Far Away or Too Close Reading Caryl Churchill s Far Away and Sarah Kane s Blasted with Agamben s Concept of The Camp

Abstract

lays by Caryl Churchill and Sarah Kane epitomize an unflinchingly outspoken criticism of pre-established social parameters not solely via unorthodox dramaturgy but also through radical experimentation and controversial content. This study purports to align Caryl Churchill’s Far Away and Sarah Kane’s Blasted with Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben’s concept of the camp by resorting to a comparative analysis of the plays with scrutiny of their peculiar tenets. The study also refers to Agamben’s state of exception to explicate how fragile peacetime conditions can become in camps where the law is suspended while human brutality and sheer violence emerge. Blasted and Far Away are unique candidates to become timeless theatrical pieces as even more than two decades after their premiere, their strong relevance with our current world events persists, bestowing upon them a unique role of mimetic representation of the twentyfirst-century violence and oppressive political power.