This paper aims to propose a model for interpreting and understanding the cultural worlds represented in a dramatic play text. The qualitative method which this study captures as a hermeneutic understanding process is utilised to explicate how folkism and hermeneutics work in play analysis and how both can be used in analysing and understanding the culture embedded in dramatic play texts.
In the humanities, interpretative tools in research are a means to an end, and are often deployed as keys to analysing works. As such, exploring how analysis is carried out in a dramatic play text is paramount in theatre studies. However, there seem to be a dearth of theories that can be used in interpreting and analysing play texts which document cultural nuances in theatre studies. It is a known fact that in every dramatic play text, characters are represented in action often within a cultural setting; as such, interpretation and analysis requires readers to dig into the dialogue in order to uncover the cultural world inherent in the play by paying rapt attention to context. This is with a view to interpreting and understanding the concerns of the folk as captured in a play.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Interplay between Dramatic Play Texts and Folkism
3. Philosophy
4. Moral
5. Values
6. Hermeneutics
7. Folk-hermeneutics as an Interpretative Tool
8. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper aims to establish a conceptual foundation for analyzing dramatic play texts by proposing a model that fuses folkism and hermeneutics, enabling a deeper understanding of the cultural worlds documented in theatrical works. Utilizing a qualitative hermeneutic approach, the study investigates how traditional cultural elements—such as philosophy, morals, and values—can be interpreted within the textual and historical contexts of Nigerian drama to bridge the gap between traditional storytelling and modern literary theatre.
- Theoretical integration of Folkism and Hermeneutics in play analysis
- Exploration of indigenous cultural elements in Nigerian drama
- Methodological guidelines for contextual text interpretation
- Interpretation of philosophy, morals, and values as core analytical tools
- Historical and cultural situatedness of dramatic dialogues
Excerpt from the Book
Folk-hermeneutics as an Interpretative Tool
The term Folk- hermeneutics is coined from the combination of folkism and hermeneutics. The term folk can be interpreted as the traditional art or culture of a people in a community or nation. It is the sum total of a people’s works that express in objective form their highest beliefs, values, and hopes—it embraces what they believe, how they behave, and what they possess. They view their culture as part of a continuing relationship between people and their heritage. Following this understanding, the culture of a folk comprises traditional practices, knowledge and the ways of life that are unique to particular people. These systems of knowledge may have evolved over many years and are uniquely bound up with indigenous peoples’ customs, beliefs, traditions, land and resources and are often captured by playwrights in their works.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter outlines the research goal of creating a conceptual framework by fusing folkism and hermeneutics to better analyze dramatic play texts.
The Interplay between Dramatic Play Texts and Folkism: This section explores how Nigerian playwrights capture indigenous cultural setting and society, highlighting the challenge of interpreting minimal descriptions in play scripts.
Philosophy: This chapter defines the role of philosophy in culture as a catalyst for progress and a tool for questioning established practices, proposing its use as an analytical yardstick for play texts.
Moral: This section explains how indigenous lessons and over-arching teachings within a play are interpreted to understand a society's standards of right and acceptable behavior.
Values: This chapter discusses values as core societal principles that guide behavior, emphasizing their importance as analytical elements when evaluating dramatic literature.
Hermeneutics: This chapter provides an overview of hermeneutics as a theory of interpretation, specifically focusing on the contributions of Hans Gadamer and the concept of the "fusion of horizons."
Folk-hermeneutics as an Interpretative Tool: This section formalizes the proposed methodology, outlining specific steps like observation, interpretation, and correlation to analyze cultural nuances in play texts.
Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the research, confirming that the developed folk-hermeneutic framework serves as a relevant tool for high-quality analysis in theatre studies.
Keywords
Folkism, Hermeneutics, Folk-hermeneutics, Dramatic play texts, Nigerian theatre, Cultural nuances, Indigenous elements, Philosophy, Moral, Values, Textual analysis, Contextual interpretation, Dramaturgy, African literature, Dialogue
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research?
The research focuses on the process of analyzing dramatic play texts, specifically looking for ways to better understand the cultural worlds embedded within them through the fusion of two specific philosophies: folkism and hermeneutics.
What are the central thematic fields?
The central themes include the interplay between drama and culture, the interpretation of indigenous elements like folklore and proverbs, and the development of analytical frameworks that respect the African context of the plays.
What is the primary aim or research question?
The primary aim is to contribute to a better conceptual understanding of how folkism and hermeneutics can be combined to create a mutually enriching analysis of play texts that document specific cultural nuances.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The study employs a qualitative method, characterized as a hermeneutic understanding process, to explicate how folkism can be treated as a theory and applied as a practical tool for theatre research.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main sections cover the definition and interplay of folkism and dramatic texts, the philosophical and moral foundations of indigenous cultures, the evolution of hermeneutics, and a step-by-step methodology for applying folk-hermeneutics.
What keywords characterize the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Folkism, Hermeneutics, Cultural Nuances, African Theatre, and Contextual Analysis.
How is the term 'Folkism' defined in the context of the paper?
Folkism is defined as an indigenous dramatic aesthetic principle coined by Sam Ukala, aimed at basing literary plays on the history, culture, and concerns of the folk, using African conventions for composition and performance.
What step-by-step guide is proposed for interpreting dialogue?
The paper proposes a guide consisting of thoroughly reading the text, identifying cultural elements, searching for clues, consulting the historical context, arriving at an interpretation, and accurately applying that understanding to the play text.
Why does the research emphasize the 'dialogical context'?
The dialogical context is emphasized because it connects the dialogue with the surrounding culture, history, and geographical environment, which are essential for filling the information gaps often present in play scripts.
Why should Nigerian plays not be judged strictly by Western canons?
The paper argues that Nigerian plays contain unique indigenous elements; therefore, they should be judged using tools that acknowledge their local aesthetics, philosophy, and values rather than strictly traditional Western literary standards.
- Quote paper
- Ihuoma Okorie (Author), 2022, The Use of Folk-Hermeneutics in Analysing Dramatic Play Texts, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1248216
