Feeling Trauma: A Proposal for a New Approach to the Study of Post-traumatic Cinema

The article explores the representation of cultural trauma in cinema, challenging the common perception of film’s inability to fully capture traumatic experiences. The author introduces an approach to trauma representation based on theories of empathy along with some postulates formulated in the field of neurofilmology. Using Franziska Stünkel’s The Last Execution (2021) as a case study, the author examines the depiction of trauma stemming from oppression in East Germany. Methodology includes textual film analysis, viewer interviews, and physiological measurements, such as electrodermal activity and cortisol levels during film screenings. Findings reveal that The Last Execution evokes strong emotional responses, effectively influencing the viewers through sensory engagement and empathy. This interdisciplinary study contributes to understanding how post-traumatic cinema facilitates emotional and empathic experiences of trauma, underscoring its potential in addressing cultural memory within a broader context of prior research.