Identification and Empathy in Perpetrator Fiction on the Spanish Civil War

O'Donoghue, Samuel (2023) Identification and Empathy in Perpetrator Fiction on the Spanish Civil War. Modern Language Review, 118 (4). pp. 496-520. ISSN 0026-7937

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Abstract

This article analyses the ethically suspect processes of identification and empathy mobilized by Miguel Dalmau’s 2009 work of perpetrator fiction, La noche del Diablo. It draws on narratological perspectives on character identification and narrative empathy and on philosophical discussions on the necessity of attempting to comprehend the motivations of those who commit evil acts. Informed by these narratological and philosophical insights, the article argues that perpetrator fiction about the Spanish Civil War is a psychologically useful tool for expanding our understanding of how individuals commit atrocities and for enhancing our awareness of ourselves as potential agents of perpetration.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Modern Language Review
Uncontrolled Keywords:
Research Output Funding/yes_externally_funded
Subjects:
?? narrative empathycharacter identificationspanish civil warperpetrator fictionmiguel dalmaula noche del diabloyes - externally fundedlinguistics and languagelanguage and linguisticsliterature and literary theory ??
ID Code:
194485
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
25 May 2023 13:35
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
01 Oct 2024 00:50