Gestural Politics

By: Qayyum, Rabia

In an era where spoken language has been manipulated and stripped of its integrity, Pakistani playwright Usman Ali emerges as a powerful voice of resistance through his masterful use of non-verbal communication. This book examines Ali's plays The Guilt and The Last Metaphor, uncovering how gestures, facial expressions, dance, and simulacra become potent tools for political and social critique. Drawing on the semiotic theories of C. S. Peirce, Roland Barthes, and Umberto Eco, the book explores how Ali's characters transcend the limitations of verbal expression to confront the systemic silencing imposed by society. Where corrupt social system curtails the liberty of expression through spoken language and enforces a system of mental dumbness, gestures become a new mode of expression - a visual language of truth and defiance. Through careful analysis, this work reveals how Ali's theatre reclaims communication as a liberating force, offering vital insights for scholars of drama, semiotics, and political discourse. It is an essential contribution to understanding the revolutionary potential of gestural politics in contemporary theatre.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 6207998154
• ISBN13: 9786207998159
• Release Date: July 2025
• Publisher: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"