Abstract
The 18th issue of Tabl Magazine, published in November 2024, features eleven pieces spanning various domains, including ten articles and one interview. This issue centres on the theme of “The Death of the Hero”, exploring its dimensions within mythology, art, philosophy, and psychology.
The first article, titled “Fluctuations in the Hierarchy of Needs and the Death of the Hero” by Hooyar Asadian, offers an interdisciplinary analysis of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey. By comparing these two frameworks, the author demonstrates how human needs and the concept of the hero’s death have evolved across societies. The article argues that the hero’s death is not an end but a stage of evolution and immortality.
The second article, “The Death of the Champion in Suhrawardi’s Narrative; Henry Corbin’s Reading” by Alireza Samani, provides a comparative study of the death of Esfandiyar in Shahnameh and the treatise Aql-e Sorkh. The author examines Corbin’s hermeneutic interpretation, illustrating how he transforms this narrative from an epic battle into a mystical saga.
The third article, “Fear of the Rebellious Feminine Body”, by Mehrnoosh Arzaghi, explores historical and mythological perspectives on the female body. Drawing on examples from myths and artworks, the author illustrates how the female body has been depicted as an unruly and uncontrollable force in discourses of power, morality, and aesthetics.
The fourth article, “The Meaning of Death in Shakespeare’s Hamlet” by Jeffrey Wilson and translated by Sahand Elhami, offers a philosophical analysis of death in the play. The article emphasises that death in Hamlet is not merely an incident but a fundamental question regarding existence and human conscience.
The fifth piece, “Causing the Death of the Hero”, is an interview with Aydin Aghdashloo conducted by Mehrak Ali Sabounchi. Aghdashloo discusses the reinvention of heroism in contemporary art, exploring how the image of the hero disintegrates in modern and postmodern art, while also highlighting the role of heroic imagery in Iran’s art history.
The next article, “Recreating the Radiance of a Lost Soul” by Amir Soghrati, analyses the concepts of loss and immortality in historical and contemporary paintings. The author demonstrates how the portrayal of heroes in art attempts to preserve their presence over time.
The seventh piece, “The Sublime Corporeal on Canvas” by Ali Sabounchi, examines the relationship between corporeality and immortality in painting. The author studies examples from art history to demonstrate how artists have used the human body to represent heroism, vulnerability, or death.
The following article, “The Bent Cypress”, by Erfan Abbasi, explores the concept of “the death of the hero” in Iranian literature and mythology. The author argues that the fate of heroes in ancient narratives oscillates between tragedy and myth.
The ninth piece, “Silent Cities” by Amir Hossein Moghtadaei, investigates abandoned and forgotten cities throughout history, analysing them as symbols of the death of heroes and civilizations.
The next article, “The Interplay of Gaze and Death Awareness” by Sohrab Ahmadi, examines the narrative approach (enunciation) of Alfred Yaghobzadeh in his photographic series on the Iran-Iraq War.
The final piece, “The Revelation of the Hero’s Death Through Celluloid”, by Alexander Ovanessian, examines the portrayal of the hero’s death in world cinema history, with a focus on its impact on cinematic dramas.
Collectively, the 18th issue of Tabl Magazine aims to analyse the concept of “the death of the hero” from multiple angles, exploring its transformations across history, art, mythology, and philosophy.