Community memory after disasters: An analysis of high school students' drawings

This study aims to examine how post-disaster collective memory is reflected in drawings created by high school students. Disasters profoundly affect individuals physically, psychologically, and socially; collective memory and the ways adolescents express the traumatic processes they have experienced are critically important for a holistic understanding of these impacts. A qualitative research method was employed in the study. The study group consisted of 24 students—six from each grade level selected from an Anatolian high school using the criterion sampling technique, a form of purposive sampling. During the data collection process, students were asked to express their feelings and thoughts regarding post-disaster collective memory through drawings; subsequently, a semi-structured interview form was administered to conduct an in-depth analysis of the resulting artworks. The data were analyzed using content analysis and visual analysis techniques. The findings indicate that students reflected their disaster experiences in their drawings primarily through themes of destruction, fear, loss, and helplessness. However, it was also found that positive themes such as solidarity, hope, and reconstruction featured prominently. The study concludes that high school students effectively express their feelings and thoughts regarding post-disaster social memory through their drawings. Accordingly, it is recommended that visual arts practices be utilized as an active educational tool in post-disaster psychosocial support processes and the preservation of collective memory.