The Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center (TJMHC) will host the grand opening of its newest exhibition, ”Media Matters: Cutting Through the Noise,” on Thursday, March 12, at 6 p.m. This year’s installment of the Allen & Marianne Langer Contemporary Human Rights Exhibit explores the evolution of media literacy and the challenges of discerning truth in this new digital age.
The exhibition aims to equip visitors with the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate an era defined by rapid technological change, political unrest, and misinformation. In addition to answering the basic questions of what media is (broadcast, social, digital, print, advertising, etc.) and who owns the media, this exhibit will offer introductory explanations of artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfakes and explain how they challenge our ability to truly parse fact from fiction. Through all of this, the exhibit educates and encourages guests to move from being passive “media consumers” to informed “media citizens.”
There are no easy solutions to the problem of media reliability and distortion. This exhibit and its ancillary programs are designed to spur meaningful community dialogue and personal introspection on contemporary challenges. As with all exhibits in TJMHC’s Holocaust Center, this issue can be analyzed through the lens of the lessons of the Holocaust, a history that paints a clear picture of the dire consequences of unchecked propaganda.
The exhibit also serves as a tribute to the lifelong human rights advocacy of Marianne Langer and the memory of her late husband, Allen. Their commitment to highlighting discrimination and human rights remains the cornerstone of this ever-evolving exhibition.
The opening event is free to the public, in accordance with TJMHC’s mission, though pre-registration is required. To register or learn more, visit www.tjmhc.org/programs-and-events.
