Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Cinema is not merely a tool for entertainment, but a powerful communication medium that facilitates the transfer of knowledge across cultures, conveying societal values, norms, and individual life experiences to wide audiences. In this regard, cinema plays a bridging role in helping individuals explore their inner worlds while understanding society, the "other," and the diverse conditions of human existence. As one of the most impactful genres of cinematic art, drama films aim to evoke deep emotional resonance within the audience, presenting character conflicts—both internal and external—in their purest form. Complex and shaking psychological processes that are inevitable parts of human existence, such as trauma, grief, loss, and forgiveness, are powerfully conveyed through the aesthetic and narrative opportunities offered by drama cinema. In this context, the film The Shack focuses on the deep spiritual shock and subsequent transpersonal transformation journey of a father shaken by the tragic loss of his young daughter. The narrative centers on the main character's subjective experiences, shedding light on the family dynamics prior to the traumatic event, as well as the post-catastrophic destruction and the impact of the reconstruction process on individual mental health. In particular, the stages of grief, the crises of faith sparked by trauma, and the ultimate concept of forgiveness are seamlessly interwoven through the protagonist's inner reckoning. Accordingly, The Shack has been comprehensively analyzed in light of relevant psychological and literary literature through the concepts of trauma, grief, and forgiveness, sparking a broader discussion on the healing and confrontational power of cinematic texts within human psychology.
DOI: 10.18863/pgy.1913835
Authors: Merve Şahin Esen, Eda Mert
Language: Turkish
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7224399010