In this episode we focus on the topic of toxic masculinity, and the idea of "dangerous men". Toxic masculinity is a concept often used to define unhealthy attributes associated with men and maleness. From being unemotional and power-hungry to narcissistic and violent, men are oftentimes defined by these stereotypes, which create an unhealthy and unrealistic understanding of what it means to be a man in society. 

The term toxic masculinity emerged in the early 1980's and 90’s, mainly as a result of what is referred to as the mythopoetic men's movement of that time, which was a body of self-help activities and therapeutic workshops and retreats for men undertaken by various organisations and authors in the United States. Masculinity and the study of men have become more and more important as focuses of academic, political and media inquiry. Some wonder if this is a backlash to feminism? Or is there something specific behind this interest?

Interviewer and moderator: Mdu Ntuli

Panelists:
Director Tali Nates: founder and executive director of the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre, South Africa;
Prof Bjorn Krondorfer: Director of the Martin-Springer Institute at Northern Arizona University and Endowed Professor of Religious Studies in the Department of Comparative Cultural Studies, Flagstaff, USA;
Prof Andrea Pető: Professor in the Department of Gender Studies at Central European University in Vienna, Austria and a Doctor of Science of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences;
Prof Steve Carr: Director of the Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Purdue University, in Fort Wayne, USA.

~ Please share your comments and questions! If you would like to know more about the content of this podcast, or the JHGC generally please email Mduduzi@jhbholocaust.co.za or visit our website: www.jhbholocaust.co.za

Dangerous Men | Sleepwalking through the Assault on Democracy

In this episode we focus on the attacks of symbols of democracy, particularly the use of fire: From the Reichstag burning in 1933 in Berlin to Washington DC in January 2021 and the recent fire at the South African parliament.

Interviewer and moderator: Mdu Ntuli

Panelists:
Director Tali Nates: founder and executive director of the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre, South Africa;
Prof Bjorn Krondorfer: Director of the Martin-Springer Institute at Northern Arizona University and Endowed Professor of Religious Studies in the Department of Comparative Cultural Studies, Flagstaff, USA;
Prof Andrea Pető: Professor in the Department of Gender Studies at Central European University in Vienna, Austria and a Doctor of Science of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences;
Prof Steve Carr: Director of the Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Purdue University, in Fort Wayne, USA.

~ Please share your comments and questions! If you would like to know more about the content of this podcast, or the JHGC generally please email Mduduzi@jhbholocaust.co.za or visit our website: www.jhbholocaust.co.za

Dangerous Fires | Sleepwalking through the Assault on Democracy

The Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre in partnership with the Austrian Service Abroad, is pleased to introduce Ruben Schaller.

Ruben is currently in Johannesburg to work as an intern (or Gedenkdiener) at the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre as part of his Austrian Service Abroad. Austrian Service Abroad is a non-profit organisation founded by Dr. Andreas Maislinger, an Austrian historian and political scientist in 1998. The organisation sends young Austrians to work in partner institutions worldwide in the field of Holocaust commemoration.

~ Please share your comments and questions! If you would like to know more about the content of this podcast, or the JHGC generally please email Mduduzi@jhbholocaust.co.za or visit our website: www.jhbholocaust.co.za

Meet our Intern Ruben Schaller

Welcome to the 2025 series of podcasts recorded by students in the international course on ‘Cultures of Hate and Oppression: Connecting the Conversations between Antisemitism, the Holocaust, Colonialism and Gender’. Coordinated by Dr Adam Levin and Professor Merle Williams for the 2024/25 academic session. ‘Cultures of Hate and Oppression’ is a collaborative course which brings together colleagues and students from four highly regarded universities: our institution, the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, Central European University in Vienna, as well as Birkbeck and the School of Oriental and African Studies (both affiliated to London University). Our collaboration has been greatly enriched by our partnership with the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre. This partnership has been integral to developing the timely, thoughtful and creative work produced by our students in the podcasts.

‘Cultures of Hate’ is a challenging and pathbreaking course because it brings together 4 topics that are often treated separately in academic discourse or even approached as somehow incompatible with one another: antisemitism, the Holocaust, colonialism and gender. Our aim is to trace and elucidate the overt or sometimes hidden connections between these phenomena. In this way, we explore the darkly intertwined legacies of prejudice, discrimination, racism and oppression that have shaped our contemporary world. 

For the ‘Cultures of Hate’ course assignment, students are invited to develop a podcast concentrating on one of the 4 major thematic areas treated in the course. They are allocated to cross-institutional groups consisting of 4–7 members each. These groups work under the guidance of a mentor to frame a clearly defined topic and to decide on a suitable approach, as well as assigning roles to individuals, writing a script and applying the necessary technical skills. This year, podcasts were recorded on aspects of antisemitism, the Holocaust, colonialism and gender. Here, we showcase the best three podcasts that were produced. 

Cultures of Hate and Oppression on Antisemitism

The Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre's Education Officer, Mdu Ntuli, welcomes Mary Kluk, Founder and Executive Director of the Durban Holocaust & Genocide Centre, for a conversation about the DHGC's journey over the past 11 years. Mary will touch on the significance of remembering the 1994 genocide in Rwanda at the Durban Holocaust & Genocide Centre, with the recent inclusion of the genocide as a case study in their permanent exhibition.

~ Please share your comments and questions!~
If you have any questions about the content of this podcast or our Centre please email Mduduzi@jhbholocaust.co.za or connect with JHGCentre on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

You can find more information about the Durban Holocaust & Genocide Centre at www.dbnholocaust.co.za

Cultures of Hate and Oppression on Antisemitism

jhgcentre

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