Denial: David Irving, and the Complexities of Representing a Holocaust Denier

Abstract

Mick Jackson’s 2016 film Denial, based on the libel case brought against Deborah Lipstatd’s publisher by David Irving, was discussed as a panel event at the 13th International Association of Genocide Scholars conference, held at the University of Queensland on the evening of July 12, 2017. Dr. Kirril Shields presented on the difficulty of representation, addressing the film’s portrayal of David Irving. Dr. Ted Nannicelli followed with a discussion centered on the film’s use of cinematic rhetoric as positioned in various examples throughout Denial. Dr. Henry Theriault gave the final paper, examining the philosophy of the act of denial, talking on the advent of the concept in relation to genocide, with reference to “denial” as represented in artistic endeavor.

Keywords

• David Irving
• Deborah Lipstatd
• Denial
• Holocaust denial
• genocide denial
• Filmic representation
• cinematic rhetoric