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Memory transfer as a medium to access intergenerational trauma across three generations in On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Rainbow: Journal of Literature, Linguistics and Culture Studies
ISSN 2721-4540, 2252-6323
Published 2025-07-31
Publisher Universitas Negeri Semarang
Language eng
Abstract
The novel depicts the effect of the Vietnam War on the three generations, both during and long after the war. This article aims to show the portrayal of intergenerational trauma by three generations in On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. Through this analysis, each traumatic memory that is passed down from generation to generation will be explored. This analysis uses a qualitative descriptive method with the post-memory theory proposed by Marianne Hirsch. In consideration of that, the researcher will find the portrayal of intergenerational trauma experienced by the three generations in the novel, which are interconnected with each other. The results of this analysis indicate that the first generation, Lan, has schizophrenia and PTSD; the second generation, Rose, also has PTSD and anger issues due to their miserable life during the war; the third generation, Little Dog, who did not experience the Vietnam War at all was also affected through the transfer of memories such as stories, dark jokes, and verbally and physically abusive behavior. Therefore, through a collection of letters written by Little Dog, he tells the dark story of his family and his struggle in facing all the memories given.
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Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/rainbow/oai, first harvested 6 Nov 2026, last seen 6 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc)
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<dc:title xml:lang="en">Memory transfer as a medium to access intergenerational trauma across three generations in On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong</dc:title>
<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Chaniago, Annisa Tusa'diyah</dc:creator>
<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Sumaryani, Sri</dc:creator>
<dc:subject xml:lang="en">intergenerational trauma</dc:subject>
<dc:subject xml:lang="en">memory transfer</dc:subject>
<dc:subject xml:lang="en">novel</dc:subject>
<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Vietnam War</dc:subject>
<dc:description xml:lang="en">The novel depicts the effect of the Vietnam War on the three generations, both during and long after the war. This article aims to show the portrayal of intergenerational trauma by three generations in On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. Through this analysis, each traumatic memory that is passed down from generation to generation will be explored. This analysis uses a qualitative descriptive method with the post-memory theory proposed by Marianne Hirsch. In consideration of that, the researcher will find the portrayal of intergenerational trauma experienced by the three generations in the novel, which are interconnected with each other. The results of this analysis indicate that the first generation, Lan, has schizophrenia and PTSD; the second generation, Rose, also has PTSD and anger issues due to their miserable life during the war; the third generation, Little Dog, who did not experience the Vietnam War at all was also affected through the transfer of memories such as stories, dark jokes, and verbally and physically abusive behavior. Therefore, through a collection of letters written by Little Dog, he tells the dark story of his family and his struggle in facing all the memories given.</dc:description>
<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Universitas Negeri Semarang</dc:publisher>
<dc:date>2025-07-31</dc:date>
<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
<dc:type xml:lang="en">Peer-reviewed Article</dc:type>
<dc:format>application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document</dc:format>
<dc:identifier>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/rainbow/article/view/30109</dc:identifier>
<dc:identifier>10.15294/rainbow.v14i.30109</dc:identifier>
<dc:source xml:lang="en">Rainbow: Journal of Literature, Linguistics and Culture Studies; Vol. 14 (2025): Special Issue; 137-143</dc:source>
<dc:source>2721-4540</dc:source>
<dc:source>2252-6323</dc:source>
<dc:source>10.15294/rainbow.v14i</dc:source>
<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
<dc:relation>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/rainbow/article/view/30109/5521</dc:relation>
<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2025 Annisa Tusa'diyah Chaniago, Sri Sumaryani, S.S., M.A. (Author)</dc:rights>
<dc:rights xml:lang="en">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>
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Cite this article
APA 7
Chaniago, A. T., & Sumaryani, S. (2025). Memory transfer as a medium to access intergenerational trauma across three generations in On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. Rainbow: Journal of Literature, Linguistics and Culture Studies, 14, 137–143. https://doi.org/10.15294/rainbow.v14i.30109
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IEEE
A. T. Chaniago and S. Sumaryani, “Memory transfer as a medium to access intergenerational trauma across three generations in On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong,” Rainbow: Journal of Literature, Linguistics and Culture Studies, vol. 14, pp. 137–143, 2025, doi: 10.15294/rainbow.v14i.30109.
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