Black Plague Riots in the mid 14th Century, are examples of social violence still relevant today. Erfurt Germany is one town that massacred their Jewish population, up to 3000 people were murdered in the Spring of 1349. In 1998, a treasure was recovered under the wall of a cellar, at the address of 43 Michaelisstrasse. The last owner of the property prior to the Erfurt massacre was a Jewish merchant named Kalman von Wiehe. Included in a vast treasure full of silver, coins, and other objects, was a Jewish communal ceremonial wedding ring. I believe this is a perfect opportunity to view genocide from a feminine perspective. Today the treasure is held in the Alt (Old) Synagogue. Constructed around 1100, it's the oldest synagogue remaining in Europe. Nearby, a Mikveh - a ceremonial bath house, mostly used by women to observe purity laws, was recovered along the Gera river. It has been restored and is part of the Erfurt Treasure's museum site complex.
Erfurt remains a center of antisemitic ideology and violence. Grave desecrations, a massive school shooting (the other Erfurt massacre), firebombing the synagogue, violence at art galleries, and paramilitary busts are the norm today. Erfurt was also home of antisemitic Martin Luther, as well as saw overwhelming support of the Nazi movement, including spawning practitioners in unethical medical euthanasia, and J.A. Topf & Sons, the factory that created the crematoriums and vent systems used to both gas and burn Jewish people in many concentration and death camps. Erfurt offers a grim legacy of hatred that continues to fester. Erfurt is a town which needs further examination. Virtual Reality offers an opportunity to explore Erfurt (without getting murdered).
The Erfurt Story & Game Concept
This animated game concept was a submission for the 2-Minute Pitch for Games for Change, 2014. I drew it on an iPad with self-designed html drawing program created with Dr. C. Shimizu of the Illuminati, 2012.
Screenshots Inside TiltBrush
Erfurt Ring VR is a work in progress. These are some screenshots from inside of TiltBrush.
