Playing With Violence

This book investigates the subtly drawn dimensions of the theme of violence in contemporary Turkish drama.The plays analyzed give us characters caught in the cul-de-sac of a culture that demands conformity. They are unable to say “No”, and their gravest problem is the impossibility of existing as an individual. These plays deal with the most insidious and widespread forms of covert social violence. Ten plays by six writers are discussed:Önemli Adam (An İmportant Man)Müfettişler (The Inspectors)Kahvede Şenlik Var (There''s a party at the Coffeehouse)Ölüler Konuşmak İsterler (The Dead Will Speak)Kozalar (Cocoons)Taziye (Mourning Rites) Mahmud ile Yezida (Mahmud and Yezida)Çöplük (Garbage Dump)Sahibinin Sesi (His Master’s Voice)İşte Baş İşte Gövde İşte Kanatlar, (Here is the Head, Here is the Trunk, Here are the Wings)