Pascal Michelberger

Western Academy Postdoctoral Scholar

Pascal Michelberger is a recent PhD graduate of Western University’s program in Comparative Literature (Department of Languages and Cultures). In his research, located at the intersection of literary studies, legal studies, and history, he highlights the ways in which the examination of fictional and non-fictional sources with the tools of scholarship rooted in the humanities can offer meaningful perspectives on conflict, peace, and the rule of law.

He is especially interested in the adequacy of legal investigations and trials for the purpose of addressing systematic human rights violations, establishing the truth about past events, and normalizing relationships between conflict parties. He has worked extensively on fictional approaches to the legal prosecution of Third Reich crimes in (West) Germany, the Spanish Civil War, and the Spanish transition to democracy after the Franco dictatorship. For his doctoral research at Western University, he was awarded an Ontario Trillium Scholarship.

Michelberger featured

Between Justice and Truth: The Legal Prosecution of Third Reich Crimes in Giulio Ricciarelli’s Labyrinth of Lies

What contributions can fictional narratives and their examination with the tools of literary scholarship make to transitional justice scholarship? This book chapter by Western Academy Postdoctoral Scholar Pascal Michelberger examines Giulio's Ricciarelli's 2014 film Labyrinth of Lies, a fictionalized re-telling of the investigations that led to the historic Frankfurt Auschwitz Trial in West Germany (1963–65).

Read MoreBetween Justice and Truth: The Legal Prosecution of Third Reich Crimes in Giulio Ricciarelli’s Labyrinth of Lies
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Beyond the Cautionary Tale: Navigating Current Conflict with the Help of Forward-looking Storytelling

How can storytelling equip us with the tools to navigate conflict in real time? This workshop by Western Academy Postdoctoral Scholar Pascal Michelberger highlights forms of conflict storytelling that are preventive rather than reactive and that prioritize looking forward over looking backward.

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‘Pax Americana’ in Toronto: How speculative art can help us navigate threats

How can speculative fiction help us navigate conflict in real time? An article by Western Academy Postdoctoral Scholar Pascal Michelberger on Dara Vandor's public art series "Pax Americana," its relevance in the context of the current Canada-U.S. relations, and how it serves as a perfect example for engaging conflict storytelling.

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The Limits of the Law: Recent Fiction on the West German Prosecution of Nazi Atrocities

What can fiction tell us about the complexities of transitional justice? This workshop by Western Academy Postdoctoral Scholar Pascal Michelberger examines fictional representations of West German legal endeavours undertaken during the first two decades after the founding of the Federal Republic to address systematic Third Reich atrocities.

Read MoreThe Limits of the Law: Recent Fiction on the West German Prosecution of Nazi Atrocities