A Comparative Study of the Origins, Themes, and Functions of the Iranian Blackface and the American Minstrel Show

The present article investigates the origins, themes, and cultural functions of the Iranian blackface and the American minstrel show according to theories put forward by Steven Tötösy and Claudia Guillén in comparative studies. Accordingly, issues and characteristics such as the blackened face, wit, parody, accent mockery, racism, dance and music, as well as socio-cultural and political satire within both cultures have been compared and contrasted. The researchers believe that despite the common African roots of the black figure in the subgenres of blackface and minstrel show and ridiculing the black in both kinds of the plays under study, the black’s position and function in the Iranian blackface are totally different from the American counterpart; that is itself due to the different socio-cultural background of these two subgenres. Moreover, despite their many similarities, the Iranian blackface has a culturally satirical function while the American minstrel is of a racist nature.