Performative Holocaust commemoration in the 21st century

Performative practices aim to transform individuals from passive spectators into socially and morally responsible agents. Although performative practices figure prominently in Holocaust memorialization of the past two decades, they remain significantly under-researched. This article provides a critical introduction to this Special Issue’s contributions which explore performative practices in contemporary artistic, educational, and in memorial projects. The article situates performative practice in relation to the pledges ‘never forget’ and ‘never again’ proclaimed by survivors and endorsed by newer generations of memory agents. Empirical research is deemed crucial to reach a better understanding of how such practices impact on contemporary audiences