Bearing Witness: Jan Karski

1 Credit · Level: Undergraduate

Outside of Georgetown’s White-Gravenor Hall sits an iconic commemorative bench and statue honoring Holocaust witness, Polish World War II hero, spy and diplomat, Jan Karski, one of the most influential and legendary professors ever to teach at Georgetown University. This course explores Karski’s story and its contemporary resonance centered around Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski, a celebrated original theatrical production created by The Laboratory of Global Performance and Politics at Georgetown and starring Oscar-Nominated actor David Strathairn, who will participate as a guest in the course (in dialogue with Professor Derek Goldman who co-authored and directed the production). Karski’s remarkable legacy speaks to the importance of moral courage; of bearing witness to history; of respect for others, especially those who are different; of the responsibility to question; and of the role of the individual in speaking out, even when the message is not “convenient.” Using Karski’s life and teachings as inspiration, we will examine our own relationship to the current historical moment, how individuals may bear witness to history and, following Karski’s example, “shake the conscience of the world.” As part of the course, students will also attend a live performance of the production, interface with a dynamic, experiential web-based platform, and encounter archival clips and interviews with extraordinary leaders as we collectively engage Karski’s legacy today. Should these changes be applied to existing sections?: No Please list the term(s) and corresponding CRN(s) following the example format below: Comments: Section Description will be: BEARING WITNESS: THE LEGACY OF JAN KARSKI TODAY. Outside of Georgetown’s White-Gravenor Hall sits an iconic commemorative bench and statue honoring Holocaust witness, Polish World War II hero, spy and diplomat, Jan Karski, one of the most influential and legendary Professors ever to teach at Georgetown University. This course explores Karski’s story and its contemporary resonance, centering around the filmed version of Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski, a celebrated original theatrical production created by The Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics at Georgetown and starring Oscar-Nominated actor David Strathairn, who will participate as a guest in the course (in dialogue with Professor Derek Goldman who co-authored and directed the production). Karski’s remarkable legacy speaks to the importance of moral courage; of bearing witness to history; of respect for others, especially those who are different; of the responsibility to question; and of the role of the individual in speaking out, even when the message is not “convenient.” Using Karski’s life and teachings as inspiration, we will examine our own relationship to the current historical moment, how individuals may bear witness to history and, following Karski’s example, “shake the conscience of the world.” The course will make use of a dynamic new experiential web-based platform that will include not only the filmed theatrical production, but archival clips and interviews with extraordinary leaders who will engage Karski’s legacy today.