Review by Arite Seki -- Divided World by Kenneth Pickering
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Arite Seki
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Review by Arite Seki -- Divided World by Kenneth Pickering
[Following is a volunteer review of "Divided World" by Kenneth Pickering.]
Two of my favourite things, history and theatre, are combined in Divided World by Kenneth Pickering. It is a collection of plays intended to shine a light on the “occupation and dispossession” in the Middle East. The collection makes use of satire and metaphorical speech to provide a focal point on how foreign forces have influenced and warped politics and social climates in the Middle East. Some of the plays are based on factual events that took place, such as the ‘Sykes-Picot’ agreement which saw the division of “territories and ancient nations of the Middle East” between France and Britain.
The plays delve into various topics such as what it’s like growing up as a white-passing Arab in England and the hopelessness of those left behind. In one of the plays, the character narrates the tale of her father’s pain at seeing sacred artefacts that belong to his people in a British museum and how he feels that they, like himself, “do not belong” there.
I give Divided World a 4 out of 4 stars rating. It is well-edited, with clear and powerful imagery. I find that most forms of art are a particularly effective way to raise awareness about an issue. The plays allow us to see how the day-to-day lives of those living in the Middle East are affected. This is done by providing specific examples and stories. One thing that stuck out was the desperation that seemed to resonate throughout the character’s lives and dialogues. We get the sense that they feel trapped and even the lucky few who manage to escape feel out of place where they end up.
What I liked most about Divided World was how real the stories felt. While some were based on true stories, even the ones that weren’t still felt as though it was a real account of someone’s life. The line “we are the saviours of Syria, protectors of Palestine” stood out for me, as it highlights just how the external forces saw themselves. As much as the plays give context to how the interference of foreign forces cultivated the ideal climate for long-term political unrest, they also showed how this affects those in our current day and age, making it particularly relevant. There was nothing that I disliked, and I found this collection to be particularly memorable.
I would recommend this collection of plays to anyone interested in theatre and history. Those who are not well-acquainted with plays could still find this to be a good place to start. Most of the plays are short, and it is a relatively quick read overall. I would not recommend this to a young audience due to the use of vulgar and offensive language, as well as the presence of sensitive and mature subject matter such as rape and death.
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Divided World
View: on Bookshelves
Two of my favourite things, history and theatre, are combined in Divided World by Kenneth Pickering. It is a collection of plays intended to shine a light on the “occupation and dispossession” in the Middle East. The collection makes use of satire and metaphorical speech to provide a focal point on how foreign forces have influenced and warped politics and social climates in the Middle East. Some of the plays are based on factual events that took place, such as the ‘Sykes-Picot’ agreement which saw the division of “territories and ancient nations of the Middle East” between France and Britain.
The plays delve into various topics such as what it’s like growing up as a white-passing Arab in England and the hopelessness of those left behind. In one of the plays, the character narrates the tale of her father’s pain at seeing sacred artefacts that belong to his people in a British museum and how he feels that they, like himself, “do not belong” there.
I give Divided World a 4 out of 4 stars rating. It is well-edited, with clear and powerful imagery. I find that most forms of art are a particularly effective way to raise awareness about an issue. The plays allow us to see how the day-to-day lives of those living in the Middle East are affected. This is done by providing specific examples and stories. One thing that stuck out was the desperation that seemed to resonate throughout the character’s lives and dialogues. We get the sense that they feel trapped and even the lucky few who manage to escape feel out of place where they end up.
What I liked most about Divided World was how real the stories felt. While some were based on true stories, even the ones that weren’t still felt as though it was a real account of someone’s life. The line “we are the saviours of Syria, protectors of Palestine” stood out for me, as it highlights just how the external forces saw themselves. As much as the plays give context to how the interference of foreign forces cultivated the ideal climate for long-term political unrest, they also showed how this affects those in our current day and age, making it particularly relevant. There was nothing that I disliked, and I found this collection to be particularly memorable.
I would recommend this collection of plays to anyone interested in theatre and history. Those who are not well-acquainted with plays could still find this to be a good place to start. Most of the plays are short, and it is a relatively quick read overall. I would not recommend this to a young audience due to the use of vulgar and offensive language, as well as the presence of sensitive and mature subject matter such as rape and death.
******
Divided World
View: on Bookshelves
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