Authors

Sadie Fick

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

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

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