트라우마의 재현과 시청

Representation and Viewing of Trauma: In the light of Visual Media Saturated with Violent and Traumatic Images

Psychological theories of trauma have explained how the experience of physical harm or life-threatening situations can cause long-term behavioral and memory disorders. These theories explain the destructive effect of trauma on victims and allow greater empathy for them. Today, visual media such as film, television, and the Internet regularly contain vivid depictions of violence and catastrophe. Although the impact of these representations has been an going focus of trauma research, people appear to have learn how to watch representations of extreme violence without suffering obvious psychological effects. However, this conclusion may be premature in that recent trauma theories, developed by authors such as Shoshana Felman and Cathy Caruth, tend to concern to excessive exact and authentic transmission of trauma. This research trend does not explore multiple and extended means of experiencing trauma or suggest an acceptable mode of transmission for media saturated with traumatic images and representations. The aim of this article is to critique current trauma theory and to explore other ways to portray traumatic experiences in modem media. As an alternative strategy, the discussion draws on Joshua Hirsch's notion of "post-traumatic cinema" and suggests possible direction for transmitting and perceiving traumatic experiences through an analysis of the film, Grbavica: Land of My Dream, which presents an example of the strategy.