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A Critical Approach to Laughter in Peter Barnes’s Laughter!

Year 2021, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 149 - 156, 30.04.2021
https://doi.org/10.29110/soylemdergi.865625

Abstract

Peter Barnes’s historical play, Laughter! (1978) deals with the notion of laughter in a critical way through its representation of two parts, Tsar and Auschwitz. Laughter in Barnes’s play does not solely function to relieve misery or pain, but, rather intensifies the suffering of the characters who are exposed to various challenging situations in the course of the play. Through the analysis of ideology and the use of power, the aim of this article is, therefore, to discuss the portrayal of laughter and its problematic nature with its double sides in Barnes’s play Laughter! in order to reveal how laughter can also be a source of agony and misery rather than elation and happiness.

References

  • Barnes, Peter and Hennessy, Brendan (1970-71). “Peter Barnes: Interviewed by Brendan Hennessy.” The Transatlantic Review 37/38, 118-124. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41513069
  • Barnes, Peter (1989). Laughter! Barnes Plays: One. London: Methuen.
  • Gentry, Marshall Bruce (2006). Flannery O'Connor's Religion of the Grotesque. London: Mississippi University Press.
  • Golomb, Liorah Anne (1998). Peter Barnes and the Nature of Authority (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
  • Houck, Anita (2007). “The Ambiguous Laughter of Reconciliation: Comic Theodicy in Modern Literature.” Religion & Literature 39,1, 47-78. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40060054
  • Kremer, S. Lillian (2003). Holocaust Literature. Vol. 1. Agosin to Lentin. New York: Taylor & Francis.
  • Patraka, Vivian (1999). Spectacular Suffering: Theatre, Fascism and the Holocaust. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
  • Plunka, Gene A. (2009). Holocaust Drama: The Theater of Atrocity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Rabey, David Ian (2005). “Peter Barnes: A Memorial in Correspondence.” Contemporary Theatre Review 15,2, 252-258. DOI: 10.1080/10267160500119069
  • Rüger, Jan (2009). “Laughter and War in Berlin.” History Workshop Journal 67, 23-43. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40646207
  • Simpson, Hannah (2017). “‘Strange laughter’: Post-Gothic Questions of Laughter and the Human in Samuel Beckett's Work.” Journal of Modern Literature 40,4, 1-19. Retrieved February 24, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2979/jmodelite.40.4.01
  • Skloot, Robert (1988). Darkness We Carry: The Drama of the Holocaust. Madison: Wisconsin Press.
  • Wallace, Jennifer (2013). “Tragedy and Laughter.” Comparative Drama 47,2, 201-224. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23526755
  • West, Timothy (2001). A Moment Towards the End of the Play. London: Nick Hern.

Peter Barnes’ın Laughter! Oyununda Gülme Kavramına Eleştirel Bir Bakış

Year 2021, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 149 - 156, 30.04.2021
https://doi.org/10.29110/soylemdergi.865625

Abstract

Peter Barnes’ın 1978 tarihli Laughter! oyunu, Tsar ve Auschwitz başlıklı iki bölümün temsili aracılığı ile gülme kavramına eleştirel bir bakış açısı sunmaktadır. Barnes’ın oyununda gülme, yalnızca ıstırabı ve acıyı hafifleten bir unsur olarak karşımıza çıkmamaktadır. Aksine, oyun boyunca çeşitli zorlayıcı durumla karşı karşıya kalan karakterlerin acısını artırmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın bu bağlamda amacı, Peter Barnes’ın Laughter! oyununda gülmenin tasvirini ve bu kavramın sorunlu doğasını, kavramın iki boyutunu da ele alarak metinde önemli bir yere sahip ideoloji ve erk kullanımı analizi üzerinden tartışmaktır. Bu tartışmanın nihai amacı ise, gülmenin, mutluluk ve sevinçten ziyade nasıl acı çekmenin de bir kaynağı olabileceğini ortaya koymaktır.

References

  • Barnes, Peter and Hennessy, Brendan (1970-71). “Peter Barnes: Interviewed by Brendan Hennessy.” The Transatlantic Review 37/38, 118-124. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41513069
  • Barnes, Peter (1989). Laughter! Barnes Plays: One. London: Methuen.
  • Gentry, Marshall Bruce (2006). Flannery O'Connor's Religion of the Grotesque. London: Mississippi University Press.
  • Golomb, Liorah Anne (1998). Peter Barnes and the Nature of Authority (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
  • Houck, Anita (2007). “The Ambiguous Laughter of Reconciliation: Comic Theodicy in Modern Literature.” Religion & Literature 39,1, 47-78. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40060054
  • Kremer, S. Lillian (2003). Holocaust Literature. Vol. 1. Agosin to Lentin. New York: Taylor & Francis.
  • Patraka, Vivian (1999). Spectacular Suffering: Theatre, Fascism and the Holocaust. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
  • Plunka, Gene A. (2009). Holocaust Drama: The Theater of Atrocity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Rabey, David Ian (2005). “Peter Barnes: A Memorial in Correspondence.” Contemporary Theatre Review 15,2, 252-258. DOI: 10.1080/10267160500119069
  • Rüger, Jan (2009). “Laughter and War in Berlin.” History Workshop Journal 67, 23-43. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40646207
  • Simpson, Hannah (2017). “‘Strange laughter’: Post-Gothic Questions of Laughter and the Human in Samuel Beckett's Work.” Journal of Modern Literature 40,4, 1-19. Retrieved February 24, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2979/jmodelite.40.4.01
  • Skloot, Robert (1988). Darkness We Carry: The Drama of the Holocaust. Madison: Wisconsin Press.
  • Wallace, Jennifer (2013). “Tragedy and Laughter.” Comparative Drama 47,2, 201-224. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23526755
  • West, Timothy (2001). A Moment Towards the End of the Play. London: Nick Hern.
There are 14 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects Literary Studies
Journal Section EDEBİYAT / ARAŞTIRMA MAKALELERİ
Authors

Emrah Atasoy 0000-0002-5008-2636

Publication Date April 30, 2021
Submission Date January 20, 2021
Acceptance Date March 14, 2021
Published in Issue Year 2021 Volume: 6 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Atasoy, E. (2021). Peter Barnes’ın Laughter! Oyununda Gülme Kavramına Eleştirel Bir Bakış. Söylem Filoloji Dergisi, 6(1), 149-156. https://doi.org/10.29110/soylemdergi.865625