Colonial Trauma in Movies: A Postcolonial Analysis of the Movie: «The Dawn of the Damned»..1965
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Date
2025
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UNIVERSITY OF ABBES LAGHROUR-KHENCHELA
Abstract
Abstract:
This dissertation examined the psychological impact of colonialism through postcolonial
lenses, focusing on Frantz Fanon’s seminal work" The wretched of the earth"(1961). It aimed
to reveal how colonial regimes inflicted profound mental trauma, manifesting as alienation,
identity fragmentation, internalized inferiority, and psychological disorders, and their effects
on both; the colonizers and the colonized. Drawing on Fanon’s psychiatric case studies and
theoretical critiques, along with insights from thinkers such as Albert Memmi, the study
investigated how colonial power extended beyond physical control to include psychological
domination and epistemic violence. Employing qualitative methods through content and
thematic analysis, the research is based on close readings of Fanon’s texts and the 1965
Algerian film Dawn of the Damned, which offered a compelling visual portrayal of colonial
trauma and resistance. The film’s depiction of mental illness, guilt, memory, and rebellion
serves to further illustrate Fanon’s theoretical claims. Ultimately, this study contributed to the
colonial discourse by underscoring the importance of psychological recovery, cultural revival,
and the reclamation of agency as essential steps in the postcolonial path toward liberation and
self-realization. This research combined psychology, and cultural studies to delve into the
complex connections between history, identity, and resistance within Algerian communities.
Through a detailed examination of personal stories, and the lasting impact of colonialism in
modern Algeria. Furthermore, this research analyzed the movie "dawn of the damned" as a
captivating cultural reflection that not only mirrors but also questioned the current
sociopolitical environment of Algeria. By delving into the movie's themes, characters, and
storyline alongside Fanon's theoretical perspective, It aimed to uncover deep insights into the
shared challenges that shape Algerian society, and offered a new and insightful view on
diverse layers of Algerian society. This study demonstrated that colonialism created deep
psychological traumas on both the colonizers and the colonized, such as identity
fragmentation, internalized inferiority, and madness. The psychoanalytic insights of Fanon,
combined with the analysis of Dawn of the Damned, demonstrated how colonial power was
not only applied through physical domination but also epistemic and psychological
domination. The film supported Fanon's arguments and emphasized the ongoing need for
psychological healing and cultural renewal within Algeria's postcolonial reality.
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Adami, Hiam., Belabbas, Yousra., & Oueld Ahmed, Fatima. (2025). Colonial trauma in movies : A postcolonial analysis of the movie: «the dawn of the damned».. 1965 (UNIVERSITY OF ABBES LAGHROUR-KHENCHELA). UNIVERSITY OF ABBES LAGHROUR-KHENCHELA. Consulté à l’adresse http://dspace.univ-khenchela.dz:4000/handle/123456789/11240