“Meme Reich” – Audiovisual Memory and the Renegotiation of National-Socialism

This subproject examines how the “Third Reich” is remembered, reinterpreted, and affectively mediated through audiovisual formats and cultural practices. At its core, it investigates how historical images, sound recordings, and film fragments of National Socialism are reframed in new contexts – whether through montage, irony, parody, or emotional intensification. The analysis explores how aesthetic strategies transform historical narratives and what role ideologies, humor, and political affects play in interpreting these artifacts.

 

A particular focus lies on the interplay of sound, music, and image as central – yet often underestimated – carriers of memory. How do musical structures, sonic quotations, or rhythmic patterns contribute to the emotionalization, trivialization, or critical interrogation of National-Socialist symbolism? The project integrates approaches from cultural studies, media and music studies to demonstrate how artifacts of the “Third Reich” are renegotiated in contemporary formats – ranging from memes and popular cultural adaptations to public debates.