Volume 7-6 October 2011.

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Title
Use of Myth(s) in Postmodern American Drama
Case Study: the Plays of Sam Shepard

Author

Rajabali Askarzadeh Torghabeh, (Ph.D.)
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

Biodata
Rajabali Askarzadeh Torghabeh, holds a Ph.D. in English language and literature. He is a faculty member at department of English, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. He has published numerous articles in national and international conferences in the areas of English language and literature.

Abstract

Sam Shepard from his early plays onwards, understood the power of myths and used them in his plays. He believed that “myth speaks to everything at once, especially the emotion”. In his early plays, Shepard uses American myth of the Frontier and myth of Old Time Cowboys. He believes there is “more mystery” in this kind of friendship, cowboy characters are the ideal ones. In his other plays, he uses social myths, national myths and ancient Roman and Greek myths. He not only uses all these myths in his plays but also re-invents and transforms them in the notion of post modern myths. 

Keywords:  Myth, Postmodernism, Drama, Sam Shepard.