The terror attacks of September 11, 2001 marked a historical, political and religious event which has changed the world during the last two decades in many ways. The events around that date automatically transformed the global geo-political scenario. Being such a traumatic attack there is no doubt that it will change the world in the future as well, both in the Western and the Islamic world.
Soon after the fall of the Twin Towers critics and Western novelists picked up their work to understand and cover up the events of that day and many critics talk about the birth of new types of novels such as Ground Zero Fiction, the 9/11 Novel or the Post- 9/11 Novel. Writers with a Muslim background started their work later. The dealing with the terror attacks then included this Muslim perspective but it also gave birth to books for children and brought about a renaissance of the graphic novel such as Art Spiegelman’s “In the Shadow of No Towers” (2004) or Giannina Braschi’s “United States of Banana” (2011).
This new kind of literature in most cases turned out to be a representation of the trauma and feelings of people who witnessed this event or who heard about it. It is a form of writing which talks about suffering, pain, the loss of the American Dream, the damage to Western lifestyle, culture and economy and the renaissance and importance of religion. So to speak literature about 9/11widened the literary horizon to provide a platform of human anguish, pain and suffering on all sides involved. It is a new form of writing which includes narratives and counternarratives and thus helps to open another chapter in the relationship between East and West.
The new perspectives on cultural, political or religious representation brought new reflections on English fiction in general and showed how this event moulded and counfounded between the relationships of various religious and national identities.
Writers with a Muslim background soon developed a counter-narrative to the neo-imperialistic discourse of a traditional misrepresentation of Muslims in general. They also tried (and still try) to construct race, religion, and ethnicity in the wake of a post-9/11 politics which painted a negative image of Muslims. Down the last twenty-five years most Muslim writers reflected matters such as pain, loss, guilt, trauma, the complexities of emotional, cultural and political repercussions, confusion, disorientation and fragmentation in society from their perspective.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Post – 9/11 literature
- 3. Muslim Writing – a survey
- 4. Outlook / Conclusion
- 5. Bibliography
Objective & Thematic Focus
This work fundamentally aims to analyze the representation and framing of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks over twenty-five years (2001-2026) specifically from a Muslim perspective within contemporary literature. It investigates how Muslim writers have engaged with the traumatic event and its aftermath, challenging dominant Western narratives and contributing to a more nuanced global understanding.
- The evolution and characteristics of post-9/11 literature.
- The emergence and unique aspects of "Muslim Writing" as a distinct literary genre.
- The exploration of Muslim identity, otherness, and hybrid existence in the post-9/11 context.
- The development of counter-narratives to Western misrepresentations of Islam and Muslims.
- The role of literature in processing trauma, fostering empathy, and challenging geopolitical discourses.
- The specific contributions and perspectives of female Muslim writers.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
After twenty-five years the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 still capture people's imagination.One reason for this lies in the fact that 9/11 according to Keeble (2016) was such a visible spectacle that “it needed authors to interpret or narrate the trauma“.The literary presentation of war traumata itself had already found a fixed place in literature after World War One.But novels like Rebecca West`s The Return of the Soldier (1918), Virginia Woolfs Mrs Dalloway (1925) or Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises (1926) which registered trauma through domestic settings 9/11.Now the post-9/11 novel evoked larger ideas about what fiction is for and how it should deal with crisis or catastrophe in the 21 st century.
Borges (2013) also saw the manifold consequences of September 11 when he claims that" Fiction and history were at stake in the aftermath of September“ and he also talks about “the lack of concepts to apprehend the immaterial facts“(ibid.:3).
However, one important side effect of the terror attacks of that day was the fact that 9/11 as a historical date brought back Islam as a part of a "cultural talk" (Cesari, 2010:2) where it had almost disappeared among Western intellectuals and politicians.Since that day this return of Islam has created a picture where "Muslims have become increasingly linked with violence both in public and political debates over the past decades“ (Bleich,2010:15).
Writers orginating from a Muslim background soon became part of this new type of writing and they automatically made literature more political and more international. They brought in some sort of dynamics which will continue to provide food for thoughts for novelists,critics and politicians to come with the aim to remember the attacks of that day on individuals and societies.By doing that they helped to create a new and independent literary response to 9/11 and helped to move away from the cultural and psychological trauma which Western writers concentrated on.
