Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Assistant Professor of English Language and Literature, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 PhD Candidate of English Language and Literature, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3 Professor of English Language and Literature, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
This article adopts an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on trauma studies and critical discourse analysis, to demonstrate how trauma narratives can consciously or unconsciously align with and perpetuate dominant political discourses. Through downplaying, manipulation, or omission of political references—the depoliticization of the literary narrative of trauma—these works reinforce some of the power dynamics involved in the creation of the traumatic experiences. The analysis begins with a close reading of four literary war narratives written by American veterans, nationally recognized and acclaimed. Then by employing a combination of theoretical frameworks from trauma studies alongside Fairclough and Wodak’s models in critical discourse analysis, the research identifies and categorizes instances of depoliticization and investigates how these instances reflect or conceal broader historical and sociopolitical contexts. The results reveal that although these narratives appear anti-war on the surface, they conform to the dominant discourses of their time. Given that depoliticized trauma narratives can diminish or completely obscure political responsibility, this study opens up an extensive prospect for deeper examination of the relationship between the representation of trauma and political power, as well as its impact on public awareness. Ultimately, the findings emphasize the importance of a critical approach to analyzing trauma narratives and war literature.
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