Trauma at the Movies: Cinematic Memories of Columbine

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Abstract

The Columbine High School shooting of 1999 has become a cultural icon for school shootings in the United States and beyond. Still, there are only a few cinematic adaptations of it. This article addresses how these movies nonetheless impact the culture of remembering Columbine. It argues that films about Columbine use different strategies to mediate the trauma of the shooting that are closely related to framing or recreating trauma. In addition, as traumatic events such as Columbine often lack clear causes and effects, this article will argue that film is particularly effective in mediating trauma.
Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)90-106
Number of pages17
JournalCurrent Objectives of Postgraduate American Studies
Volume24
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Aug 2023

Keywords

  • Columbine High School shooting
  • trauma film
  • trauma studies
  • Bowling for Columbine (film)
  • Elephant (film)
  • Columbine
  • school shootings

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