From Postmemory to Traumatopic Spaces: An Analysis of Trauma Representation in the Works of Wajdi Mouawad

Author
Khosro Sina
Assistant Professor, Department of Art, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
Abstract
This study comparatively analyzes the representation of trauma and memory in selected plays by Wajdi Mouawad, including "Coastline," "Fires," "Forests," and"Skies." The aim is to investigate how Mouawad artistically portrays trauma and memory, and to examine its implications for the reconstruction of individual and collective identity. The theoretical framework is based on the theories of Cathy Caruth, Paul Ricoeur, Marianne Hirsch, and Jan Patočka, employing a qualitative and comparative research method. The findings reveal that Mouawad, through nonlinear narratives, place symbolism, and silence, highlights the complexities of individual and collective memory. Each play uniquely addresses these themes: "Fires" explores the intergenerational narrative of violence and war, "Coastline" focuses on the search for identity and confronting the past, "Forests" unearths family secrets and postmemory, and "Skies" addresses the identity crisis in the modern world. This research demonstrates that Mouawad's works, transcending linguistic and cultural boundaries, illustrate the power of art in reconstructing identity and psychological wounds.

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