The documentation center located next to Bernauerstrasse was a very interesting site to visit. Among the exhibits in the building itself, there also exists a number of monuments outside the building as well. Adjacent to the center is a reconstructed area that once included a church before the wall went up. There has since been another church built in the area to symbolize the one that existed previously, which also includes the outline of the previously-standing church as well. This puts the viewer in perspective of how much area was affected by the introduction of the wall in this area specifically.
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| Overview of area outside the documentation center. Left: Reconstructed Church and outline of previous church. Right: Remaining section of the wall. |
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| Close-up view of the outline of the previously standing church. |
Within the center itself, there are three levels: two that are used for exhibits and one that is a look-out onto the layout of the wall that previously existed. The first level of exhibits shows the beginnings of the wall, including the construction of it, the initial reaction and the early years. The second level continues this theme but ends off with the tearing down of the wall on November 9, 1989.
I found the experience to be quite emotional due to the inclusion of many forms of information. Not only did they provide many visual images and items from this time in history, but also personal recounts from survivors of this event. This center also focuses on viewpoints from many different people, such as victims of different ages and occupations. One particular recount from one of the survivors explained that if he wanted to continue attending University, he would have to sign an agreement to join the army if it were needed; at that point he wasn't sure what to do, because he refused to join the army. Another insight that struck me was the story of those who were in the army but did not want to be, and purposely misfired or aimed off the target so as not to actually shoot someone. An interesting aspect of the center is that it incorporates interactive activities as well, such as writing inspirational words or whatever emotion the viewer feels.
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| Section of the documentation center that features personal recounts from people who were impacted by the Berlin Wall. |
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| Hanging personalized papers that feature messages written by visitors of the center. |
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| Example of how many of the exhibits are set-up. |
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| Items that remain from escaping through the Wall. |
By displaying information in many forms (such as pictures, videos, personal recounts, reconstruction of the wall, and many more), it makes the center quite valuable and efficient in spreading the history of the wall to anyone who visits. Not only that, but the layout provides an accurate evolution of the wall, starting with it's creation, the tear-down, and everything in between. Overall, I found the center to be quite informative and a unique experience to visit.
6 comments:
I agree that the way these recounts and biographies added to the emotion that the exhibit put out. The stories were touching and genuinely made you feel emotions, unlike some other museums which present information to the viewer very blandly. Having said that, I completely missed the display of the guy who wanted to continue his schooling, but decided not to since he would have to join the military. I don't even know how I would react in such an instance, and I know it would be an incredibly hard decision.
Which medium did you think worked best to convey the stories? I think that the videos of the survivors was a great thing to have however I felt that one would need quite a bit of time to be able to listen to everything. On the upper level the biographies of those who escaped really helped me to understand what some people were really going through.
To add to this, I found the personal items of those who managed to escape East Berlin eye catching. These items enhanced the stories of those who escaped. It made the stories feel more real to me. It was also interesting to see the different methods that some people used in person. For example the homemade scuba diving attire.
I liked the documentation centre's idea of providing visitors the opportunity to write personalized messages. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this was the only place we visited where visitor interaction formed a part of the exhibition itself.
Keir, I think you are correct. It was neat reading other peoples reactions and some of the responses connecting the past events in Berlin to certain current events. The trend I found was inspiration for peace.
In terms of museums that we visited, I think you are correct as well Keir, with the fact that they incorporated the visitor's comments as well. I remember seeing a drawing/comment on one of the papers referencing North Korea and the wall that they have set up between them and South Korea, and I understand that it's a different situation in that area, but it's interesting that the visitor who wrote that made that connection; I don't think I would have thought of that at the time otherwise.
Amanda, I feel as though the personal recounts worked better for me in terms of conveying the stories of those who lived through the time that the Wall was up. The reason for this though is because I know I learn better by listening as apposed to just reading, along with the fact that their voice adds a sense of sincerity to what they were thinking or feeling during their interview. But it's definitely understandable if you got a better understanding from reading some of these stories instead; it would more than likely be a bit less time consuming.
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