Issues in the Definition of a Catastrophic Event as Trauma by Visual Media: Focusing on Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Abstract

A theory model of trauma that has often been used as the definition of a catastrophic event as trauma by the visual media poses the danger of deepening the pain of trauma instead of being the solution to coping with it. This work aims to present a solution to this problematic situation. It intends to provide an alternative model of trauma for visual representation, based on the existing model of trauma. The frame for understanding the problem mentioned above adopts the mode of questionable representation of 9/11 by the US’s mainstream visual media. The study notes that the forms of representation of 9/11 by the visual media, such as excluding the images of people falling from the world trade center towers, is based on a dominant model of modern trauma theory called the dissociation model or transmission model. Based on this understanding, this work examines the problems and limitations of the representation of 9/11 by the US visual media, particularly the visualization of the incident following the principles of a dominant model of trauma theory. Jonathan Safran Foer’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is one of the first novels that deals directly with the trauma of September 11 regarding the problems. It is Extremely Loud’s experimental form that exposes the complexity of trauma involving witnessing the terrible scene of 9/11. This paper utilizes the experimental form as a tool to reveal problems involving the dangers of the formulaic adoption of elements of a dominant trauma theory and as guidance for new alternatives for a visual representation of trauma.