Schüler*innen fotografieren ihre Heimat. Identität, Emotion und Geschichtsbewusstsein

Abstract

Heimat brings into focus the emotional part of the human being, its energies of attachment. Thus, it represents a cross-sectional dimension of historical awareness. This assumption was examined in a project with students, which was organized by the »Fichtelgebirgsmuseum«. The students were asked to photographically comment the diversity of the region, a natural geographic unit. The photos as well as the project reports form the basis of this exploratory study. The data were analysed in two steps out of two different scientific perspectives, a history didactical and a psychological one. The conclusions drawn show the significance of the historical perspective when young people mediatize their environment. The resulting concept of Heimat is constructed far from academic identity offers and societal identity forces and can differ from official offers.