Analyzing the Emotional Journey from Trauma to Healing in the Album GUTS by Olivia Rodrigo

Siti Masita Todano; Dahlia Husain; Atiq Aqiqotul Hasanah; Happy Anastasia Usman

Analyzing the Emotional Journey from Trauma to Healing in the Album GUTS by Olivia Rodrigo

Siti Masita Todano, Dahlia Husain, Atiq Aqiqotul Hasanah, Happy Anastasia Usman

Abstract

This research discusses the emotional journey from the experience of trauma to the recovery process depicted in Olivia Rodrigo's GUTS album. This study uses Judith Herman's Trauma and Recovery theory as the main foundation. The aim is to examine how the lyrics in the songs reflect the psychological phases that experienced by traumatized individuals, namely hyperarousal, intrusion, and constriction, and the stages of healing which include the Safety, Remembrance and Mourning, to Reconnection. Using a qualitative approach and text analysis method on selected songs, this research shows how Olivia Rodrigo cultivates elements of emotional language, imagery, and narrative to describe feelings of hurt, betrayal, and crisis of confidence, which ultimately lead to inner strength and emotional resilience. The results show that the album GUTS not only illustrates the complexity of emotions due to trauma, but also becomes an expressive tool in the process of self-healing and re-establishing personal identity. This study also enriches the understanding of the role of popular music as a reflection as well as a medium to interpret and deal with traumatic experiences emotionally.

Keywords

trauma, recovery, emotional journey, Olivia Rodrigo, GUTS, Judith Herman, Trauma and Recovery Theory.

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