The binary of the self and the other: Third Space Theory in Ayad Akhtar’s The Who & The What

Kalkan F.

10th International KTUDELL Conference on Language, Literature, and Translation, Trabzon, Türkiye, 29 - 30 Mayıs 2025, ss.172-179, (Tam Metin Bildiri)

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Tam Metin Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: Trabzon
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.172-179
  • Atatürk Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Through blending of many concepts and connections, the third space is a hub for creative and multicultural discourse where new and creative ways of understanding are developed. Globalization and hybridity theories are related to the third space issue. Increased cultural hybridization and the ensuing effects of globalization are two of the main causes behind the emergence of the third space. Ayad Akhtar’s The Who & The What raises questions about assimilation into mainstream American culture versus the preservation of cultural heritage. This study aims to analyze how characters negotiate these tensions and the impact on their sense of self and community. The study also analyzes some other related issues like interpersonal relationships, identity and belonging, religion and secularism, gender roles and family dynamics, and Islam and modernity as starting points. The study contends that these issues either legitimize assimilation or undermine cultural preservation.