Bearing witness to trauma :representations of the Rwandan genocide

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis will examine representations of the Rwandan genocide and itsaftermath in selected literary and filmic narratives. It aims in particular to explorethe different ways in which narrative devices are used to convey trauma to thereader or viewer, thus enabling them to bear witness to it. These includelanguage, discourse, image, structure and perspectives, on the one hand, andthe framing of the genocide on screen, on the other hand. The thesis argues thatthese narrative devices are used to provide partial insight into the trauma of thegenocide and/or to produce empathy or distance between readers and viewersand the victims, perpetrators and survivors of the genocide. Particular attentionis paid to the ways in which the selected novels and films advance the humandimension of the genocide. This will shift both victims and perpetrators out of thedomain of statistics and evoke emotional engagement from readers and viewers.The thesis argues for the importance of narrative in bearing witness to trauma,particularly due to its unique ability to forge an emotional connection betweenreader or viewer and character. The primary texts analysed in the thesis are thenovels Inyenzi: A Story of Love and Genocide by South African author AndrewBrown and Murambi, The Book of Bones by Senegalese author Boubacar BorisDiop, along with the films Shooting Dogs, directed by British Michael Caton-Jones, and Hotel Rwanda, directed by American Terry George. In addition toconsidering the use of narrative devices to produce empathy and engagementamong readers and viewers, the thesis explores also the implications of thevarious outsider perspectives of the writers and film-makers, and the effect thatthis has on their narratives, not least given the role played by the worldcommunity in failing to avert the genocide .

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University