Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Seminar Series: Lucy Deacon In brief Speaker - Dr Lucy Deacon (University of Edinburgh) Title - From Rural Pitched Battle to Grand Royal Spectacle: The Story of the Iranian Ta'ziyeh Tradition Abstract by Lucy Deacon Famed as the only indigenous dramatic form to have emerged in the Islamic world, the Iranian tradition of taʿziyeh-khānī commemorates the martyrdoms of Imam Husain and his companions at Karbala (61AH/680 CE). But more than this, it has acted as repository for popular wisdom relating to Shi’ism’s sacred figures, conserved much Persian folklore and — through its embodied form — affords its audience a sense of proximity to the divine. Until recently, the dominant scholarly theory regarding the emergence of this genre understood it to be the result of the fusion of other, particular, Muḥarram rituals that had taken place during the mid-18th century CE. Its unique stylistics, and relative sophistication were attributed to the elite patronage that it enjoyed during the Qajar period. Evidence that has recently come to light calls much of this into question. This paper offers a revisionist take on the taʿziyeh tradition’s genesis and the networks involved in its development. About the speaker Dr Lucy Deacon is a Post-Doctoral Fellow based between the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Research Collections and Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities. Her PhD, with thesis entitled ‘Retelling Karbala: A Literary Analysis of Key Plays of the Iranian Taʿziyeh Repertoire,’ was awarded by the University of Edinburgh in 2022. Her research on the taʿziyeh combines fieldwork with the examination of historical scripts, many of which are in manuscript form. She has worked extensively with the Cerulli Collection held by the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana. Before entering the field of Persian Studies, she was a performing arts professional About the seminar series Each semester, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES) welcomes a fantastic range of guest speakers, PhD students and colleagues from across the University to present an evening seminar on their research. In the spring semester of the 2022 to 2023 academic year, the overall theme is 'Persian Narratives'. Topics include Persian, Iranian, and Arabic folklore, literature, poetry, traditions, and political structures. All seminars will be followed by a Q&A and wine reception. How to join Events are free and everyone is welcome. No booking is required for this seminar. Are you interested in studying with us? We are the only university in Scotland to offer courses in the Muslim world's three main languages, placing Arabic, Persian and Turkish in the context of history, literature, culture, religion and politics, past and present. Choose from a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including PhD programmes. Find out more about Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh Feb 27 2023 17.15 - 18.15 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Seminar Series: Lucy Deacon Join us in person for a seminar by Dr Lucy Deacon (University of Edinburgh) on the story of the Iranian tradition ta'ziyeh. Project Room 1.06 50 George Square EH8 9LH Edinburgh Find the venue: 50 George Square
Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Seminar Series: Lucy Deacon In brief Speaker - Dr Lucy Deacon (University of Edinburgh) Title - From Rural Pitched Battle to Grand Royal Spectacle: The Story of the Iranian Ta'ziyeh Tradition Abstract by Lucy Deacon Famed as the only indigenous dramatic form to have emerged in the Islamic world, the Iranian tradition of taʿziyeh-khānī commemorates the martyrdoms of Imam Husain and his companions at Karbala (61AH/680 CE). But more than this, it has acted as repository for popular wisdom relating to Shi’ism’s sacred figures, conserved much Persian folklore and — through its embodied form — affords its audience a sense of proximity to the divine. Until recently, the dominant scholarly theory regarding the emergence of this genre understood it to be the result of the fusion of other, particular, Muḥarram rituals that had taken place during the mid-18th century CE. Its unique stylistics, and relative sophistication were attributed to the elite patronage that it enjoyed during the Qajar period. Evidence that has recently come to light calls much of this into question. This paper offers a revisionist take on the taʿziyeh tradition’s genesis and the networks involved in its development. About the speaker Dr Lucy Deacon is a Post-Doctoral Fellow based between the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Research Collections and Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities. Her PhD, with thesis entitled ‘Retelling Karbala: A Literary Analysis of Key Plays of the Iranian Taʿziyeh Repertoire,’ was awarded by the University of Edinburgh in 2022. Her research on the taʿziyeh combines fieldwork with the examination of historical scripts, many of which are in manuscript form. She has worked extensively with the Cerulli Collection held by the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana. Before entering the field of Persian Studies, she was a performing arts professional About the seminar series Each semester, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES) welcomes a fantastic range of guest speakers, PhD students and colleagues from across the University to present an evening seminar on their research. In the spring semester of the 2022 to 2023 academic year, the overall theme is 'Persian Narratives'. Topics include Persian, Iranian, and Arabic folklore, literature, poetry, traditions, and political structures. All seminars will be followed by a Q&A and wine reception. How to join Events are free and everyone is welcome. No booking is required for this seminar. Are you interested in studying with us? We are the only university in Scotland to offer courses in the Muslim world's three main languages, placing Arabic, Persian and Turkish in the context of history, literature, culture, religion and politics, past and present. Choose from a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including PhD programmes. Find out more about Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh Feb 27 2023 17.15 - 18.15 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Seminar Series: Lucy Deacon Join us in person for a seminar by Dr Lucy Deacon (University of Edinburgh) on the story of the Iranian tradition ta'ziyeh. Project Room 1.06 50 George Square EH8 9LH Edinburgh Find the venue: 50 George Square
Feb 27 2023 17.15 - 18.15 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Seminar Series: Lucy Deacon Join us in person for a seminar by Dr Lucy Deacon (University of Edinburgh) on the story of the Iranian tradition ta'ziyeh.
