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Title From Glorification to Justification of 'Just War': An Analysis of Post 9/11 American Visual Narratives on Afghan War

Author(s) Sana Azam

Abstract Title: From Glorification to Justification of “Just War”: An Analysis of Post 9/11 American Visual Narratives on Afghan War This study focuses on four post 9/11 American war films on the war in Afghanistan including Zero Dark Thirty (2012), Lone Survivor (2013), The Kill Team (2019), and The Outpost (2020) to explore the way they present American political narrative of Just War and how the portrayal evolves over time with changing sociopolitical environment. I argue that the visual narratives move from glorification of the war in the first half of the war to providing justifications for it towards the end of the war. This is a qualitative research that undertakes a textual analysis of the films under analysis using theoretical underpinnings of Michael Walzer’s Just War Theory, Robert Entman’s Framing Theory, and Sara Ahmed’s concept of Affective Economies. A comprehensive analysis of the films in light of tenets of Walzer’s theory reveals that they popularize the American political narrative of ‘Just War’ by framing the War on Terror as a ‘Just War’. The narratives of glorification approach the subject matter with self-righteous, confident, and glamorous narratives of victory that do not take into account any criticism or controversies. The narratives of justification on the other hand approach the subject with more humility showing the darker side of war, with its complications and human cost. These visual narratives influence the subjectivities of the audience while also affecting the American culture.

Type Thesis/Dissertation

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Department English

Language English

Publication Date 2024-03-28

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