Research Goals

Aim of the project "History on TV" is to explore a knowledge base about the presentation and the receptive processes of historical topics on TV using the example of the Holocaust and National Socialism comparing different countries.

The research question is: To what extent do historicizing movies and documentaries lead to a convergence of history appropriation in Europe? To what extent does the national diversity of perspectives sustain during the process of transnational media communication?

Due to the collaboration with the broadcaster 3Sat (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) it is possible, to realize for the first time an internationally comparative panel survey parallel to a cross-national transmission of a history documentary and a movie. 

Apart from the German speaking area, which is especially qualified for the research of transnational effects due to a missing language barrier, also Great Britain and Israel will be included in the first research stage. In the second research stage the comparison will be enlarged to France and Poland and further European countries. 

The aim of the research is based three basic aspects:

–     the difference between fiction and documentary,

–      the presentation and reception of victims and perpetrators and

–     transnationale convergence and national diversity regarding the appropriation of history

Which effects result from having fictional and documental forms of presentations side by side and into each other?

Which influence do presentations either focused on victims or on perpetrators have on the receptive appropriation of history?

What is the role of the national context for the reception of historicizing TV formats?