Fiction provides us with a valuable means of exploring and thinking about serious topics. In a sense, the right story can contain more truth than even the most powerful fact-filled documentary – and it can stay with us for longer.
Recent times have seen an apparent increase in so-called ‘trauma-inspired’ storytelling. You might see this in the shelves of your local bookstore, or in the thumbnails as you scroll through your preferred streaming media platform.
But what is it about this particular genre that resonates with audiences?
The Evolution of Trauma-Inspired Storytelling
Of course, trauma isn’t new in the world of fiction. In fact, for as long as stories have been around, they have centred around pain and the way human beings deal with it. You might think of Prometheus being chained to a rock, or Romeo discovering the body of his lover.
When we read about characters going through hardship, we’re able to empathise with emotions and sensations that we might not have experienced firsthand. In this sense, they’re a means of connecting with the world around us. During the 19th and 20thcenturies, the proliferation of fiction was linked with a wider increase in empathy – and this, in turn, is thought to have helped drive the ‘rights revolutions’ of the period.
Authenticity vs. Exploitation: The Ethical Dilemma
Of course, sometimes a story about trauma can be cheap and exploitative. A screenwriter might read about something unpleasant happening, and then use it to shock audiences, or get them to feel a certain way about a certain character. Worse, they might misrepresent the subject matter in pursuit of a reaction, and thereby perpetuate a damaging myth.
At their best, these stories can be extremely powerful – but they can also stir painful memories for those who’ve suffered from trauma. In some cases, they might even inspire victims to take action – such as seeking the support of a group of fellow survivors, or a specialist lawyer to help with abuse claims.
The Role of Media in Amplifying or Profiting from Trauma
The ethical dilemma faced by writers of fiction is often exacerbated by the need to sell that fiction. Often, a truthful account of a traumatic event is not as easily sold as a salacious, exaggerated one.
Audiences, however, are becoming more sophisticated – and in many cases, they might be able to tell the difference. The power of social media, moreover, might afford actual victims of trauma a platform to critique the way that it is depicted on the page or the screen.
Artists Who Turned Personal Pain into Powerful Narratives
In some cases, the artists and writers who actually produce the fiction have been victims of trauma themselves. These creative people are able to draw upon their own experiences, and deliver a narrative that’s authentic.
The Future of Trauma-Driven Storytelling in Entertainment
It seems unlikely that trauma-driven storytelling will go away. For as long as human beings suffer from traumatic experiences, those experiences are likely to find their way into, or even serve as the fundamental basis of, the stories we tell one another.
