The paper titled "Narrating Catastrophic 'Cosmology Episodes': An Analytical Reading of Graham Elder's A Covid Odyssey: A Fictional COVID-19 Pandemic Story" by Mahmoud Ibrahim Ibrahim Radwan critically examines how narrative creativity engages with the catastrophic crisis of COVID-19 through an analysis of Elder's work. The primary focus is on understanding how the narrative portrays the pandemic as a "cosmology episode," a concept developed by Karl E. Weick, referring to a sudden collapse of an orderly cosmos, causing deep disorientation and loss of sense-making.
The purpose of the study is to explore the role of narrative in providing meaning and stability during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. It investigates the ways in which Elder's text reflects on the pandemic's disruptive effects on normal life and how it attempts to construct meaningful structures out of chaos and conflicting interpretations.
The methodology of the study involves a close reading of Elder's text, contextualized by theoretical frameworks from crisis narratives and cosmology episodes. The analysis focuses on the protagonist's experiences, the narrative structure, and the symbolic elements within the story.
Key findings of the study include the observation that the narrative effectively mirrors the widespread disorientation and uncertainty brought about by the pandemic. It highlights how the protagonist's journey through a pandemic-ravaged landscape serves as an allegory for the broader societal collapse and attempts at reconstruction. The narrative is shown to provide a framework for understanding the crisis, offering a sense of control and hope through collective solidarity and critical reflection.
The conclusions of the paper emphasize the significance of narrative as a tool for managing and surviving catastrophic events like COVID-19. The study suggests that by engaging with diverse perspectives and interdisciplinary insights, narratives can help rebuild a sense of order and community, essential for overcoming crises. The paper underscores the need for collective solidarity and critical worldviews in constructing a sustainable response to such global challenges.