Trauma and the Mediation of Memory in Don DeLillo’s Falling Man
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1506.16Keywords:
trauma, media, 9/11, collective memory, psychological impactAbstract
This paper examines the interplay between trauma, memory, and media in Don DeLillo’s Falling Man. Set in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the novel delves into the psychological impact of collective trauma and the role of media in shaping individual and communal memory. By analyzing the experiences of its characters, this study argues that media representations act as both a catalyst for memory and a framework for understanding trauma. Drawing on trauma theory and media studies, the paper explores how DeLillo critiques the media’s role in creating a fragmented and often commodified narrative of 9/11. Additionally, it considers the ethical implications of using graphic imagery in both fictional and real-world contexts, focusing on the recurring motif of the “Falling Man” photograph. The findings reveal how Falling Man bridges the personal and the public, offering a profound commentary on the relationship between mediated memory and the psychology of grief.
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