Newsletter – Museum of the History of Polish Jews

“Who do Poles see when they see a Jew…?” New report on the image of Jews in Polish popular culture

“Looking at comments on the internet, analyzing memes and newspaper headlines, or observing the emotions aroused by international conflicts, it is easy to see that images of Jews continue to feature strongly in the Polish collective imagination,” write the authors of the report “Who do Poles see when they see a Jew… after October 7, 2023?”.

The report is based on semiotic analysis, a method that allows for the examination of meanings, symbols, and narratives present in popular culture. The authors, Marzena Żurawicka and Krzysztof Polak from Semiotic Solutions, attempt to deconstruct stereotypes about Jews that are present in Polish social discourse, both overtly and covertly.

The publication is a continuation of a 2022 study conducted by the POLIN Museum as part of its “Comprehensive program to study and combat anti-Semitism and other prejudices in Poland.”

The project was developed in cooperation with the Jewish Historical Institute Association in Poland, thanks to the support of the Sills Family Foundation.

We are delighted to announce that the international conference “Confronting Holocaust Distortion in the Digital Era” successfully wrapped up on Thursday, November 20, following three days of vital discussion and collaboration at POLIN Museum in Warsaw.

The conference brought together a distinguished assembly of scholars, educators, and museum professionals from around the globe to address the urgent and growing challenge of Holocaust distortion in modern digital spaces.

Key Themes and Discussions

The conference served as a crucial platform to not only diagnose the problem of digital Holocaust distortion and denial but also to actively develop strategies to counter these false narratives, with a special focus on the role of social media, algorithms, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.

Sessions highlighted scientific approaches, including the use of sociolinguistic analysis and the mapping of Holocaust diaries to confront AI-generated distortion. Panels critically examined the role of manipulation in education, how political rhetoric weaponizes Holocaust memory across different countries (including Argentina and China), and the profound ethical challenges posed by AI in translating, preserving, and representing Holocaust testimony, such as that of Anne Frank.

The final day brought into focus the critical work being done by institutions like the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), detailing their efforts in recognizing and combating distortion in Generative AI and improving the accessibility of digital collections.

Developing Counter-Strategies

The exchange of knowledge and development of practical solutions over the three days has laid a strong foundation for future initiatives. The insights gained from the lectures, panel discussions, and roundtables will be instrumental in formulating effective educational tools and policy recommendations to safeguard historical truth in the digital age.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all the sponsors, speakers, chairs, steering committee members, and attendees for making this conference an outstanding success and a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to confront this critical issue.