“A French 9/11”? French literature in the wake of terrorism
Portugal, Nicolas
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/125663
Description
Title
“A French 9/11”? French literature in the wake of terrorism
Author(s)
Portugal, Nicolas
Issue Date
2024-06-14
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Mathy, Jean-Philippe
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Mathy, Jean-Philippe
Committee Member(s)
Mall, Laurence
Kaplan, Brett
Proulx, François
Department of Study
French and Italian
Discipline
French
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
9/11
French literature
terrorism
Abstract
This dissertation explores how contemporary French literature and intellectual discourse have responded to the aftermath of major terrorist events, including the 9/11 attacks in the United States and the Charlie Hebdo attack in January 2015. It investigates the complex interactions among cultural identity, national trauma, and literary expressions, focusing on how French writers, intellectuals, and the broader cultural community currently address the global phenomenon of terrorism. This exploration evaluates the contributions of these narratives to a broader understanding of terrorism's impact on society and questions the appropriateness of the expression “a French 9/11.” The argument central to this thesis is that French literature actively engages with the socio-political and cultural shifts following 9/11. It provides insights into how literature addresses memory processes, identity formation, and communal and national expressions of grief. It argues that the literary and cultural aftermath of terrorism in France opens critical discussions about freedom, security, and state roles, enriching debates about democracy, secularism, and the challenges of multiculturalism in modern France.
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