Imagining war: Shaping and reshaping American cultural memory in the twentieth century

Mia M Martini, Purdue University

Abstract

In my dissertation, I argue that trauma and cultural memory operate together to create the defining narratives of the Twentieth century. It expands and refocuses the work done by Paul Fussell and Jay Winter on war's literary history and its interaction with cultural memory by including a more targeted discussion of trauma, masculinity, and historicity. Narrative is one of the ways through which a society makes sense of trauma. While novels and films generally focus on an individual or small group's experience, they are part of a larger, collective narrative that helps define group dynamics and attach meaning to history. The narrative becomes an integral part of cultural memory. Just as a traumatic event can become a defining moment in a person's life, so too does a collective trauma become a defining moment in a group's self-identification. I begin by tracing the developments in psychology regarding trauma, from its earliest incarnation as soldiers' heart or shell shock through the current designation as posttraumatic stress disorder. I explore both theoretical and clinical aspects, investigating works by Roger Luckhurst, Cathy Caruth, and Ruth Leys, among others. This segues into an overview of the theory surrounding collective and cultural memory, as explicated by Jay Winter, Alison Landsberg, and Ron Eyerman. Paul Fussell's literary and cultural studies on war help illuminate the literary and narrative connections between the two fields: psychology and history. Cultural memory is a type of symbolic exchange that exists between those who actively participated and those who did not. It is formed through the interaction and consumption of narrative, national history, and experience. Each chapter addresses a particular Twentieth century war and the distinct narrative engendered by it. Ultimately, my dissertation presents a new understanding of conflict and trauma, and opens a new direction for understanding current warfare and war narratives as well.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Mullen, Purdue University.

Subject Area

American literature|Military studies

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