"The Wealth of Heritage and the Temptation of Theatrical Presentation:" A Reading in the Aesthetics of Utilization in the Play (Al-Ushbah) of Haitham Behnam Burda

Abstract

Abstract:

This research addresses the issue of invoking heritage and its mechanism of deployment within theatrical texts, given the strong interactive relationship between the theatrical text on one hand, and the heritage material on the other hand. The latter acts as a raw source suitable for dramatic expression leading to the attainment of aesthetic space embodied through the integration of ancient heritage with a contemporary vision, thus achieving the highest levels of artistic utilization. The play "Al-Ushbah" by the playwright Haitham Behnam Burda has been chosen in this study as a procedural sample for application, as it contains dramatic qualifications suitable for the artistic utilization of heritage, especially in its popular dimension. The research revolves around two main axes: firstly, addressing the textual thresholds as they actively guide readers in revealing the implications of the text. Secondly, examining textual references through the study of the heritage material referenced in this sample, which is distributed among three forms: myth, folk tale, and religious stories. The research also employs a semiological-naturalistic approach, adopting the "Greimas" model in monitoring and tracking the central character's state and transitions according to the axis of the agent, subject, and stages of completing the narrative program associated with it.