Historical Metatexts of Mohammed Rezaei-Rad’ Plays Verb, Dream Report and Angel of History, Using the theory of Gérard Genet

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Theatre, Faculty of Arts, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch. Tehran Iran.

2 Master of Dramatic Literature, Department of Theatre, Faculty of Arts, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch. Tehran Iran.

Abstract

This research examines the historical metatexts of works of contemporary Iranian playwright Mohammed Rezai-Rad, whose works focus on Marxist philosophy of history and are influenced by the opinions of Walter Benjamin. He seems to be expanding the dramatic aspects of metatexts.
In his plays, especially in Verb, Dream Report and Angel of History, Rezai-Rad deals with historical and philosophical issues, that show his deep connections with the school of Marxism and the influence of Benjamin's thoughts. This research uses Gerard Genet's trans-textuality theory to show how Rezai-Rad has created an innovative work by using the references and influences of previous texts. The main focus of this research is to identify and analyze the dramatic aspects of various historical metatexts in Rezai-Rad's plays, in which Marxist concepts such as "liberation" and "praxis" are specifically addressed. The intended metatexts are present in 5 forms of plotting, characterization, stage order, theme and dialogue and are mainly influenced by Benjamin's Project of Passages, On Language and Theses on the Concept of History.
Another goal of this research is to discover how to use the desired metatexts as ideas in the form of a presentation form. In addition, the present research shows how Rezai-Rad achieved a new interpretation of history and art by re-creating and changing Marxist and Benjamin theses. This re-creation is considered not only as a way to deepen Marxist ideas, but also as a way to criticize and re-examine the contemporary history of Iran. Based on the data in Rezai-Rad’s written works and related scientific sources, this research confirms the research hypotheses and shows how this playwright has used the Marxist philosophy of history to provide new perspectives on the role of art in society. Furthermore we examine the occurrences and the purpose of historical references in the discussed plays. It is a step towards developing our understanding of Iran's contemporary dramatic literature and their roles in social reflection and criticism. Rezai-Rad’s importance is that he adapted the desired Marxist ideas into a dramatic form and used them in the plays. These formal changes in Marxist ideas during the adaptation have led to the re-creation of history and a new definition of the theory by Rezai-Rad. The result of this historical re-creation by the author is to criticize Iranian society, and Rezai-Rad’s main intention of establishing these metatextual relationships is realized in this way. Each of the borrowed historical ideas has been used for a different purposes, but most of these references have been influenced by Marxism, among the most important of which we can call the audience to do voluntary action, invite the audiences to revolt, criticize the progressive view of history, whilst pointing out the support of the oppressed and the oppression of history.

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References

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Journal of Fine Arts: Performing Arts & Music
Volume 31, Issue 1
February 2026
Pages 71-80

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