The Political Involvement of Myth in Its Stage Adaptations

Abstract

Ancient myths from the Mediterranean Culture often become a language used to express current social and political anxieties. In the contemporary theatre ancient myths are deconstructed and subverted according to the postmodern dialogue with tradition. Aesthetic changes are accompanied by the ideological modifications. This obviously crisis position of myth is associated with the method of de-contextualization when a mythical plot or just a mythical character is involved in the (post)modern political background. This paper is to analyse three theatre productions from Polish theatre (Iphigenia by Antonina Grzegorzewska, 2008; Oresteia by Michał Zadara, 2010; Antigone by Marcin Liber, 2013) which adapt the most political ancient myths of Atreides and Labdacides’ families. Authors will present the ancient literary context of these myths (Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus) and compare it with the contemporary stage adaptations. Political issues which will be discussed concern 1) global terrorism threat; 2) communism; 3) political usage of dead heroes and enemies – post-memory; 4) wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; 5) Nazi genocide; 6) media management of death. All these current problems constitute a deconstructed background for ancient myths and authors will consider whether this procedure creates an empty mythical mask for performance or, conversely, it enriches a source meaning of ancient myth.

Les mythes antiques de la culture méditerranéenne deviennent une langue utilisée pour exprimer les angoisses politiques actuelles. Dans le théâtre contemporain mythes sont souvent déconstruites selon au dialogue post-moderne avec la tradition. Cet article est pour analyser deux productions théâtrales du théâtre polonais (Iphigénie par Antonina Grzegorzewska, 2008; Orestie par Michał Zadara, 2010) qui adaptent le plus politique mythe antique des Atréides, dans le contexte de ses versions littéraires anciennes (Orestie d’Eschyle, Iphigénie en Aulis d’Euripide). Les questions politiques discutés comprennent menace du terrorisme mondiale, le communisme, les guerres en Irak et en Afghanistan.