"Protest vergessen?" examines methods for preserving the collective memory of protests against socialist dictatorships in Eastern Bloc countries. The project is comprised of two main elements: in-depth interviews with witnesses of European democratic resistance and video collages created with the implementation of generative AI models*. These collages will integrate digitized media documents from prominent institutions, including the Stasi Archive in Berlin, the Solidarity Center in Gdańsk, and other commemorative organizations dedicated to preserving the legacy of non-violent civil resistance. By blending AI technology with historical artifacts and personal testimonies, the project aims to foster a deeper understanding of these protests and their role in shaping contemporary European society.

Could the images, exposed to generative models and imbued with the recollections of historical witnesses, serve to reactivate memories of the successful non-violent struggle against dictatorship? Alternatively, could it potentially exacerbate existing levels of frustration and polarization, now that they have been brought to the fore? In its attempt to (re)animate memories in an increasingly accelerated media landscape, "Protest vergessen?" addresses several issues, including the authenticity and reliability of media documentation and archiving, the potential for ideological manipulation of the past, and the broader risks associated with the misuse of digital technology.

*All AI implementations are executed locally on personal computers and self-hosted servers to ensure the protection of the personal and sensitive data of all participants.

"Protest vergessen?"

Interviews

AI-model-stack