The term `9/11 literature` which first appeared in this context is often used to describe a group of fictional books that are either loosely related or directly based on the terror attacks of September 11,2001.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter sets the stage by discussing how 9/11 profoundly impacted the global geopolitical scenario and led to the emergence of "post-9/11 literature," which eventually incorporated diverse Muslim perspectives to challenge Western-centric narratives of trauma and identity.
2. Post – 9/11 literature: This section defines post-9/11 literature as a distinct literary category reflecting the complex emotional, cultural, and political landscapes that arose after September 11, exploring themes like trauma, identity, and global conflicts while often employing fragmented storytelling to question American exceptionalism.
3. Muslim Writing – a survey: This chapter surveys "Muslim Writing" as a significant genre that developed post-9/11, highlighting its focus on Muslim identity, hybrid existence, migration, and the creation of counter-narratives that resist Western misrepresentations, with a notable emphasis on the role of female Muslim authors.
4. Outlook / Conclusion: This chapter concludes that 9/11 fundamentally reshaped the geopolitical and literary world, giving rise to diverse narratives, particularly from Muslim writers, who offer alternative perspectives on identity, trauma, and East-West relations, ultimately fostering a more nuanced and empathetic global understanding.
5. Bibliography: This chapter provides a comprehensive list of all academic and literary sources cited throughout the work, demonstrating the breadth of research and theoretical engagement.
Keywords
Islam, Islamic fundamentalism, otherness, exile, diaspora, racism, matters of identity, trauma, war on terror, American imperialism, end of the American Dream, counter-narratives, post-9/11 literature, Muslim Writing, hybrid existence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this work fundamentally about?
This work fundamentally explores the literary framing of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks from a Muslim perspective over a twenty-five-year period, examining how Muslim writers contributed unique narratives that challenge established Western viewpoints.
What are the central thematic areas?
The central thematic areas include the impact of 9/11 on global geopolitics and literature, the evolution of post-9/11 fiction, the nuanced representation of Muslim identity and otherness, the dynamics of East-West relations, and the role of literature in addressing trauma, migration, and religious fundamentalism.
What is the primary objective or research question?
The primary objective is to analyze how Muslim writers responded to 9/11 and its consequences, particularly their efforts to create counter-narratives that provide alternative perspectives on Muslim identity, experience, and the complexities of the post-9/11 world, thereby challenging dominant Western discourses.
Which scientific method is used?
The study employs a method of literary analysis and cultural criticism, drawing on postcolonial theory and discourse analysis to examine fictional texts. It systematically identifies themes, narrative strategies, and character representations in post-9/11 literature, especially within "Muslim Writing."
What is covered in the main body?
The main body delves into the emergence of post-9/11 literature, focusing on the specific contributions of Muslim writers. It covers their engagement with trauma, identity formation, the construction of counter-narratives, and their critical reflections on stereotypes, Islamophobia, and geopolitical power dynamics.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The work is characterized by keywords such as Islam, Islamic fundamentalism, otherness, exile, diaspora, racism, matters of identity, trauma, war on terror, American imperialism, end of the American Dream, counter-narratives, post-9/11 literature, Muslim Writing, and hybrid existence.
How did female Muslim writers contribute uniquely to post-9/11 literature?
Female Muslim writers played a crucial role by often focusing on themes of family, everyday life, emotions, and intimacy. They critically reflected on their oppressed roles in Islam and the West, challenging stereotypes of passive Muslim women and presenting dynamic, confident female characters, thus offering a counter-image to Western narratives.
What is the "double insight technique" used by Muslim writers?
The "double insight technique" refers to Muslim writers' ability to reflect life and experiences both in their mother countries and in their new Western homes. This dual perspective allows them to provide insider and outsider views, addressing issues of migration, exile, home, and belonging from a unique, hybrid standpoint.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Dr. Matthias Dickert (Autor:in), 2025, 2001-2026: Twenty five years of framing 9/11 from a Muslim perspective, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1676020
