Surviving Disorder: Children, Violence and War Stories in Liberia

Sukanya Podder

Surviving Disorder: Children, Violence and War Stories in Liberia

Defence Studies

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

I argue that war stories narrated by children affected by war convey not only truths or partial truths; the process of their narration, compilation and presentation can offer insights into children's perceptions of how their lives have changed because of the war and their application of self- reflection in the process. In this sense, war itself becomes an episode in the 'otherization' of the self: telling war stories that reflect abnormal, powerful, imaginary and thrilling experiences helps an individual present him-or herself in a different light by invoking virtues of heroism, courage and survival. In this sense, sharing war stories, is more than storytelling. It also involves the creation of a particular type of self-image, that privileges children's agency and capacity for self-reflection.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Children Affected by Armed Conflict: Theory, Method and Practice
Editors	Myriam Denov, Bree Akeeson
Place of Publication	New York
Publisher	Columbia University Press
Chapter	8
Pages	185-205
Number of pages	20
ISBN (Print)	978-0-231-17473-2
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2017

Keywords

War Stories
Children
Agency

Cite this

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title = "Surviving Disorder: Children, Violence and War Stories in Liberia",

abstract = "I argue that war stories narrated by children affected by war convey not only truths or partial truths; the process of their narration, compilation and presentation can offer insights into children's perceptions of how their lives have changed because of the war and their application of self- reflection in the process. In this sense, war itself becomes an episode in the 'otherization' of the self: telling war stories that reflect abnormal, powerful, imaginary and thrilling experiences helps an individual present him-or herself in a different light by invoking virtues of heroism, courage and survival. In this sense, sharing war stories, is more than storytelling. It also involves the creation of a particular type of self-image, that privileges children's agency and capacity for self-reflection. ",

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AB - I argue that war stories narrated by children affected by war convey not only truths or partial truths; the process of their narration, compilation and presentation can offer insights into children's perceptions of how their lives have changed because of the war and their application of self- reflection in the process. In this sense, war itself becomes an episode in the 'otherization' of the self: telling war stories that reflect abnormal, powerful, imaginary and thrilling experiences helps an individual present him-or herself in a different light by invoking virtues of heroism, courage and survival. In this sense, sharing war stories, is more than storytelling. It also involves the creation of a particular type of self-image, that privileges children's agency and capacity for self-reflection.

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KW - Children

KW - Agency

M3 - Chapter

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BT - Children Affected by Armed Conflict: Theory, Method and Practice

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A2 - Akeeson, Bree

PB - Columbia University Press

CY - New York

ER -

Surviving Disorder: Children, Violence and War Stories in Liberia

Abstract

Keywords

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