Georgian Drama within the Matrix of European Drama (On Irma Ratiani’s Book – “Poetics of Drama with Georgian Accent”)

Abstract

The article discusses Irma Ratiani’s monograph “Poetics of Drama with a Georgian Accent,” which makes a significant contribution to the theoretical understanding of Georgian drama. The work reviews the development of Western dramatic theory and, in this context, highlights the uniqueness of Georgian drama. The author emphasizes that Georgian drama, moving beyond its local context, has entered the transnational cultural space and become an organic part of the European dramatic tradition.

The monograph provides in-depth analysis of Georgian dramatic texts – such as those by Aleksandre Qazbegi, Ilia Chavchavadze, and Konstantine Gamsakhurdia – through the lens of global theoretical and philosophical frameworks. The study demonstrates how drama serves as a tool for social and cultural analysis and shows how Georgian theatre reflects the country's historical, political, and identity-related issues.

The work introduces new terms, including “dramatic prose” and “Georgian social comedy,” which open up *new directions for literary research. The author also examines Soviet absurdism as a unique phenomenon distinct from Western models – not just as a philosophical experiment, but as a form of social and political critique.