Witness is a key word for our time, but what does it mean to witness? This course explores how the multiple forms of witness are shaped by–and can in turn shape–history, culture, and policy. We will focus on the holocaust, American slavery, and truth and reconciliation projects in the late 20th century, drawing on the disciplines of religion, history, law, politics, literature, journalism and visual culture. The course includes a trip to the new museum of African-American History and the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. to explore how personal and material witness create public conversations about historical events.
