We went to the Anne Frank museum last night -- all of us with the four kids. It was very impressive and not gratuitous. The emphasis is on the building itself and the family members as they were alive - particularly Anne and her sister Margot -- learning about their talents, personalities and writings. There are a few brief video shots of shocking bodies, but they are easily avoided. It does an awesome job of bringing their experience alive. Of course, the dad, Otto Frank, was the one who got Anne's book published (he survived and was living back in Amsterdam within a year after being arrested and sent to Auschwitz) , and took part in the restoration and preparation of the museum. There is even a video of him discussing this. It is assumed that the horror of the concentration camps, etc, is already known and so doesn't go into that. It isn't about them.
One of the most important exhibits is the last one -- a room with several flat screens and "yes" and "no" buttons all over the place. Real life, current social dilemmas are presented and whoever wants responds by pushing a "yes" or "no" to the subsequent questions with the results immediately displayed. Eg. A piece about immigrants wearing headscarves -- then, if they should be allowed -- what other forms of cultural or personal expression should be allowed? Hate marches? Anti - "fill-in-the-blank" demonstrations? Where lies the border between freedom and responsibility, my rights and yours? It is fodder for some extremely important discussions (the kids really got into it -- once Tai realized that it was not a video game to be "won"). It also brings home the point that we too must be vigilant in preventing social horrors -- and in recognizing those occuring around us.
One of the most important exhibits is the last one -- a room with several flat screens and "yes" and "no" buttons all over the place. Real life, current social dilemmas are presented and whoever wants responds by pushing a "yes" or "no" to the subsequent questions with the results immediately displayed. Eg. A piece about immigrants wearing headscarves -- then, if they should be allowed -- what other forms of cultural or personal expression should be allowed? Hate marches? Anti - "fill-in-the-blank" demonstrations? Where lies the border between freedom and responsibility, my rights and yours? It is fodder for some extremely important discussions (the kids really got into it -- once Tai realized that it was not a video game to be "won"). It also brings home the point that we too must be vigilant in preventing social horrors -- and in recognizing those occuring around us.
A thorough 3D online tour of the house and museum and can be seen at the side below.
http://www.annefrank.org/en/Subsites/Home/
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