Representing the Material Infra-Ordinary of the Perpetrator

Artistic exhibitions at memorial sites challenge the stereotype of perpetrators as absolute evil by integrating their material objects into narratives, revealing a complex 'infra-ordinary' dimension. This study focuses on domestic spaces and private lives of perpetrators, contrasting them with propaganda monuments. Two examples—'Bilder, Stimmen und Klischees' at Ravensbrück in Germany and a permanent installation at the ESMA Museum in Buenos Aires—demonstrate strategies to represent perpetrators through mundane objects, uncovering layers of violence and authenticity. The research employs Georges Perec's concept of the infra-ordinary, arguing that trivial items expose deeper truths about perpetrator heritage.

Panico, M. (2024). Representing the Material Infra-Ordinary of the Perpetrator. Journal of Perpetrator Research, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.21039/jpr.7.1.165