j'accuse!
The Psychology of Scapegoating: HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY 2015 Bodzin Gallery, NVJCC, Fairfax VA Opens April 7, 2015
ARTIST STATEMENT
When the French newspaper L'Aurore hit the stands on January 13, 1898 with its incendiary headline, "J'accuse!" (I accuse), it went down in history as “the most famous front page in the history of journalism” . Emile Zola's impassioned letter accused the French government of anti-semitism in the sham trial of Jewish army captain, Alfred Dreyfus, who was convicted of treason and sentenced to solitary confinement for life on Devil's Island. The letter inflamed the country and the world.
Since then and for centuries previous, the accusatory finger has been pointed repeatedly at Jewish communities and individuals across the globe. When a society feels threatened – for economic, social or military reasons – it looks for convenient targets to turn upon and blame for its ills. This in essence is the nature of scapegoating, the most heinous example of which resulted in the Holocaust.
J’accuse contains multiple references to anti-semitism throughout history, from Emile Zola’s famous letter to the swastika-emblazoned banners that symbolize the Nazi regime. But it is also a very personal autobiographical work. By inserting my own accusatory image, I am also exposing the latent bigotry I believe dwells within each of us. Under what circumstances would we be willing to single out another in order to save ourselves? As the child of Holocaust survivors, Ihave often pondered this question.
J'accuse, photography on vinyl banner,s 2' x 5' each.
When the French newspaper L'Aurore hit the stands on January 13, 1898 with its incendiary headline, "J'accuse!" (I accuse), it went down in history as “the most famous front page in the history of journalism” . Emile Zola's impassioned letter accused the French government of anti-semitism in the sham trial of Jewish army captain, Alfred Dreyfus, who was convicted of treason and sentenced to solitary confinement for life on Devil's Island. The letter inflamed the country and the world.
Since then and for centuries previous, the accusatory finger has been pointed repeatedly at Jewish communities and individuals across the globe. When a society feels threatened – for economic, social or military reasons – it looks for convenient targets to turn upon and blame for its ills. This in essence is the nature of scapegoating, the most heinous example of which resulted in the Holocaust.
J’accuse contains multiple references to anti-semitism throughout history, from Emile Zola’s famous letter to the swastika-emblazoned banners that symbolize the Nazi regime. But it is also a very personal autobiographical work. By inserting my own accusatory image, I am also exposing the latent bigotry I believe dwells within each of us. Under what circumstances would we be willing to single out another in order to save ourselves? As the child of Holocaust survivors, Ihave often pondered this question.
J'accuse, photography on vinyl banner,s 2' x 5' each.
THE EXHIBITION WAS ENHANCED BY NUMEROUS SPECIAL EVENTS INCLUDING MY PRESENTATION, 'CAN ART PLAY A ROLE IN THE EVER-GROWING DIVIDE BETWEEN RELIGIONS AND CULTURES?' ON MAY 11, 2015. SEE BELOW.
