Mobarak: An analysis of character and visual aspects in Iranian puppetry / Negin Amin Dehkordi
The most important and famous Iranian traditional dramas are Kheimeh Shab Bazi (The tent or booth of nocturnal play) and Rouz Bazi (The specified place like a box, cylinder shape or a quadrangular space of daily play) which have been performed since the 18th and 19th centuries. This dissertation...
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| Format: | Thesis |
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2018
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| Online Access: | http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/8985/ http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/8985/1/Negin_Amin_Dehkordi.pdf http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/8985/6/negin.pdf |
| Summary: | The most important and famous Iranian traditional dramas are Kheimeh Shab Bazi (The
tent or booth of nocturnal play) and Rouz Bazi (The specified place like a box, cylinder
shape or a quadrangular space of daily play) which have been performed since the 18th
and 19th centuries. This dissertation analyzes and compares the visual aspects and
characteristic features of traditional and modern Mobarak puppet in Kheimeh Shab Bazi
(string) and Rouz Bazi (glove) puppet shows. Moreover, it examines how the
developmental process of visual appearance of Mobarak puppets represent the social and
political situation of a particular historical period. This research emphasizes the
importance and value of Iranian puppetry in Iran and in the world undoubtedly. It helps
theatre students and other people to collate how visual aspects can indicate the
characteristic features of puppets. This current study uses a qualitative method which
includes primary resources such as photos, recordings of modern Kheimeh Shab Bazi and
Rouz Bazi and interviews with theatre artists such as puppeteers, puppet makers, directors,
lecturers and scriptwriters. Secondary resources include related literature on string and
glove puppets such as books, journal articles, dissertations, websites, electronic
newspapers and archival research in different archives of puppets in museums. Modern
puppet makers use new materials and instruments along with old ones to make creative
puppets. In terms of the essence and main features; the funny and naughty character of
traditional Mobarak puppets are the same as modern puppets. Nevertheless, today, the
character of some Mobarak puppets are changed slightly according to each story that
deals mostly with social, cultural, environmental and romantic issues; it means that modern Mobarak puppets are given new roles in new stories. Traditional stories are still
used along with modern ones as long as it narrates the social character of Mobarak.
However, traditional Mobarak puppet had a political role in some puppet shows in order
to criticize and ridicule the political situation during the Qajar dynasty. For instance,
puppeteers wore Frankish clothes and used the Mobarak or other puppets to indicate
foreign interferences on the local governmental system. Moreover, a traditional Mobarak
puppet made by Asghar Ahmadi has military uniform to represent his political role.
Overall, the visual aspects of both modern and traditional string and glove Mobarak
puppets represent their characteristic features and roles in each story. It is important to
note that the visual aspects of traditional and modern Mobarak puppets have changed
according to clothing style of three historic periods; but the main and symbolic colors
(black and red) have still remained the same till today. In addition, the political role of
traditional Mobarak character have been overshadowed by a more dominant social role
in the modern era; but the humorous, active and naughty characteristic features of
Mobarak have been maintained in modern and traditional Kheimeh Shab Bazi and Rouz
Bazi. |
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