Breaking the Cycle of Generational Shame and Silence Among Young Poles - Somatic Approaches and the Role of Graphic Communication in Raising Awareness

Abstract

This thesis explores intergenerational shame and silence among Poles, passed down as embodied tension and emotional constraint. Drawing on psychology, sociology, and design, it examines how war, communism, and rapid capitalism shaped patterns of silence and shame still seen in families. Through a practice-based approach, it created Polish Pickled, a participatory visual intervention using jars as metaphors for inherited silence. The installation revealed how hidden anxieties and taboos are “preserved” across generations, encouraging reflection and discussion. It shows how graphic communication can uncover these burdens, raise awareness, and support gentle collective healing. The study highlights that breaking silence is crucial before somatic therapies can address deep-rooted guilt and trauma, demonstrating design’s power to expose social patterns and build more empathetic intergenerational bonds.