Victims, Perpetrators, and Bystanders: Atrocity and its Aftermath in the Films of Jasmila Žbanić

29 Pages Posted: 1 Sep 2023

Date Written: September 1, 2023

Abstract

Following cultural and visual criminologists, who explore cinematic representations of victimhood, gender, witnessing, and memory, I excavate the ‘implicit criminologies’ in four films by Bosnian director Jasmila Žbanić: Grbavica (2006); Na putu [On the path] (2010); Za one koji ne mogu da govore [For those who can tell no tales] (2013); and Quo Vadis, Aida? (2020). In criminological terms, Žbanić’s work is strongest as an example of cinematic victimology, but also poses important questions around perpetration and bystanders. By noting the films’ potential to encapsulate universal and particular elements and by casting cinematic knowledge as a collective project, I question the need to hold one film or one director to an overly rigid ethical standard of inclusivity.

Keywords: criminology, film, atrocity, victimology, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Suggested Citation

Aydın-Aitchison, Andy, Victims, Perpetrators, and Bystanders: Atrocity and its Aftermath in the Films of Jasmila Žbanić (September 1, 2023). Edinburgh School of Law Research Paper No. 2023/07, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4559207 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4559207

Andy Aydın-Aitchison (Contact Author)

University of Edinburgh - School of Law ( email )

Old College
South Bridge
Edinburgh, EH8 9YL
United Kingdom
00441316514563 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.ed.ac.uk/people/andyaydin-aitchison

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