06.11.2023 Interdisciplinary Workshop "Stages of Performing in Pahlavi Iran (1925-1979)"

In the context of global theatre histories, understood as historiography of connections, interweavings, exchange and dis:connections, this workshop focuses on different forms of stage art, e.g. dance, drama and musical theatre as well as festivals.

Schriftzug "Tehran Theatre"  an historischer Gebäudefassade
Foto: Anna Heller

An interdisciplinary workshop curated and organised by
PD Dr. Nic Leonhardt (Käte Hamburger Research Centre global dis:connect, Munich), and
Dr. Anna Heller, Department of Iranian Studies, Philipps University of Marburg
Dates: 11-12 April, 2024
Venue: Käte Hamburger Kolleg Research Centre “Dis:Connectivity in Processes of Globalisation”, Maria-Theresia-Str. 21, 81675 Munich
Submission of abstracts ended December 15th, 2023.

About the workshop

Relief an der historischen Fassade des Tehran Theatre zeigt die Theatermuse Thalia
Foto: Anna Heller
Tehran Theatre's relief

With the introduction of European drama in the mid-19th century, a new model of theatre emerged in Iran, which in the 20th century developed from a previously amateur activity into an established cultural institution of modern society. In contrast to the processes of social change in Pahlavi Iran (1925-1979), the cultural-historical relevance of the performing arts has not yet been fully researched.
To discuss holistically, this workshop focuses on different forms of stage art, e.g. dance, drama and musical theatre as well as festivals (e.g. the Shiraz Festival in 1967). The neglect or separate consideration of the musicological aspects of the performing arts reinforce the importance of these forms.
In the context of global theatre histories, understood as historiography of connections, interweavings, exchange and dis:connections, the workshop seeks proposals on the following sub-topics:

  • Transnational influences on the performing arts in Pahlavi Iran and transregional exchanges of stages
  • The impact of other countries and regions of the Persianate world (theatre in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and the Caucasus)
  • Performing Arts and political propaganda
  • ‘Detraditionalisation’ vs. 'Persianisation’
  • Theatre practice and practices of performing power
  • Questions on theory and terminology arising from the different conventions and/or connotations in Persian and European languages.

With our discussion we also seek to exchange on the increasing methodological obstacles to fieldwork and archival work in the region.

Accommodation will be provided for the duration of the workshop, and we can help with travel costs if needed.
For detailed information see our flyer "Call for Papers". For the upccoming event visit also global dis:connect.

Framework of the workshop

Unlike at a conference, we would like to use the two days of the workshop to engage in intensive dialogue with each other. We therefore plan to circulate the participants' papers among the contributors before the workshop so that these papers can be discussed at the meeting.
The following procedure is intended to maximise the quality of the workshop: 

- Participants submit their paper by 1st April 2024
- The papers will be circulated among the participants before the workshop
- During the workshop days, the authors outline their paper in 10-minute summaries, including visualisations or illustrations
- The papers and summaries will then be the subject of in-depth discussion in the plenary.

Contact

PD Dr. Nic Leonhardt (she/her), KHK Global Dis:connect, Munich
 Nic.Leonhardt@lrz.uni-muenchen.de

Dr. Anna Heller (she/her), Iranian Studies, Philipps University of Marburg
anna.heller@uni-marburg.de

Kontakt