The ‘Place’ in the Play ‘Melody of a Rainy City’ by Akbar Radi: A Semiotic Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Tarbiat Modares University

Abstract

The present research analyzes the location and its relation to the other dramatic elements in the play “Melody of a Rainy City” composed by Akbar Radi using a descriptive-analytic method and place semiotics. The main purpose of this research is to find, classify and dramatically study the most important locational indicators in the given play. This research intends to analyze and examine the location, according to a semiotic approach, in order to show the implicit and explicit relationships between locations and the different dramatic elements such as characterization, action and plot. In order to analyze the location in this play, Verbal localization (stage direction, verbal indicators, dialogue), non-verbal localization (relationships between on-stage and off-stage, relationships between multiple locations in a single locale and in various locales) have been studied based on the ideas of different semioticians who have studied in this field. The results show that location plays an important role in the dramatic structure of “Melody of a Rainy City” and it greatly contributes to develop the dramatic elements. Places in this play can be linked to other elements such as character drama, actions and reactions, and plot.

Keywords