The Representation of Catastrophe in Josef Haslinger’s Phi Phi Island

Abstract

In the recent years, various forms of media and arts including visual arts, movies, series and literature have increasingly focused on portraying both natural and man-made catastrophes, which occur alongside news coverages on a growing number of more immense disasters. Although catastrophes might be seen as something universal that people seem to share the same idea, cultural context plays a significant role in shaping our perspectives on catastrophic events. The study of catastrophe in different cultural media can offer an insightful understanding of how people in different cultures perceive, remember and tell their experiences of disaster.

This article examines the representation of catastrophe in Phi Phi Island written by Josef Haslinger, an Austrian author and survivor of the Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami. It aims to analyze narrative style and model used to depict the horrendous experiences as well as the method used to heal his wound and to cope with his experiences.