Interdisciplinary Studies of Literature, Arts and Humanities

Abstract The Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature, Art, and the Humanities is now five years old. During this time, we have published ten issues and 144 articles. This is a specialized journal of comparative literature, meaning that it has a specific definition for comparative literature and accepts articles only in that field. Our definition is clear: first, comparative literature is not “comparative” as is commonly understood (Anushiravani 2010, 2014). Second, comparative literature is, on the one hand, the study of connections between the literatures of nations from different cultures and languages, and, on the other hand, the study of relationships between literature, art, and sciences (Remak 1968).With this definition, our mission in the journal is straightforward. We are not looking for obvious, outdated, and repetitive influence and similarity studies, nor for Eurocentric comparative literature. The time for both trends has already expired. We see literature as a global phenomenon that knows no boundaries and seeks to explore literary and cultural connections and to understand and recognize the other. We believe that recognizing the other, without any pre-judgement or prejudice, leads to cultural interaction and respect, and ultimately to peace, friendship, and coexistence (Wellek 1958; Jost 1979). In today's complex and interconnected world, all sciences are interconnected in such a way that it is not possible to understand one without the other. Issues such as the environment, migration, economics, agriculture, politics, security, health and hygiene, and literature cannot be properly assessed individually and separately from other sciences. Knowledge management has been based on interdisciplinary studies in the last two centuries. From medical sciences to technical, experimental, and human sciences, all can be analyzed accurately with an interdisciplinary perspective and teamwork (Anushiravani 2013; 2013).

Abstract Comparative cultural study is the new, field in comparative literature. One of the areas that is examined in this interdisciplinary field is media studies, and the analysis of the diverse forms of media in their historical, cultural, and political contexts. Media and culture studies utilize a wide range of cultural theories with a focus on the functions of media within a diverse and global cultural environment.

Media, as a powerful tool, can manipulate signs and change values, influencing the perceptions of its audience, acting as an empty subject of individuality. This study examines the role of media in creating individual and collective illusions, reconstructing and presenting a fictional world based on the film The Truman Show in the field of comparative cultural studies. The creators of The Truman Show strive to create the illusion of the world for Truman, using all the resources and modern technology available. In addition to exploring the power of the media in constructing a fake world and implementing psychological operations by the show's creators to enhance the illusion of the real world, the writer examines the show's creators' strategies for maintaining the credibility and control of this illusion in Truman's mind. It also analyzes the impact of media power on the audience based on the analysis of the details of the show's viewers and their behavior being mechanized. Finally, the writer demonstrates how The Truman Show challenges not only the display of media power in controlling public minds but also its influence and performance.

Abstract Based on his theory of epic theater, Bertolt Brecht wrote several plays, one of the most important and successful of which is the play Mother Courage and Her Children. This play is a perfect example of performing the technique of alienation or estrangement effect and defamiliarization. This technique can be performed with multiple elements and in various ways in a play. In this research of comparative literature and interdisciplinary field, the introduction of these elements and the play Mother Courage will be introduced. Referring to this, three different performances of the play are examined and the desired elements and their performance methods in a number of scenes are discussed. The desired performances are the German performance by Brecht's wife Helene Weigel and under his own supervision and two Persian performances by Mehdi Shojaei and Amir Dejakam. An attempt is made to compare differences and similarities of these performances which are a result of difference of performance time periods, cultural differences and differing working style of the performers and other theatrical factors. Iranian performances are somewhat more modern and alienation in them is more exaggerated in some cases. The scenes are simple and the language used is modern vernacular.

Abstract New Historicism in literary studies means adopting a post-structuralist approach in reading the text. This approach, which is based on postmodernist ideas, has a completely interdisciplinary nature. This research aims to investigate and scientifically explain its interdisciplinary nature with a descriptive-analytical method. In order to achieve this and of course to dwell more on a precise and narrow point, in this essay, we will try to recognize and identify one of the key terms of this approach, namely " Anecdote ", as limited to and based on the article " Counterhistory And The Anecdote " by Steven Greenblatt and Catherine Gallagher. The use of anecdote, in addition to revealing one of the interdisciplinary aspects of this approach, also clearly shows its type of textualism: unlike New Criticism, this approach, does not focus on a specific text. New Historicism sees and reads a literary text with marginal texts, i.e. anecdotes. This method makes reading the text more satisfying, satisfaction arising from a different and more complete reading compared to other approaches and methods in criticism. The story, which has an counterhistorical nature, can come from the critic's own memories of life or from marginal texts, literary or non-literary, written or non-written. New Historicists use anecdotes to destroy the sequence and course of thought of the macro-narrative and to question what the macro-narrative considers reality. In this way, they create a new narrative and reveal a different reality.

Abstract The issue of the present research is the application of the theory of mental spaces in the analysis of Persian prose literary texts. The theory of mental spaces is one of the tools of the cognitive approach to the study of texts which was proposed by Gilles Fauconnier in the second half of the twentieth century and then expanded in the following years within the framework of the theory of conceptual blending. This theory can be useful in analyzing the linguistic, ideological, and mind-based dimensions of literary texts. The aforementioned theory considers the literary text as the result of the formation of mental spaces and the establishment of connections between them. This theory, relying on the final gestalt and the narrative style of the text, tries to trace the various components constructed by the author and the readers in the text. In this research, a selected part of the novel Ja'y-e x'ali-e soluc' has been analyzed and analyzed as a case study. The results of this research show that the theory of mental spaces can help the researchers in aspects in the analysis and criticism of Persian prose literary texts such as: analyzing the narrative flow, analyzing referential pronouns in character-based texts, and stylistic application related to the mechanism of characters.

Abstract Painting influenced by Iranian literature and history is one of the manifestations of the relationship between art and literature, which has always had a special place in Iranian culture. The study of these works can lead to new readings in the field of image studies with regard to social implications. Symbolization to convey meaning has always been the focus of Iranian artists and has been used in different periods to convey rich mystical and religious concepts in pictures. One of the most important means of conveying meaning is the image, which has been the focus of Qaja artists and they have used it in the composition based on mental concepts and a deep connection with literature. During the Qajar period, due to the tendency of the court towards lyrical and mystical stories, the illustration of these concepts was proposed in advance. This approach can be seen in the painting "Sheikh Sanan and Dokhtar Tarsa" in the painting of the Qajar period as an example without a figure, introduced at Christie's auction. The aim of the current research is to investigate the mystical themes of Attar's poetry and its symbolic and visual reflection in this painting, how the visual elements are used to show the exams of the girl who is afraid of the Sheikh, and he was able to show all her exams with concise symbols.

Abstract  
From the classical time of the Eastern and Western philosophical traditions to the present age, different views about language and its nature have existed. Some have investigated the nature of language from an ontological perspective, and others have adopted a more utilitarian approach to language. Thinkers such as Fardid, among contemporary Iranian philosophers, and Benjamin, a theorist of the Frankfurt School, have examined language with an ontological perspective. Under the influence of three intellectual fountains: Hikmat Ansi, Ibn Arabi's mysticism, and Heidegger's thoughts, Fardid divides history into five periods: the day before yesterday, yesterday, today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow. The day before yesterday and the day after tomorrow, due to their divine origin and purpose, are considered the ideal periods from Fardid's perspective. He believes that due to distance from the history of the past, the language has been removed from its divine origin and has been reduced to an instrument. Thus, Fardid seeks, through etymology and poetry adorned with the language of signs, to enable access to a bygone history and to revive a language that was originally created by God. Benjamin also assigns a theological nature to language. He believes, in light of the myth of the Tower of Babel, that in the existing language, the direct connection between names and things has been lost, giving rise to 'signification' and 'meaning. Therefore, Benjamin seeks, with the aid of poetry and translation, to open a path toward reviving the original level and divine origin of language. This research aims to re-examine the linguistic perspectives of Fardid and Benjamin using a descriptive-analytical approach and to highlight their points of convergence and divergence.

Abstract Life writing, with an ancient history among mankind, has increasingly created a huge and interdisciplinary movement in scientific and research centers since the late twentieth century, especially in various fields of modern knowledge, especially humanities and social sciences such as anthropology, ethnography, psychology and sociology, in branches such as women's and gender studies, cultural studies, colonial studies and postcolonialism. But in Iran, despite the long tradition of writing life narratives and the growth of its modern examples over the past century and a half, not only do we not see Life writing studies, but even its necessity and basic concepts are not well understood. With the aim of recognizing this concept as an independent identity, emphasizing the necessity of initiating these studies, and presenting a perspective on it in Iran, this article has been written to outline the idea of biography and life writing and outline its generalities. Life writing is intended as an umbrella term to encompass all works that somehow contain a realistic narrative of human life in recording personal memories, experiences, perspectives, and feelings. In the broad field of "biographies" in a variety of formats and media, including written, visual, audio, and mixed types, This concept includes a wide range of writings in the description of a life or parts thereof, in various types of life writing, such as autobiographies, fictional autobiographies, memoirs, work reports, , collective biographies, memorials, testimonies, obituaries, wills, registration forms, personal resumes, obituaries, and even digital forms in blogs, tweets and stories, .

Abstract Labor literature describes, explores, and reflects the difficult problems and conditions of workers' lives. Labor narratives voice the demand for justice and resistance against exploitation by workers, those who become victims of the capitalist system. Labor literature and critical criminology are closely related to the criticism of the capitalist system and focus on workers as vulnerable groups in society. The Woman in Men's Shoes is considered one of the significant works of labor literature in Iran, highlighting the challenges faced by workers in the workplace. This study, using Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse analysis method, aims to provide a deeper reading of labor narratives and, by focusing on corporate crimes against workers, depicts social inequalities. Furthermore, by examining the discourses of "workers/lower class" and "managers/upper class," it analyzes the hegemony of managerial discourse and evaluates the key factors involved in the disregard of workers’ human rights. The findings of this research indicate that commercial companies may resort to any means to gain profit. In such an environment, workers are exploited and subjected to corporate violence, and their human rights are violated. The novel The Woman in Men's Shoes shows how corporate crimes and the harmful behavior of capitalists are ignored, and workers become victims of structural inequalities.

Abstract This study presents a comparative analysis of three cinematic adaptations of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, directed by Laurence Olivier (1948), Kenneth Branagh (1996), and Michael Almereyda (2000). The primary objective is to examine how power, identity, and surveillance are represented in these adaptations and how the introduced changes influence the meaning and reception of the text. The research employs a comparative and qualitative methodology, drawing on theories of intertextuality (Kristeva & Stam), discourse analysis (Foucault), and adaptation as social action (Hutcheon). The findings reveal that each adaptation, shaped by its cultural and historical context, offers a unique reading of Hamlet. Olivier’s film emphasizes psychological tragedy and Hamlet’s internal struggles, Branagh’s adaptation provides a political and historical interpretation, and Almereyda’s version reimagines Hamlet within the digital modernity and surveillance capitalism. This research demonstrates that cinematic adaptations of Hamlet function not only as interpretations of the original text but also as reflections of contemporary discourses and socio-cultural transformations.

Abstract Human activities, particularly since the latter half of the eighteenth century, have had profoundly detrimental effects on the Earth. The increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere, the desiccation of numerous wetlands and rivers, and the extinction of many wildlife species are consequences of a trend that, if continued, will result in nothing less than the complete destruction of the biosphere. The environmental situation in Iran is also concerning, as the country faces multiple issues, including pollution of surface and groundwater, the drying up of wetlands, lakes, and rivers; the depletion of groundwater resources; air pollution; a decline in biodiversity; an increase in the frequency and severity of floods and droughts; land subsidence; soil erosion; and a reduction in forest cover. In response to the current state of environmental issues and crises in the country, it is possible to leverage the rich cultural heritage of Persian poetry and literature to enhance public awareness of environmental conditions, foster environmental sensitivity, strengthen conservation culture, and improve environmental ethics. This can initially be achieved by identifying the ecological themes present in Iranian poetry and literature and subsequently promoting and reinforcing them in contemporary literature. Accordingly, this article outlines the theoretical foundations of environmental literature and poetry, critiques eco-criticism, and emphasizes its significance in the current context of the country. Additionally, we explore the relationship between nature and the sacred in the poetry of Sohrab Sepehri, proposing how his works and Persian poetry can influence audiences regarding environmental matters.

Abstract Sophocles' Antigone is one of the most important classical works in the history of dramatic literature, and numerous adaptations have been made from it throughout the ages. Great playwrights such as Brecht and Anouilh have written the most important adaptations of this work, and repeated performances of Antigone have been staged all over the world in different eras. In Iran, in early 1980s, Ahmad Shamlu published a play adapted from Antigone in the Quarterly of the Writers and Poets Association of Gorgan, which is very neglected in his artistic career. In this research, while examining the dramatic aspects of the two works and comparing and matching them, efforts have been made to answer the question of what in Antigone inspired Shamlu to write this play, and how the thematic and structural characteristics of this play are related to Sophocles' Antigone. The data cllection for this research has been done by library method, and the research method is descriptive-analytical.

Abstract Linguistic research in literature is a novel topic that provides the possibility of receiving concepts from the side of expressions. Norm avoidance among the issues raised in the linguistic field; It is one of the ways to make literary works original. Geoffrey Leach, an English theorist, is one of the experts who has a comprehensive view on norm-avoidance, and with his approach, a comprehensive understanding can be achieved in a work in the field of linguistics. In Leach's theory, the norm deviation of a work; They are processed in eight phonetic, lexical, syntactic, semantic, linguistic, stylistic, written and dialectal dimensions. Given that Adonis's poems are full of purposeful violations of vocabulary due to social conditions; Therefore, the current research has investigated defamiliarization in his poems based on Leach's theory with a descriptive-analytical approach. The results show that Adonis made the audience's minds to explore the concepts by defamiliarizing them and in this way doubles the beauty of his poems. All eight principles of norm avoidance of Leach's approach; It has a perfect example in his poetry, and the frequency of semantic non-norm deviation in his poetry is more than other non-norm deviations, and it is especially manifested in methods such as simile, metaphor, etc. They are in the next positions.

