French Literature Reviews - 2026
Y. Khajehi, La Marionnette iranienne ou les Pouvoirs d'un objet hybride
Theatre and Performance
Yassaman Khajehi
La Marionnette iranienne ou les pouvoirs d'un objet hybride
Paris, Classiques Garnier, coll. Études sur le théâtre et les arts de la scène, 2020
EAN : 9782406099987
359 p. — €30.00
For at least ten centuries, puppetry in Iran has been part of a "game" that extends far beyond theatrical and stage performances. While resisting social and political constraints through its hybrid nature, the puppet continually reinvents itself and freely asserts its right to unrestricted speech and action.
Puppetry in Iran has been part of a tradition extending for at least ten centuries, functioning as a medium that extends beyond theatrical and stage performances. La Marionnette iranienne ou les pouvoirs d'un objet hybride examines the puppet as a hybrid object that resists social and political constraints. By tracing the evolution of these figures, the text explores the medium's ability to reinvent itself and assert its right to unrestricted speech and action. Readers interested in the intersection of traditional performance arts and cultural resistance may find this study relevant.
The concept of the hybrid object serves as a lens to understand the puppet's capacity for speech and action within Iranian performance. The puppet acts as a vehicle that navigates boundaries that often restrict human performers. By tracing the evolution of these figures over a millennium, the text highlights the persistent ability of the medium to reinvent itself. This approach underscores the puppet's role as a participant in a long-standing game and a tool for navigating the constraints inherent in historical and contemporary societal structures.