials to the victims of Nazi violence have existed long enough to undergo major revisions. The purpose of this study was to identify and investigate in light of revision theory those revisions that occurred in the Holocaust Memorial Center, America's first Holocaust museum, during the recent relocation and expansion of the museum. Using existing theory in four fields, material rhetoric, museum theory, memorial theory, and revisiion theory as a base, this dissertation offers a rhetorical analysis of the museum loosely based on Carole Blair's analyses of memorial sites such as the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, as well as a catalogue and discussion of selected changes observed in the museum. Using analysis of archival photographs, visitor guides, and a videotaped museum tour of the previous facility to identify what had been, the study then moved to a careful analysis of the museum as it exists today. This allowed identification and documentation of changes or revisions that had taken place. These changes were catalogued using a taxonomy created for the study, and a discussion of selected changes was presented. The study found strong similarities between text revisions made by experienced writers and the museum revisions. Both were based on the same two key considerations: the identified purpose of the text, and the identified audience for the text. Both the text revisions of experienced writers and the revisions observed in the museum showed a willingness to make radical revisions if necessary. However, there was one major difference discovered between the revisions of experienced writers and the revisions that take place in museums. The revisions that occur in museums are not always the product of the original creator of the text. Implications for further research included replication of the study in publicly-funded or site-location Holocaust museums as well as replication in other types of museums. Another area for further research identified was investigation of the impact of artifact construction by museums.
Sue Carter (Advisor)
143 p.
Language, Rhetoric and Composition
Holocaust museums; Revision theory; Holocaust; Museum theory

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Dunckel, R. L. (2005). Re-Vision: A Rhetorical Analysis of Change in the Holocaust Memorial Center [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1118705976

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Dunckel, Ramona. Re-Vision: A Rhetorical Analysis of Change in the Holocaust Memorial Center. 2005. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1118705976.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Dunckel, Ramona. "Re-Vision: A Rhetorical Analysis of Change in the Holocaust Memorial Center." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1118705976

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1118705976
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© 2005, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.