THE GENESIS OF HORROR: REPRESENTATION OF THE TERRORIST ACT AND MEMORY WORK IN MOROCCAN LITERATURE OF FRENCH EXPRESSION Cover Image

LA GENÈSE DE L’HORREUR. REPRÉSENTATION DE L’ACTE TERRORISTE ET TRAVAIL DE MÉMOIRE DANS LA LITTÉRATURE MAROCAINE D’EXPRESSION FRANÇAISE
THE GENESIS OF HORROR: REPRESENTATION OF THE TERRORIST ACT AND MEMORY WORK IN MOROCCAN LITERATURE OF FRENCH EXPRESSION

Author(s): Abdeljalil El Kadim
Subject(s): Other Language Literature, Studies in violence and power, Theory of Literature
Published by: Filološki fakultet, Nikšić
Keywords: trauma; memory; parody; realistic narrative; imaginary;

Summary/Abstract: In the aftermath of the May 2003 attacks, Moroccans were paralyzed by the magnitude of the event. Political scientists, sociologists, journalists took turns on television sets to try to comprehend the incomprehensible, to label the unspeakable. The trauma was such that society took refuge in denial, arguing the age-old tolerance of Moroccans and their legendary pacifism. Years later, young novelists seize the event; put it in fiction, initiating a work of memory likely to reconcile the community with its painful past. In order to get out of denial, suggest these novelists, one must have the courage to face reality in the front. The terrorist is here. Instead of pretending to ignore him, it would be more judicious, to approach him, to give him the floor, to access the intimacy of his conscience. Hence, amazingly we will discover the limits of our ability to interpret. In the terrorist act, there is nothing to understand. Above all, we must not go back to the usual thought patterns and easy causalities conveyed by the media.

  • Issue Year: 2019
  • Issue No: 27
  • Page Range: 85-104
  • Page Count: 20
  • Language: French