Abstract
The 17th issue of Tabl magazine, published in September 2024, contains seven articles and one interview.
The first article of the 17th issue is written by Mehrak Ali Sabounchi and focuses on mythology and culture. The article is titled “The Whole World is the Body and Iran is the Heart.” In this piece, the author explores the significance of the Iranian homeland and the origins of Iranian mythology by referencing ancient Iranian texts, particularly the Vendidad. The article delves into the Iranian worldview, starting with an examination of the world’s geography in Iranian mythological thought based on Bundahishn. It also discusses the place of Iran in this geography to understand how ancient Iranians perceived the position of their homeland in the world. Additionally, the article examines Shapurshah’s inscription in Naqsh-e Rostam, the treatise “The Provincial Capitals of Iran,” and other Middle Persian texts to explore the concept of Iranshahr and introduce its territorial divisions.
The second piece in the 17th issue is the second part of Marinus Anthony van der Sluijs’s article on mythology and culture. It is titled “The Ins and Outs of Gilgameš’s Passage Through Darkness,” and it has been translated by Alireza Khazaei. In this piece, the author analyzes Gilgamesh’s journey, the places he visited, and the geographical situations he encountered by referencing parts of the Epic of Gilgamesh. The article also compares Gilgamesh to Alexander and lists examples of Alexander’s Romances (Eskandar-nāmehs), exploring the influence of Gilgamesh on the epics of other nations and providing examples from around the world.
The third piece in the 17th issue is an essay titled “Paris, the Mirror of Souls” by Manu Dercourt in the field of French literature, translated by Shayan Asgari. In this article, the author presents a definition of urban literature by examining the position and representation of Paris in French literature. Then, by using three works of three prominent French writers in the 19th century -Balzac, Flaubert, and Hugo – the author analyzes the influence of Paris and its urban atmosphere on the characters of Eugène de Rastignac in Le Père Goriot, Emma Bovary in Madame Bovary, and Jean Valjean in Les Misérables.
In the fourth article of the 17th issue, Saman Sedighzadeh discusses the impact of theater space on the development of theatrical characters. In his article, “The Hero of the Captured House,” the author drawing on the insights of theorists such as Marvin Carlson, explores how elements such as the theater salon, stage design, and even accessories influence the portrayal of characters. The analysis delves into plays such as Medea and The Wild Duck. Additionally, the article examines the role of memory in shaping audience perceptions and analyzes the interplay between the theater hero, the theater space, and the audience.
The fifth article in the 17th issue is written by Zeinab Golestani. It focuses on visual arts and is titled “In the Unstable Depth of Moments.” In this article, the author explores Behjat Sadr’s abstract art and how she heroically goes beyond the abstract artists of her time by creating abstract space and transforming her desired themes into artistic works. The author uses Michel Collot’s ideas about space and geography to illustrate the characteristics of Sadr’s art.
The sixth piece is an interview with Ahmad Saeidnia, conducted by Amir Hossein Moghtadaei in the field of architecture and urban planning. In this interview titled “The King City,” Saeidnia discusses the concept of the ideal city in Iranian thought by referencing ancient Iranian texts and explaining examples such as War ī Jamkard and Siavashgerd. He also examines the patterns of urban planning in different periods, from the Sassanid to the post-Islamic dynasties, providing examples of outstanding instances and explaining the influence of kings on urban planning. Furthermore, Saeidnia analyzes the significance and impact of Shah Abbas the Great on urban development and the emergence of the new Isfahan.
Nimad M. Azargan discusses the history and architecture in the seventh article of the 17th issue titled “The Sunlight Window.” The author explores the connections of Iranians with ancient customs and traditions, and their influence on the construction of nobles’ and grandees’ tombs after Islam, as well as their architectural style. The article also analyzes the mausoleum towers built in the north of Iran, focusing on the Gonbad-e Qabus tower as an example and discussing how the king’s body was placed in it.
The eighth piece is written by Mehdi Malek about Iranian cinema. The article, titled “The Mayors Put on the Official Shroud,” explores the representation of urban space in Iranian cinema during the 1960s and 1970s. Malek by mentioning several examples of the works of prominent directors discusses the contrast between urban and rural spaces in the cinema of this period. He analyzes the relationship between space, place, and the hero based on the cultural and social context of that time. The author also examines how, in the years leading up to the revolution, this relationship impacts and devours the hero. Additionally, Malek analyzes the formation of three paradigms of urban-paranoid space, nostalgic city, and realism within the context of “different cinema.”