Embodying <i>ressentimentful</i> victimhood: virtual reality re-enactment of the Warsaw uprising in the Second World War Museum in Gdańsk

This article examines how the Museum of Second World War in Gdańsk, Poland, employs an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience ‘Postcard from Uprising’ (Kartka z Powstania) order to build affective memory regime that prescribes emotional repertoire for museum audiences. By engaging a narrative inquiry VR experience, I demonstrate it evokes dynamic ressentiment, which has been identified as driver right-wing populism and informs historical policy Poland’s ruling Law Justice (PiS) party. The ressentimentful is predicated on (1) repeated re-experiencing perceived injustice victimhood, requires (2) outlet negative emotions directed at enemy (3) reclaiming self-worth dignity along with ennobled morally superior victimhood position. functions emotion training device through ‘appropriate’ towards past are instilled audience. transforms collective powerless position may help PiS harnessing feelings present among visitors, who yearn overcome these reclaim their dignity.