Over the course of the last 40 years, as information from previously inaccessible archives has come to the attention of historians, the events of the Holocaust have become increasingly better understood. Today, there is very little about the Holocaust that historians do not understand. At the same time, however, these events have experienced a certain popularity in the realm of cinema and literature, with some of their more enduring representations belonging decidedly to the realm of fiction.
What might it mean for people to engage with the Holocaust through entirely make-believe stories? Is it problematic when those stories are predicated on impossibilities?
This panel discussion is moderated by Dr Simon Holloway, who will be joined by MHM Manager 5 – 12 Education, Curriculum and Programs Tracey Collie, Associate Professor David Slucki and award-winning novelist Suzy Zail. Together we will investigate the role of Holocaust-themed fiction in conveying the past, and will explore both the advantages and the perils of utilising such materials in the classroom.
David Slucki is the Director of the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation, and the Loti Smorgon Associate Professor of Contemporary Jewish Life and Culture at Monash University. He is a historian who has written widely on Jewish life after the Holocaust, focusing particularly on survivors and their descendants, and on representations of the Holocaust. His publications include Sing This at my Funeral: A Memoir of Fathers and Sons (2019) and The International Jewish Labor Bund after 1945: Toward a Global History(2012). He is the co-editor of Laughter After: Humor and the Holocaust (2020) and In the Shadows of Memory: The Holocaust and the Third-generation (2016). He is currently working on projects focusing on antisemitism in Australia, Holocaust denial in popular culture, and Jews and sitcoms.
Tracey has over 14 years’ experience in education in teaching and leadership roles in curriculum, student management and pastoral care within the government school sector and the not-for-profit sector.
Tracey’s educational philosophy centres on the concept of global citizenship and is particularly invested in guiding students to develop their sense of responsibility and agency, and, to understand the importance of empathy, cultural awareness, and environmental stewardship within our interconnected world.
She believes that every student has the potential to become a global citizen who not only understands diverse perspectives but also actively seeks to make a positive impact on the world.
As manager of 5 – 12 education at the MHM, Tracey is focused on building the education suite, including programs for students and curriculum resources for teachers to ensure learning about the Holocaust is accessible for all.
Suzy Zail is an internationally published, award-winning novelist and the author of more than a dozen books including Alexander Altmann A10567,The Wrong Boy and Inkflower. Her books tackle the Holocaust in a sensitive and age-appropriate way and are used in schools throughout Australia. Recently, Suzy’s novel Inkflower was chosen my students across Australia as their choice for “Book of the Year: Older Readers” in The 2024 Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year awards.
