Invisible Wounds: Structural Violence and Institutional Power in 4.48 Psychosis and Cleansed

{"Abstract":[0],"This":[1,121],"paper":[2],"examines":[3],"Sarah":[4,143],"Kane's":[5,133],"plays":[6],"Cleansed":[7],"(1998)":[8],"and":[9,19,46,57,71,83,103,128],"4.48":[10,86,146],"Psychosis":[11],"(2000)":[12],"through":[13],"the":[14,62,92],"lens":[15],"of":[16,27,68,78],"structural":[17,28],"violence":[18,29,88],"institutional":[20,109,141],"power.":[21],"Drawing":[22],"on":[23],"Johan":[24],"Galtung's":[25],"concept":[26],"as":[30,54,65],"indirect":[31],"harm":[32],"embedded":[33],"in":[34,118],"social":[35],"systems,":[36],"it":[37],"argues":[38],"that":[39],"Kane":[40,106],"depicts":[41],"\\"invisible":[42],"wounds\\"":[43],"psychological,":[44],"emotional,":[45],"existential":[47],"traumas":[48],"inflicted":[49],"by":[50],"oppressive":[51],"institutions":[52],"such":[53],"psychiatric":[55],"facilities":[56],"authoritarian":[58],"regimes.":[59],"In":[60,85],"Cleansed,":[61,145],"institution":[63],"manifests":[64],"a":[66],"site":[67],"physical":[69],"torture":[70],"identity":[72],"erasure,":[73],"reflecting":[74],"broader":[75],"societal":[76],"mechanisms":[77],"control":[79],"over":[80],"non-normative":[81],"bodies":[82],"desires.":[84],"Psychosis,":[87,147],"is":[89],"internalized,":[90],"critiquing":[91],"medical-industrial":[93],"complex's":[94],"failure":[95],"to":[96,115,131,135],"address":[97],"mental":[98],"suffering.":[99],"Through":[100],"fragmented":[101],"dramaturgy":[102],"graphic":[104],"imagery,":[105],"exposes":[107],"how":[108],"power":[110],"perpetuates":[111],"harm,":[112],"urging":[113],"audiences":[114],"confront":[116],"complicity":[117],"these":[119],"systems.":[120],"analysis":[122],"synthesizes":[123],"trauma":[124,148],"theory,":[125],"Postdramatic":[126],"theatre,":[127],"feminist":[129],"critiques":[130],"illuminate":[132],"contribution":[134],"experiential":[136],"theatre.":[137],"Keywords:":[138],"Structural":[139],"violence,":[140],"power,":[142],"Kane,":[144],"theory.":[149]}

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-09-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22873263
Primary Topic
Theatre and Performance Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
article

Invisible Wounds: Structural Violence and Institutional Power in 4.48 Psychosis and Cleansed

Pradeep Kumar Jain, NADIA SHAFI
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Theatre and Performance Studies
article

Invisible Wounds: Structural Violence and Institutional Power in 4.48 Psychosis and Cleansed

Pradeep Kumar Jain, NADIA SHAFI
article en

Abstract

Abstract This paper examines Sarah Kane's plays Cleansed (1998) and 4.48 Psychosis (2000) through the lens of structural violence and institutional power. Drawing on Johan Galtung's concept of structural violence as indirect harm embedded in social systems, it argues that Kane depicts "invisible wounds" psychological, emotional, and existential traumas inflicted by oppressive institutions such as psychiatric facilities and authoritarian regimes. In Cleansed, the institution manifests as a site of physical torture and identity erasure, reflecting broader societal mechanisms of control over non-normative bodies and desires. In 4.48 Psychosis, violence is internalized, critiquing the medical-industrial complex's failure to address mental suffering. Through fragmented dramaturgy and graphic imagery, Kane exposes how institutional power perpetuates harm, urging audiences to confront complicity in these systems. This analysis synthesizes trauma theory, Postdramatic theatre, and feminist critiques to illuminate Kane's contribution to experiential theatre. Keywords: Structural violence, institutional power, Sarah Kane, Cleansed, 4.48 Psychosis, trauma theory.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Glocal University (IN)
Gender equality, Peace, Justice and strong institutions
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Theatre and Performance Studies
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Invisible Wounds: Structural Violence and Institutional Power in 4.48 Psychosis and Cleansed — Pradeep Kumar Jain, NADIA SHAFI · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS