Investigating the Notion of : beyond the zone of comfort catharsis and probing the concept of pain in Howard Barker's ”Blok Eko” and Sarah Kane's “4. 48 psychosis”

Abstract EN

The objective of this paper is to take us on a journey with an odd selection of two enigmatic and controversial British playwrights – Howard Barker and Sarah Kane – whose challenging theatrical works take us well beyond the zone of comfort we might be used to.

Through a close textual analysis and a substantial critical evaluation of two crucial productions from the domain of their 'alien to our conception' of dramatic art, the present paper aims at going beyond just surveying their common shock tactics, showing parallels, or pointing out elements of recurrence in their texts.

The aim is to get to the bottom of their experiential theatres by considering their transcendental tragic visions for a better exploration of reality and for a possible rebirth of the individual experience.

Having explored the dark rooms of Barker's and Kane's self-styled theatres, particularly in their two significant dramatic works – 'Blok/Eko' and '4.48 Psychosis' respectively, the present study discerns that there is a noticeable intent and craft behind both playwrights' crafty 'violations' of the audience's personal space and comfort zones.

Barker's and Kane's extremism is part of their attempt to question and criticize the audience's passive participation, foreground an awakening to extreme realities, propose a shift from or challenge to Aristotle's traditional concept of catharsis, and call into question our accepted interpretation of pain.