IMM Senior Thesis

BOSNIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL

Context

The Srebrenica massacre was a horrific event that occurred during the Bosnian War in July 1995. Srebrenica, a town in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was designated as an UNSafe Area, supposedly protected by Dutch peacekeeping forces. However, Bosnian Serb forces, under the command of General Ratko Mladić, overran the town.

In the days that followed, over 8,000 Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) men and boys were systematically killed. Many were executed in mass shootings, while others died in brutal conditions while attempting to flee through the surrounding forests. The massacre is considered one of the darkest chapters in recent European history and has been classified as an act of genocide by international courts.

The international community faced widespread criticism for failing to prevent the massacre, despite having troops in the area. The Srebrenica massacre underscored the brutality of the Bosnian War and highlighted the urgent need for international intervention to prevent such atrocities.

Drinking coffee in Bosnia is not just about consuming caffeine; it's a social ritual. Bosnians often gather with friends, family, or colleagues to drink coffee and engage in conversation. This ritual fosters a sense of community and connection.

Bosnians value the slow pace of coffee drinking. It's an opportunity to take a break from the busyness of life, relax, and reflect. Conversations over coffee can range from light-hearted banter to deep discussions about life, politics, and philosophy.

Coffee drinking is deeply ingrained in the Bosnian identity. It's a cultural practice that transcends ethnic and religious divisions, bringing people together regardless of their background.


3D Printed Model

My project is going to be a 3D model of a memorial for the Bosnian genocide, more specifically the Massacre at Srebrenica, where eight thousand Bosnian Muslim men were killed in a UN declared safe zone. This combines my IMM major with my Holocaust and Genocide Studies minor. It is a miniature version of something I envision to be a real -scale model.

My 3D model is a coffee table with 10 coffee cups, two full and eight empty. There will be a coffee pot in the middle of the table. The eight cups signify the eight thousand lives lost, while incorporating the importance of coffee in the Bosnian culture.

There are four wire trees surrounding the table, allowing viewers to have conversations that would be hard to have in a normal setting.

Original composition by Brendan Meriney, IMM ‘25


Why this project?

I chose to do this project to combine my major and my minor. I wanted to improve my modeling skills while also using the knowledge I have from my minor. I chose to commemorate the Bosnian genocide because it is not a well known atrocity, and more light needs to be shed on it.


Meet Maddy

I am Maddy Smith, a senior IMM major with a Holocaust and Genocide Studies minor. I would love to go into exhibit design or social media for a non-profit organization.