Artistic Ecology in Theatrical Performance Discourse: "In the Heart of the Action" as a Case

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the manifestations of artistic ecology in theatrical performance discourse, viewing it as an aesthetic and interactive system founded on a network of reciprocal relationships among the actor, the theatrical space, scenographic elements, external effects, and the audience. The research proceeds from the perspective that theatrical performance is a living structure whose meanings are formed through the continuous interaction among its components, such that no element functions independently of the others; rather, each contributes to the production of meaning and the formulation of the aesthetic structure of the performance. In this context, performance discourse transcends the boundaries of traditional expression to reformulate its elements into multiple performative and scenic forms capable of constructing an effective communicative system with the audience and enriching the theatrical experience through the renewed aesthetic and semantic relationships it produces.The research adopted the descriptive-analytical method and consisted of four chapters. The first chapter addressed the research problem, its significance, objectives, and limitations. The research problem was represented by the following question: How is artistic ecology manifested in Iraqi theatrical performance, and what is the role of the interaction among its elements in achieving aesthetic unity? The research was limited to theatrical performances presented on the stage of the National Theatre. The chapter concluded with the identification and operational definition of the principal terms.The second chapter addressed the theoretical framework and comprised two sections. The first examined the intellectual and philosophical foundations of artistic ecology, while the second addressed artistic ecology and its manifestations in theatrical directing schools. The chapter concluded by deriving the indicators of the theoretical framework adopted in the practical aspect.The third chapter was devoted to the research procedures, including the identification of the research population and sample, as well as the research instrument adopted for analyzing the study sample. The research concluded in the fourth chapter with a presentation and discussion of the findings reached by the study, the formulation of conclusions, and the inclusion of the list of sources and references .