Visual Mediations of Memory in Holocaust Graphic Novels

We have entered a moment in history that will witness the end of direct, eyewitness survivor testimony. Therefore, it is imperative to find new ways of extending the memory of the Shoah to future generations for whom the Holocaust is increasingly “past history”. This chapter examines the growing field of Holocaust graphic novels and memoirs that emerged during the opening decades of the 21st century as an innovative form of representation that speaks, in large part, to younger generations who respond to the visual culture of our times. Such visual-verbal testimony and witnessing suggest the complex ways in which the evolution of Holocaust memory transcends time, space, and generations. Beginning with a brief history of Holocaust graphic narratives, this chapter will explore the development of the genre focusing on the work of three generations of North American graphic artists whose graphic storytelling, in reanimating the past, provides a visual medium for the extended memory of the Holocaust as an expression of mourning and commemoration.