Examining Two Turkish Adaptations of Classical Tragedy: What does Brecht Tell Us?

Mehmet Fatih Uslu

Article Details

Examining Two Turkish Adaptations of Classical Tragedy: What does Brecht Tell Us?

Authors:

Mehmet Fatih Uslu

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Edebi Çalışmalar (Diğer)

Journal:

Tiyatro Eleştirmenliği ve Dramaturji Bölümü Dergisi Issue 40, pp.17-30

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355328

pISSN:

1303-8605

Keywords:

Abstract:

 This study examines two adaptations of Greek tragediesKemal Demirels Antigone 1966 and Aras Örens Blind Oedipusthrough the lens of politics and theater. Both of these plays are adaptations of Sophocless classical tragedies produced from a leftist political perspective. Bertolt Brechts strong influence can be felt in the imagination and execution of this leftist perspective. Brecht, one of the most influential figures shaping Turkish theater between 1960 and 1980, placed particular importance on the ancient Greek tragedy in his drama theory. Moreover, the German theatre figure also wrote and staged an adaptation of Antigone in 1949. The study explores Brechts thoughts on tragedy and discusses how these two adaptations draw from Brecht and how they employed his theatrical tools.

 This study examines two adaptations of Greek tragediesKemal Demirels Antigone 1966 and Aras Örens Blind Oedipusthrough the lens of politics and theater. Both of these plays are adaptations of Sophocless classical tragedies produced from a leftist political perspective. Bertolt Brechts strong influence can be felt in the imagination and execution of this leftist perspective. Brecht, one of the most influential figures shaping Turkish theater between 1960 and 1980, placed particular importance on the ancient Greek tragedy in his drama theory. Moreover, the German theatre figure also wrote and staged an adaptation of Antigone in 1949. The study explores Brechts thoughts on tragedy and discusses how these two adaptations draw from Brecht and how they employed his theatrical tools.

 This study examines two adaptations of Greek tragediesKemal Demirels Antigone 1966 and Aras Örens Blind Oedipusthrough the lens of politics and theater. Both of these plays are adaptations of Sophocless classical tragedies produced from a leftist political perspective. Bertolt Brechts strong influence can be felt in the imagination and execution of this leftist perspective. Brecht, one of the most influential figures shaping Turkish theater between 1960 and 1980, placed particular importance on the ancient Greek tragedy in his drama theory. Moreover, the German theatre figure also wrote and staged an adaptation of Antigone in 1949. The study explores Brechts thoughts on tragedy and discusses how these two adaptations draw from Brecht and how they employed his theatrical tools.

 Bu çalışma, iki Yunan tragedyası uyarlamasını Kemal Demirelin Antigonesi 1966 ile Aras Örenin Kör Oidipusunu siyaset ve tiyatro ekseninde inceleme amacı taşıyor. Bu iki oyun Sofoklesin klasik tragedyalarının sol bir siyasi perspektif içinden üretilmiş yeniden yazımlarıdır. Bu sol perspektifin hayal edilmesinde ve icrasında yoğun bir Bertolt Brecht etkisi hissedilir. Brecht, 1960-1980 arasında Türk Tiyatrosunu en çok etkileyen ve şekillendiren tiyatro insanlarının başında gelir ve onun drama teorisinde antik Yunan tragedyasının özel bir yeri vardır. Üstüne, Alman tiyatro insanı da 1949 senesinde bir Antigone uyarlaması yazıp sahnelemiştir. Çalışmada Brechtin tragedya düşüncesi açımlanarak bu iki uyarlamanın Brechtten nasıl yararlandığı ve onun teatral araçlarını nasıl bir süzgeçten geçirerek kullandığı tartışılıyor.

Article Details

Examining Two Turkish Adaptations of Classical Tragedy: What does Brecht Tell Us?

Authors:

Mehmet Fatih Uslu

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Edebi Çalışmalar (Diğer)

Journal:

Tiyatro Eleştirmenliği ve Dramaturji Bölümü Dergisi Issue 40, pp.17-30

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355328

pISSN:

1303-8605

Greek tragedy

Turkish theater

Brecht

Aras Ören

Kemal DemirelYunan tragedyası

Türk tiyatrosu

Brecht

Aras Ören

Kemal Demirel

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Mehmet Fatih Uslu

Publisher: Istanbul University

Main Topics: Edebi Çalışmalar (Diğer)

Journal: Tiyatro Eleştirmenliği ve Dramaturji Bölümü Dergisi Issue 40, pp.17-30

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001355328

pISSN: 1303-8605

Issues

Authors:

Mehmet Fatih Uslu

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Edebi Çalışmalar (Diğer)

Journal:

Tiyatro Eleştirmenliği ve Dramaturji Bölümü Dergisi Issue 40, pp.17-30

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355328

pISSN:

1303-8605