Arielle's New Topic

In the excerpt "Regarding the Pain of Others," by Susan Sontag, she claims that "there is no such thing as collective memory, but there is collective instruction." Sontag uses the idea of collectivity to help explain that memories of tragic events such as the Holocaust are not necessarily permanent or important to each person. The reason for this apathy is that each memory is based on the individual and the effect this memory might have on the individual. Consequently, there is a need for direction. Collective instruction encourages people to care and demands for horrific events such as the Holocaust to be remembered, without any excuses. Commemoration is one method of forcing people to learn about historical tragedies. Therefore, museums such as the Israeli Holocaust museum, Yad Vashem, purposefully designed the museum in an architectural manner which forces each visitor to pass through each exhibit and stimulates introspection amongst all. Memorialization methods, such as the layout of Yad Vashem, promote awareness and activism. Other commemorative ways, such as representation in the media and photographs, help with the progression of history, and ensure that there are constant reminders of the past that help shape our future. Archives  and memorials are crucial in aiding everyone to identify with the tragedy.