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Coda: the experience of war beyond exceptionalism
1Chr. Michelsen Institute, Bergen, Norway.
War & Society
|February 20, 2025
Summary
Exploring the role of fun in warfare reveals it as a communication tool and ritual of inversion. This analysis offers a more accurate understanding of war experiences, de-exceptionalizing its brutality.
Area of Science:
- Sociology of conflict
- War studies
- Psychology of warfare
Background:
- Warfare involves complex emotional and social dynamics beyond overt violence.
- Understanding soldiers' experiences requires examining diverse psychological states, including 'fun'.
- Previous analyses often overlook or trivialize non-violent aspects of wartime engagement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the multifaceted role of 'fun' within the context of war.
- To explore how 'fun' functions as a communication method and a 'ritual of inversion'.
- To contribute to a more honest and accurate analysis of active war experiences and de-exceptionalize brutality.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of war narratives and soldier testimonies.
- Examination of 'fun' as a social and psychological phenomenon in combat zones.
- Theoretical framework integrating communication theory and ritual studies.
Main Results:
- 'Fun' in war serves as both direct/indirect communication and a ritual of inversion.
- This 'fun' subverts wartime structures while preserving war's ultimate goals.
- Acknowledging 'fun' does not trivialize suffering but enhances analytical accuracy.
Conclusions:
- War experiences are psychologically complex, involving phenomena like 'fun'.
- Analyzing 'fun' provides critical insights into soldiers' perspectives and wartime morality.
- De-exceptionalizing war's brutality necessitates understanding its full spectrum of human experiences.
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