'It leaves holes inside of you': graphic novel aims to remember the history and horror of genocide
Dana Mashoian Walrath’s The Book of Genocides is an audacious and personal new look at genocides from Germany to Palestine
TL;DR
- Dana Walrath's book, 'The Book of Genocides,' examines ten historical genocides using a graphic and interactive format.
- The book includes case studies ranging from the Indigenous peoples of the Americas and the Armenian genocide to Palestine and the Rohingya.
- Walrath, who is Armenian-American and a survivor of her family's genocide story, traveled to each depicted location.
- The book's interactive design encourages readers to cut pages and create figures, prompting reflection on dehumanization and complicity.
- Walrath anticipates backlash and potential banning from Israel for including Palestine and its recent history in the book.
- She believes genocides are planned bureaucratic operations often driven by material interests like land, with dehumanization as a precursor.
- Walrath views her work as a means to spark conversations and argues that changing human-made systems can prevent future genocides.
- The book draws parallels between historical genocides and concerning elements in contemporary America.