Postmemory: Trauma Inheritance and Testimonial Objects in the Novel Namaku Alam by Leila S. Chudori

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-313-9_16How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Memory; Trauma; Testimonial Objects; Post-Generation

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the inheritance of memory of the past to the generation after related to the issues described in the novel Namaku Alam by Leila S. Chudori. This inheritance of memory seems to show that the political event of G30S/PKI, which is the background of the story, is a traumatic event for many future individuals. Therefore, this research seeks to see the form of the trauma inheritance process and the testimonial objects that influence individual memory of the political genocide that occurred. Marianne Hirsch's postmemory theory is used as the basis to explain the process of trauma transmission and testimonial objects in the novel. Using a qualitative method, the research collects linguistic units—through repetitive reading: observe and write (noting) compatible data—and analyzes the data—identification followed by interpretation to reveal the relation between trauma discourse infiltration process within the subjects’ language meaning—that has been classified on the basis of the theory used. As a historically set novel, it shows that the 1965 catastrophe passed on intergenerational trauma: from the generation that experienced it directly to the next generation. This inheritance of memory occurs familially and culturally (affilial). As mediators, testimonial objects such as photographs, houses and museums contribute to the trauma of Segara Alam's characters. The trauma inheritance through narration and access to testimonial objects constructs trauma in the form of fear, vulnerability and identity insecurity. These forms of trauma accumulate and then manifested into intrusive imagery: form of vultures in the Alam’s illusion.

Copyright

© 2024 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Yuniardi Fadilah
AU  - Archimedes Attila Puspasari Marcaida
PY  - 2024
DA  - 2024/12/07
TI  - Postmemory: Trauma Inheritance and Testimonial Objects in the Novel Namaku Alam by Leila S. Chudori
BT  - Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Culture and Sustainable Development (ICOCAS 2024)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 103
EP  - 110
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-313-9_16
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-313-9_16
ID  - Fadilah2024
ER  -