The Role of Storytelling in the Evolution of the Image of the Reconstruction of Cities Destroyed by War: A Case of the Reconstruction of Le Havre
Author
Moerman, Seppe Johan Carla
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2019
Pages
87
Abstract
Following extensive wartime destruction, Le Havre’s center was rebuilt under Auguste Perret, yet the city’s image shifted from a symbol of modernity to a widely criticized place before gaining late recognition without major physical change. This thesis examines how storytelling shapes - and can be deliberately mobilized during - the reconstruction of war-damaged cities to foster a positive image. A framework with three intertwined dimensions is developed: institutional storytelling (planning’s own narratives), rationalization storytelling (communication, framing, and legitimation), and reactionary storytelling (public responses and counter-narratives). The study combines a literature review with a case study of Le Havre, document and discourse analyses, and interviews. Findings indicate that misalignments between institutional and citizen narratives, along with an underestimation of rationalization narratives, contributed to residents’ rejection of the rebuilt center. A subsequent shift in communication and heritage-making, including UNESCO listing, aligned institutional and rationalization narratives and gradually improved the city’s image, though full local appropriation remains uneven. Comparisons with contemporary bottom-up initiatives in Le Havre and Hiroshima’s post-war reconstruction suggest that integrating reactionary storytelling - through active citizen participation - can stabilize and strengthen positive identity over time. The thesis thus argues that co-creating narratives with citizens is crucial to smoother, more resilient social, political, and economic outcomes in future reconstruction efforts.
Efter ødelæggelserne i Anden Verdenskrig blev Le Havres centrum genopbygget under Auguste Perret, men byens image skiftede fra modernitet til et negativt ry, før en sen anerkendelse uden større fysiske ændringer. Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan fortællinger (storytelling) præger og kan bevidst bruges i genopbygning af krigshærgede byer til at skabe et positivt image. Med udgangspunkt i en ramme med tre sammenvævede dimensioner - institutionel storytelling (planlægningens egne fortællinger), rationaliserende storytelling (kommunikation, framing og legitimering) og reaktionær storytelling (borgernes svar og modfortællinger) - kombinerer studiet et litteraturstudie med et casestudie af Le Havre, dokument- og diskursanalyser samt interviews. Analysen viser, at uoverensstemmelser mellem de institutionelle og borgerdrevne fortællinger samt en undervurdering af den rationaliserende fortælling bidrog til, at indbyggerne afviste det genopbyggede centrum. Senere forbedredes byens image gennem en målrettet kommunikations- og kulturarvsstrategi, herunder UNESCO-udpegning, hvor institutionelle og rationaliserende fortællinger blev bragt i samklang, om end den fulde lokale appropriation fortsat er udfordret. Sammenligninger med nutidige bottom-up-initiativer i Le Havre og med Hiroshimas genopbygning peger på, at en bevidst kobling af reaktionær storytelling - via aktiv borgerinddragelse - til de øvrige fortællinger kan give en mere robust og vedvarende positiv identitet. Afhandlingen peger dermed på, at aktiv medskabelse af fortællinger i planlægningen er central for sociale, politiske og økonomiske resultater i fremtidige genopbygninger.
[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]
Keywords