Abstract
The 16th issue of Tabl magazine, published in May 2024, features eight articles and one interview.
The first article in the 16th issue, “Siavash and the Placeless Utopia,” by Setayesh Nejadi is focusing on mythology and culture. In this piece, the author first discusses Siavash’s role as a hero and warrior in Iranian culture, providing a detailed account of his life until his passing. The article then delves into various narratives in pre-Islamic texts and Shahnameh about the construction of “Kangdez” and “Siavashgerd” by Siavash. Furthermore, the author explores Iranian architecture, the significance of gardens, and the role of handicrafts like carpets in Iranian culture. The article ultimately presents how the ideal city and placelessness of Siavash serve as a significant model in urban engineering for the Iranian people.
The second article in the 16th issue is the first section of an article by Marinus Anthony van der Sluijs in the field of mythology and culture. It is titled “The Ins and Outs of Gilgameš’s Passage Through Darkness,” and translated by Alireza Khazaei. In this article, the author analyzes and examines the parts of Gilgamesh’s epic text, his long journey, and the places and geographical locations he has visited. The article also compares Gilgamesh and Alexander, listing examples of Alexander Romances (Eskandar-nāmehs) and examining Alexander’s legendary march. Additionally, the author explores the impact of Gilgamesh and his journey on the epics of other nations, providing examples from around the world.
The third piece in the 16th issue is an essay by Mani Ziari in the field of culture and history titled “The Flagged Tomb.” In this essay, the author defines myth based on the opinions of Mehrdad Bahar and also discusses the importance of building tombs and sepulchers for heroes. Furthermore, the author describes the history of Kaveh Ahangar (Kaveh the Blacksmith) and his place in the epic of Iranians. Additionally, the characteristics of a tomb attributed to Kaveh Ahangar in the city of Mashhad-e Kaveh in Isfahan are introduced and described.
The fourth article in the 16th issue is by Hooyar Asadian and focuses on culture and art. The title of the article is “Atmosphere and Place in the Hero’s Transition.” In this piece, the author explores Joseph Campbell’s ideas in the book The Hero with a Thousand Faces and discusses the three stages that Campbell identifies in the hero’s journey. By referencing literature and cinema from Iran and around the world, the author illustrates the pattern of the hero’s journey in these works and examines the influence of atmosphere and place on the hero’s journey, as well as on the hero’s development and stability.
The fifth article in the 16th issue is written by Maryam Amiri and Ali Gharghi. It focuses on architecture and visual arts and is titled “The Mirror’s Labyrinth.” The authors begin by discussing different types of labyrinths and their significance in Western culture. They then delve into the role of mirrors in Iranian culture, particularly the mirrorwork in the Safavid and Qajar eras. The authors compare mirrorwork to labyrinths and link it to the concept of a perfect human being, drawing from the theory of Aziz al-Din Nasafi. They further analyze how the art of mirrorwork contributed to the hero concept in Safavid society.
Amir Hossein Moghtadaei authored the sixth article in the field of architecture titled “Both Aging Old and Youthful New.” The article provides a description of the historical course of the city of Isfahan, from its foundation to the decline of the Mongols and its reconstruction until the Safavid era. It also examines the city’s place in history and the words of poets. The author explains the conditions of the Safavid era and the actions of the first kings of this dynasty in the development of Tabriz and Qazvin, as well as the re-choosing of Isfahan as the capital by Shah Abbas. Furthermore, the article explores the actions of Shah Abbas in Isfahan and the rebuilding of the city, highlighting the importance of how Isfahan became a hero-city and the superior of Iranian cities under an ideal king.
The seventh article of the 16th issue is by Marzieh Athari Nikazm in the field of visual arts and photography with the title “Heroic Action in the Atmosphere of Crisis.” In this article, by focusing on the important place of photography in today’s world, the author examines the photo collection “Covid-19 Crisis” by Morteza Nikoubazl from the perspective of semantic-semiotics and the position of the photographer as an actor or hero in the creation of this collection.
The eighth piece in the 16th issue is titled “The Hero, the Meaning, and the Atmosphere” and features an interview with Farhad Tohidi. It is conducted by Faegheh Tabrizi and is in the field of cinema and screenwriting. This is the second part of the interview, which was initially published in the 15th issue of Tabl. The conversation in this issue revolves around the theme of creating a heroic atmosphere in the screenplay and the role and impact of tools such as mise-en-scène and dialogue. Through citing examples from Iranian and world cinema, the discussion examines the effect of the atmosphere on the hero and the hero’s influence on the atmosphere.
The ninth piece in the 16th issue is “Three Metropolises, Three Heroes,” written by Alexander Ovanesian and focuses on world cinema. In this article, the author explores how the city and its architecture are presented in films from Russian, Brazilian, and German cinema, specifically focusing on Moscow, Sao Paulo, and Berlin. Ovanesian analyzes the historical and social context to portray the city as a hero in cinematic works.