Representations of Terrorist Behavior in Ahlam Mosteghanemi's Novel “The Black Befitting You" According to Cultural Criticism Methods

Abstract

From a criminological sociology perspective, the phenomenon of terrorism, although considered one of the most severe and brutal social attacks, has been considered a factor guiding governments to adopt and implement harsh and extremist criminal policies. However, the main idea of ​​this article is that terrorism, within the framework of international developments, although it is a repulsive and abhorrent phenomenon in the public mind, is clearly a behavior that objectively materializes within the collective mindset. In this regard, the current research seeks to investigate new perceptions in the discourse of terrorism and their impact on the formation of the new terrorism. In order to provide a theoretical interpretation of the new terrorism based on the narrative representations in the novel "Black Suits You," this study addresses the fundamental question: What representations suggest the effective factors in creating terrorist behavior in this novel? To answer this question, and as a hypothesis, it must be noted that resorting to ideology as a means of relieving frustration and identity crises was one of the primary reasons for creating terrorist behavior, as the novel suggests. The results of the study demonstrate that, based on the approach of cultural criticism, this novel expresses a liberationist and critical tendency, exposes the loopholes and contradictions of authority, gives voice to the marginalized self, and calls for dialogue and a plurality of voices.