Senior Project Advisor
Tracey Pyscher
Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Spring 2022
Keywords
trauma, fanfiction, fandom, Marvel, media analysis, genre, narrative, recovery, deficit, PTSD, sexual violence, identity, LGBTQ+, disability, race
Abstract
Fanfiction, especially fanfiction based on superhero stories like those from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is an important but often overlooked vehicle for analyzing how society understands trauma. Using genre analysis and narrative analysis, this project is a wide-reaching exploration of how fanfiction both reflects and shapes popular understandings of trauma. It describes the unique fanfiction medium-genre and breaks down topics like whump, savior narratives, and fanfic's love affair with emotionally broken men, as well as topics like post-traumatic growth and deficit framing. The project also explores the intersections of trauma, identity and representation, discussing topics like structural trauma and childhood experiences of domestic abuse as a sociocultural identity.
Department
Secondary Education
Recommended Citation
Fick, Sadie, "Whump, A+ Parenting and Fantasy Racism: Trauma Narratives in Marvel Fanfiction" (2022). WWU Honors College Senior Projects. 600.
https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwu_honors/600
Subjects - Topical (LCSH)
Fan fiction; Psychic trauma in literature; Presentism (Literary analysis)
Genre/Form
literary criticism
Type
Text
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf