Eugene Ionesco's The lesson (1951) and Le Roi Jones's Dutchman (1964) : A Foucauldian reading
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Date
2021
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Mouloud Mammeri University
Abstract
This research delves into the works of Eugene Ionesco’s The Lesson and LeRoi Jones’s Dutchman, employing Michel Foucault’s theory of power relations, with a focus on the key concepts of “Knowledge” and “Power.” The study examines the behavior and interactions among characters within the framework of Theatre of the Absurd. The dissertation comprises two chapters. In the initial chapter, we explore the interconnectedness of “Knowledge” and “Power.” We observe how those who possess knowledge wield power, as seen in The Professor’s dominance over the Pupil and Lula’s control over Clay. The subsequent chapter investigates the consequences of this power dynamic, transitioning from “Power” to “Domination.” Following the abuse of power by the Professor and Lula over the Pupil and Clay, we explore the emergence of “Resistance” as a response. In the final chapter, we address the body as a target of power, referencing Sara Mills” work on “Michel Foucault: The Body and Sexuality” (2003). Through this lens, we analyze how the authors were influenced by the conditions of their societies characterized by absurdism, uncertainty, and chaos. Ultimately, we conclude that the possession of knowledge can lead to negative domination, significantly impacting power relations and suppressing the powerless, particularly when wielded by authoritarian and misguided authorities.
Description
60p. : 30cm(+CD-Rom)
Keywords
Michel Foucault, Power Relations, Power, Knowledge, Domination, Resistance, Sara Mills, Body and Sexuality, Theatre of the Absurd (Absurdism), Uncertainty, Chaos, Authoritarianism
Citation
Literature and Interdisciplinary Approaches