Arts paper

Pigniczky, Réka and Andrea Lauer

Memory Project

Memory Project: An Educational Joint Plan

Type of Abstract (select):

Abstract (max. 250 words):
During the 65th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, we partnered with the Moholy Nagy Muveszeti Egyetem (MOME) / University of Art and Design Budapest to educate students about the Revolution and help them define what the Revolution means to the next generation. Students used our online archive, Memory Project: A Visual History Archive of Hungarian Emigration, as research and inspiration to define the legacy of 1956 in their own words. Three classes were used as the launching points: Media Design, Animation and Photography. Following a two-week intensive learning about the Revolution of 1956, 55 students created 60-second-presentations for their proposed projects. The results were original and some somewhat surprising. Along with the teachers, we worked to create a framework within which all of the ideas could be shown. We hope to replicate some of these ideas and ultimately, the learnings from this project, as we work within the HA community to help the next generation define what this important time in history means to them.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Réka Pigniczky is a television journalist, producer and independent documentary filmmaker. To date she has created 3 films dealing with 1956, immigration, and dual-identity. ‘Journey Home’ won awards in Hungary and was invited to screen at a number of international film festivals. ‘Inkubátor’ was voted one of the 25 best films released in Hungary in 2010. ‘Heritage’ is the prequel to the Memory Project.
While the movie “Journey Home” tells the moving story of her Father’s role in the ’56 Revolution, Réka never interviewed him herself. And now that he has passed away, that opportunity is lost. Through this project, she hopes to record other people’s stories so that no one else will miss the opportunity to hear these stories in the words of the people who lived them.
Réka has an MA in international affairs and journalism from Columbia University in New York. Her film website is www.rekapigniczky.com.
Andrea Lauer Rice is a multimedia producer, author and speaker, who focuses on teaching the next generation through new and innovative ways. On the topic of 1956, her multimedia credits include:
• FF56! – an educational computer game;
• “Freedom Fighters of ’56!” – a historically-accurate graphic novel;
• www.FreedomFighter56.com – oral history site;
• and “56 Stories – Personal Recollections of the Revolution” – a coffee table book in both Hungarian and English.
Andrea grew up hearing stories about 1956 from her mother, aunt, grandparents and other family members who participated. Her challenge is finding ways to bridge the gap – building a bridge between Hungarians and Americans, between spouses and parents and children. She tries to answer the question, how does one generation effectively pass on heritage and traditions to the next.