Siah and Mobarak: a Comparative Analysis of Two Characters in Traditional Iranian Theater
Siah and Mobarak: a Comparative Analysis of Two Characters in Traditional Iranian Theater
Горбани Х.
Abstract
This article is devoted to a comparative analysis of two characters from traditional Iranian theater: Siah – the hero of the comedic performance siah-bazi – and Mobarak – the central figure of the puppet theater kheimeh-shab-bazi. Despite differences in performance formats, both characters share a common mission: the satirical critique of social norms, voicing public discontent, and representing a marginalized perspective. By comparing these characters, the article reveals traditions of expressing various sentiments and social archetypes within the Iranian theatrical tradition.
Keywords
Siah-bazi; Kheimeh-shab-bazi; Mobarak; Siyah; Iranian folk theater; social satire; jester; improvisation; carnivalization; M.M. Bakhtin; folklore