Postmemorial Dramaturgy of the Armenian catastrophe: The Armenian question

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Title

Coup de Théâtre: Performing Gender, Sexual and Racial Dynamics on the US Stage

Publisher

RADAC: Recherches sur les arts dramatiques anglophones contemporains

School

Graduate Research School

Comments

Karali, S. N. (2023). Postmemorial Dramaturgy of the Armenian catastrophe: The Armenian question. In X. lemoine, C. Kiehl & C. Delahaye (Eds.), Coup de Théâtre: Performing Gender, Sexual and Racial Dynamics on the US Stage (pp. 69-92). RADAC: Recherches sur les arts dramatiques anglophones contemporains. https://radac.hypotheses.org/publications/coup-de-theatre-sister-publication/numeros-cdt

Please note: Publishers website is in the French language

Abstract

This article presents a pioneering analysis of theatrical representations of the Armenian Catastrophe, applying Marianne Hirsch’s postmemory theories. It unveils the intricate connection between generational memory transmission and the dramatic structure of The Armenian Question, a two-act documentary courtroom drama co-written by Armenian-American director Anna Antaramian. Through a formal analysis of the script, supplemented by insights from correspondences with Antaramian and the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, archival research, and play reviews, this study reveals how The Armenian Question translates real-life survivor interviews, the co-writer’s personal history, emotional responses, and processes of imaginative remembrance, into its documentary framework. It identifies dramaturgical elements that illustrate Hirsch’s concept of postmemory and demonstrates how theatre effectively communicates traumatic narratives of the past to the audience. This research deepens the understanding of traumatic events for both American and Armenian audiences, offering a more nuanced and subjective perspective. By bridging theory with practical insights, it contributes to the broader discourse on postmemory, trauma representation, and the transformative potential of theatre to engage with and reflect upon the legacies of collective suffering.

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