War, Migration and Cultural Bereavement in Exit West and The Beekeeper of Aleppo

The damage associated with war is not limited to only monetary loss or physical injury. In The Beekeeper of Aleppo the death of Afra’s son leaves her with suicidal despair. Eventually, she losses her eyesight because of psychological trauma. The traumatized victims of war must move on to find better life in richer countries where they can forget the scars of war and start a new life. However, the journey itself is perilous and only the lucky and strong ones can make it through. Exit West explores narratives of a wide variety of refugees, including the plight of migrant laborers who are separated from their children, and hostile response of locals in European borders. In Exit West Hamid links the voluntary immigration of the members of elite societies to forced migration of people from war torn countries. This connection between forced migration and voluntary immigration encourages an intense debate on globalization and migration.
Considering the unfortunate stories of the characters in Exit West and The Beekeeper of Aleppo, this course will look at how war and cultural bereavement affect mental health. This course will also offer an overview of migration, globalization and multiculturalism.