Art and surviving trauma in times of crisis

Abstract EN

Crisis and trauma are believed to be driving forces to the creation of art and the shaping of human character.

this research work targets the ways by which a COVID-like virus leads the protagonist female artist in Sarah hall’s burntcoat to sculpt a national memorial in memory of the million dead; and forge her character as a woman to become a renowned artist.

the artistic symbols are prevalent throughout the novel from the experience of the trauma of loss, and the catastrophic damage which help the artist to move forward to maturity and creativity.

throughout the novel, the images of struggle and gender oppression are described in the violent squabbles over life resources, and social horrors of Britain under the grip of the virus.