Maria Grever (ESHCC) and Karel van Nieuwehuyse (University Leuven) have recently published a Special Issue entitled "Popular Uses of Violent Pasts in Educational Settings" in the bilingual Journal for the Study of Education and Development. The six contributions in English and Spanish language also include articles by Pieter van den Heede and Robbert-Jan Adriaansen about World War II and the Holocaust.
Historians increasingly acknowledge that popular media representing violent pasts reach large audiences. Hence, it is important to investigate its societal impact, including the risk of sanitizing and romanticizing violence and atrocities. Teachers in particular experience on a daily basis how popular genres influence their students' ideas of history. Young people read graphic historical novels, watch YouTube, play (video) games, or post selfies on Instagram.
The articles in this Special Issue seek to question how popular media represent sensitive issues from violent pasts in modern history - e.g., decolonization processes, civil wars, World War I / II, the Holocaust - and under what conditions these media can contribute to critical historical thinking. After the introduction by Maria Grever and Karel van Nieuwenhuyse, the other articles discuss 20th century large scale violence represented in museum exhibitions (Angela Bermudez & Terrie Epstein), oral history (Anna Clark), film (Maria Mavrommati & Maria Repoussi), war video games (Pieter van den Heede) and Instagram (Robbert-Jan Adriaansen).
All articles are accessible on Taylof & Francis Online.