Composite Anne: The remembrance of Anne Frank and Holocaust commemoration in the digital age

This article explores the influence of digital culture on Holocaust commemoration through the test case of Anne Frank. By carrying out a comprehensive visual and multimodal analysis of three contemporary representations of Frank, I identify three new characteristics of her commemoration: performative engagement, media reconstruction, and narrative adaptation. While performative engagement introduces a new position for commemoration, media reconstruction focuses on the appropriation and use of media for Frank’s remembrance. Narrative adaptation represents a shift from linear storytelling, reiterating established narratives traditionally associated with Frank to new interpretations favoring heightened engagement and non-linearity. Altogether, these characteristics illuminate and address changes in three key aspects of Holocaust commemoration and the remembrance of Frank: subjectivity, media, and storytelling. I conclude by showing how the focus on Frank’s figure brings forward a burgeoning trend in Holocaust commemoration, which offers an alternative perspective to the mainstream promotion of immersive experiences in digital media. In doing so, I advocate a moderate approach to media use for memory work in digital culture.