Abstract The archaeological event "A Lament for Book Burnings" is a subject with historical roots that can be analyzed using Foucault's archaeological method. Unlike conventional historical methods that aim to investigate and uncover the origins of objects and explain causal relationships between phenomena, archaeology refers to the diversity and discontinuity of events and the hidden dispersions within them. The aim of archaeology as a method is to analyze the underlying and unconscious rules that form discourses, describing an archive of judgments prevalent in a specific era and society. The main question of this research is how book burning is related to concepts such as the elimination and erasure of human knowledge and awareness. The purpose of this study is to analyze the event "A Lament for Book Burnings" using archaeological methods. Data were collected from library sources and examined through a documentary, descriptive-analytical approach. It can be inferred that, like archaeological rules, the director of the event looks at history differently. He does not focus on continuity and connection but emphasizes rupture, discontinuity, and uniqueness. According to archaeology, book burnings are unique historical realities that cannot be repeated. The archaeologist is not concerned with the causes of the emergence of discursive rules but rather follows how discourses appear, persist, and disappear historically at a descriptive level. However, this description is deep rather than superficial. This event also considers the low reading rates and the loss of vocabulary, along with their limitation, as a modern manifestation of book burning.

Abstract This study examines the status of comparative literature sources in Iran, as the credibility and up-to-dateness of sources play a crucial role in the quality of scientific research. With the global expansion of comparative literature in the world and the continuous production of works in this field, researchers are faced with the challenge of evaluating sources, especially in Iran, where the abundance of books and articles with comparative titles does not necessarily mean scientific credibility. Therefore, having a clear theoretical framework and research methodology is essential for being positioned within the field of comparative literature. This study reviews and criticizes works published between 2001 and 2025 (1380 and 1404 in the Iranian calendar), highlighting how quantity sometimes outweighs quality. The purpose of this research is also to assist in identifying reliable sources, avoiding repetition and explain the importance of original sources and translations so that researchers in this field can become familiar with the most important publications in this field before conducting research.

Abstract One of the most important and challenging areas of film theory is the link between cinematic studies and feminist theories. Therefore, film and feminism have quickly gained a special place in film studies and film theory. Thinking about the conflicting and tense relationship between women as "historical specific figures" and the "typical woman" as an imaginary cultural representation is the basis of Teresa de Lauretis work. The importance of de Lauretis as a theoretician of film and cinema lies in the fact that he was able to bring his feminist views into the field of cinema and by expanding it in the heart of this field and by relying on his special reading of films and especially body cinema and its opposite. That is, women's cinema should enter its ideas as general ideas into the wide field of women's studies. Therefore, a dialectical approach between the field of theory and the field of film and cinema can be seen under his opinions. Regarding the necessity of conducting research on cinema and feminist theories, it can be said that at first glance, this issue is the result of an approach that looks at cinema as a reflection of society's issues; An approach that is accepted as "reflection theory". This research is trying to review the feminist theory of film and examine and describe categories such as characterization, visual structure, sound structure and narrative structure in the heart of this theory. The current research is a review type and was done by relying on library sources.

Abstract This article seeks to reconsider and reflect on the concept of world literature as developed by Erich Auerbach, one of the foundational figures in the formation of the theory of comparative literature in the West. Auerbach first gained recognition during the 1940s and 1950s as a literary historian and philologist with the publication of his seminal work Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature. Yet, it was through his later theoretical writings—particularly by raising fundamental questions about philology and the role and function of literature in the present world—that he established himself as one of the earliest proponents of the comparative method in literary studies. One of his most influential essays in this regard, “The Philology of World Literature,” employs the method of philology to envision the possibility of moving beyond the discourse of literary criticism—one that has dominated literary studies during the last few decades. For Auerbach, philology is not merely a method but a comprehensive approach to texts aimed at comprehending and conceptualizing the complex network of historical, cultural, and geographical interactions reflected in literary works. By revisiting “The Philology of World Literature,” this article aims first to explore and redefine two central concepts in Auerbach’s thought—philology and world—and then to open a space for reconsidering a distinct and alternative conception of world literature.

Abstract Many books and articles have been written on Sohrab's life and poetry. Among them is a new and a different one: Ecotheology and Love: The Converging Poetics of Sohrab Sepehri and James Baldwin (2022), in which the author looks at Sohrab's poetry and life from a new and a different angle. Bahar Davari Ardakani, professor of theology at the University of San Diego, deals with Sepehri's poems from the perspective of religion and environmental theology. This book has an introduction, four chapters and a conclusion. The author, in first and fourth chapters, compares Sepehri with James Baldwin (1924-1987), an American novelist, playwright and social critic. She analyses the shared ideas of the two authors, that is, intellectual decolonization and opposition to new idolatries such as consumerism and militarism. This book, through Baldwin and Sepehri, aims to point out the role of poets in rewriting history and changing the moral world.