Representing the Holocaust

The tragic history of the Holocaust has been both repressed and canonized in postmodern Western culture, leading to ongoing controversies regarding its interpretation. Debates surrounding figures like Paul de Man and Martin Heidegger highlight attempts to downplay the Holocaust's significance. Dominick LaCapra, a prominent voice in historiographical discussions, brings clarity to these complex issues by examining the intersections between historical events and the theories we use to understand them. In a series of essays, including three published for the first time, LaCapra addresses the challenges faced by historians and critics grappling with the Holocaust. He explores canon formation, revisionist historiography, and the implications of de Man's wartime writings. Additionally, he analyzes Heidegger's ties to National Socialism and critiques postmodernist preoccupations with concepts such as loss and deferred meaning. LaCapra argues that psychoanalysis extends beyond individual psychology, encompassing sociocultural dimensions that illuminate the relationship between past and present. He asserts that our attempts to comprehend the Holocaust are often hindered by its traumatic legacy, necessitating a "working through" of that trauma to achieve a deeper understanding of its significance.