Linenthal Part 2

The end of Linenthal’s book continues the theme of the balancing act that the National Holocaust Memorial Museum underwent in its creation. At times the entire museum planning and creation process appears to be similar to a tight rope walker. It is a continual balance between different sides and between historical details as well. With a subject such as the Holocaust it especially shows the dangers associated with not only planning but executing a museum. Linenthal shows how much research he put into discovering just how the process underwent throughout the years from beginning to end by showing all of the struggles involved.
One aspect of the difficulties that personally stuck out was the dilemma over the use of pictures and using the photos as a means to prove the disbelievers wrong. The first battle was over proving the authenticity of the photos by using the gritty, stained originals rather than fixing them so that those conspiracy theorists in the world could not make the argument that the pictures had been doctored at all. From class, we saw that museums are the most trusted source of historical reference, and to know that a museum dealing with such a large atrocity would be fighting over authenticity over pictures seemed astounding. As well, the importance of showing the photos of the Jewish history that was completely destroyed in the town of Eishishok. This use of these photos portrayed the need for the museum to show the living prior to the beginning of their victimization. This was an interesting approach to the museums creation, because even this caused issues; what pictures would be used, where would they be, how would they be arranged?
Linenthal’s book is a great resource for those who intend to enter the field of museum creation or work in any way shape or form. Through the museum, he shows the arguments, the stresses, the successes and the realities of this work. Before reading this book, it never occurred to me how many different aspects occurred behind the scenes before the doors even opened. The formation of a building that was sufficient for the message, the piecing together of a permanent exhibit that satisfied the people and the victims, the use of artifacts appropriately, and so many more factors all display just how much it all really takes. It breaks the fantasy of it being simple or purely a creative undertaking and shows the reality of it all as a messy, difficult process with a satisfying end (hopefully). This book has forever changed the way I will view the Holocaust museum in Washington D.C. and subsequently the way I will most likely view future museums. The attempt to take the memorial beyond its purpose and to make it a teaching tool, a historical piece, and an accurate piece of work to memorialize the millions who died and perished in the Holocaust.