Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Inherited Wounds: Generational Trauma in Postcolonial Film and Narrative Fiction of the Global South
Date of Degree
2-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Program
Comparative Literature
Advisor
Jerry W. Carlson
Subject Categories
Comparative Literature | Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | Fiction | Film and Media Studies | Psychology | Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies | Spanish and Portuguese Language and Literature | Theory and Philosophy
Keywords
Colonial Legacies, Intergenerational Silence, Narrative Agency, Psychic Wounds, Cinematic Testimony, Ethnic Violence
Abstract
The theorization of trauma in literary studies emerged in the 1990s, evolving from its physiological origins to a multidisciplinary framework encompassing literature, psychology, and history. However, classical trauma theory, rooted in Western scholarship and focused on singular traumatic events, has been criticized for its limitations in addressing collective and ongoing trauma in non-Western contexts. This thesis responds to a call for a more inclusive approach to trauma studies, examining how multi-generational and cultural trauma is represented in non-Western postcolonial films and literature from the Global South, including works from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Cuba, Angola, Mozambique, Vietnam, and Lebanon.
The first section explores how postcolonial literature reclaims traumatic narratives through storytelling, challenging Eurocentric frameworks by directly engaging with traumatic memories. The literary texts “Three Generations” (Joaquin, 1940), The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida (Karunatilaka, 2022), and I Was Never the First Lady (Guerra, 2018) are used as examples of works that engage with themes of memory, silence, and resistance. These works demonstrate the transformative potential of storytelling in reclaiming agency and confronting the intergenerational transmission of pain. The second section shifts to film, examining Terra Sonâmbula (Prata, 2009), Na Cidade Vazia (Ganga, 2004), The Third Wife (Mayfair, 2018), and Capernaum (Labaki, 2018), which employ cinematic techniques to depict the aftermath of war, poverty, and systemic oppression. These films challenge audiences to witness the enduring impact of historical violence and the resilience of marginalized communities.
Drawing from J. Roger Kurtz’s work in his anthology Trauma and Literature, and Cathy Caruth’s classical trauma model, this thesis argues for the decolonization of trauma studies, advocating for inclusive frameworks that reflect the diverse ways trauma is experienced and addressed across cultures. By foregrounding narratives from the Global South, it emphasizes the importance of storytelling as a means of documenting, critiquing, and healing from inherited trauma. Ultimately, this research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of trauma as a universal yet deeply contextual phenomenon, underscoring the need for equity and cultural specificity in scholarly discourse.
Recommended Citation
Testi Melgarejo, Sabrina, "Inherited Wounds: Generational Trauma in Postcolonial Film and Narrative Fiction of the Global South" (2025). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/6142
Included in
Comparative Literature Commons, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Fiction Commons, Film and Media Studies Commons, Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies Commons, Spanish and Portuguese Language and Literature Commons, Theory and Philosophy Commons
