Silvia Correia (Porto): War writings, fragments of self and memory beyond the front. Correspondence from Portuguese soldiers, 1914-1918.
June 18, 4pm
IG 1.414, Campus Westend
In this presentation, I aim to argue that war letters written by Portuguese soldiers challenged the idea that the Great War would signify a break in cultural language, instead fostering a comforting return to the emotional community and self-identity that existed prior to the conflict. These testimonial objects reveal an effort to maintain a universe of cultural codes from before the war, enabling these men to resist the brutalizing effects of the conflict.
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