TRACES OF LIQUID MODERNITY IN HOWARD BRENTON’S JUDE

Abstract

The emphasis of this study is the idea of ‘liquid modernity’, which Zygmunt Bauman (1925– 2017) metaphorically created to describe the transition from modernism to postmodernism. The primary assertion of this study centers on themes commonly addressed in discussions about the escalating globalization of the world, such as immigration, marginalization, conflict, injustice, violence, and cruelty. The process of a young girl’s (Judith) quest for identity as a refugee in England is also evaluated in the study from the perspective of Howard Brenton’s (1942-) play Jude (2018). Although Howard Brenton, a well-known author and one of the pioneers of oppositional theatre, draws attention to the struggle between justice and power in his plays, he also employs historicism and mythological motifs to reinforce his realism discourse. In today’s modern culture, the term ‘liquid’ appears to be an analogy for the swift conversion of communal consciousness to individuality. This leads to identities that are insensitive, self-centred, and alienated. Immigration is a clear sign of a dishonest and unfair system and draws attention as one of the contemporary world’s key challenges. The primary objective of this study is to examine the inevitable consequences of modernism.

Keywords

• Brenton
• Bauman
• Modernism
• Liquid Modernity
• National Identity

HOWARD BRENTON’IN JUDE OYUNUNDA AKIŞKAN MODERNİTENİN İZLERİ

Öz

Bu çalışmanın temel amacı Zygmunt Bauman (1925-2017)’ın modernizm ile postmodernizm arasındaki geçiş sürecine ışık tutan ve metaforik olarak geliştirdiği ‘akışkan modernite’ teorisi oluşturur. Çalışmanın temel tartışma zeminini küreselleşen dünyada çokça tartışılan göçmen, yabancı, savaş, göç, adaletsizlik, şiddet ve vahşet gibi sorunlar oluşturur. Howard Brenton (1942-)’ın Jude (2018) oyunu ekseninde mülteci konumunda İngiltere’de hayatta kalmaya çalışan Judith özelinde, genç bir kızın yabancı bir ülkede kimlik oluşturma süreci de çalışmanın içeriğinde yer alır. Karşıt görüşün ve muhalif tiyatronun öncü kalemlerinden biri olan ünlü İngiliz oyun yazarı Howard Brenton güç ve adaletsizlik arasındaki açmazı izleyicilerin dikkatine sunarken, oyunlarında tarihselcilik ve mitolojik unsurlara da yer vererek gerçekçilik söylemini güçlendirmeyi amaçlar. ‘Akışkan’ terimi, günümüz modern toplumunda duyarsız, bencil ve yabancılaşmış kimlikler üreten topluluk bilincinden, bireyciliğe doğru hızlı değişimin ve dönüşümün temsili olarak belirir. Modern dünyanın temel sorunlarından biri olarak göze çarpan göç, yozlaşmış ve adaletsiz bir sistemin açık göstergesidir. Araştırma, Modernizm sürecinde yaşanan ve kaçınılmaz olarak ortaya çıkan sonuçları incelemeyi amaçlar.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Brenton
• Bauman
• Akışkan Modernite
• Ulusal Kimlik
• Modernizm

Kaynakça

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