Intergenerational Resistance and Political Trauma in One Battle After Another: A Thematic Analysis

Abstract

This study examined the representation of intergenerational resistance and political trauma in One Battle After Another through a qualitative thematic analysis. Grounded in Cultural Trauma Theory, the research explored how political ideologies, collective memory, and experiences of conflict are transmitted and reinterpreted across generations within cinematic narratives. The study analyzed key characters, dialogues, and visual elements of the film using a systematic six-phase thematic analysis approach. The findings revealed three major themes: intergenerational transmission of resistance, representation of political trauma, and the dynamic relationship between trauma and resistance. The results indicated that resistance is portrayed as an evolving process shaped by inherited ideological frameworks and generational reinterpretation. Political trauma was found to influence both individual identity and collective memory, often represented through fragmented narrative structures. Furthermore, trauma functioned as both a catalyst and constraint for continued resistance, contributing to cyclical patterns of conflict and ideological persistence. The study contributes to media and communication scholarship by offering an integrated analysis of resistance and trauma in contemporary political cinema, highlighting the role of film in shaping cultural memory and socio-political understanding.

Keywords: Intergenerational Resistance; Political Trauma; Thematic Analysis; Cultural Trauma Theory; Film Studies; Collective Memory.