Browsing by Author "Rohani binti Md. Yousoff"

Dramatic literature has been written for various reasons: to entertain, to teach, to win competitions. Dramas have often reflected a part of the playwright and his philosophy on drama. The role of the playwright is multiple and the part he plays is his choice. This dissertation hopes to give several insights to the first playwright to be honoured with the Sasterawan Negara award (1995). Noordin Hassan has made radical changes in modern Malay Literature and Malay theatre. Noordin has chosen to use the medium of theatre in propagation of Islam. Unfortunately this is not evident in all his plays as it is done with subtlety that is not recognized. Often he has been misunderstood due to the lack of understanding of his purpose and interpretation of a truly Islamic perceptive on life. Certain facts about him have been distorted and need to be corrected. This dissertation hopes to discover Noordin’s use of the theatre in da'wah of Islam. It shall explore the subtle injection of propagation in the text and sub-text of two of his plays. The theatre as a form of entertainment has been cleverly used by Noordin as a platform for a larger purpose. In accordance with the IIUM’s concern with Islamic perspectives in Western literature, this dissertation is looking at a Malay playwright who has managed to merge socio-cultural issues with religion effectively. It hopes to unveil his purpose, which is universal in its message through the choices he has made as seen in the characters, situations and plots of two plays. As his works are barely known in the English writing circles, this dissertation hopes to highlight Islamic elements in dramatic works by a Malaysian writer to an international level. The dissertation shall begin with his background: his origin, education and the influences on his life that have contributed to ideas for the plays. Analysis of the texts shall reveal the sources of his ideas and inspiration to reveal the soul of a most prolific Islamic playwright. Noordin Hassan’s sound religious background, his rich cultural heritage as well as his Western exposure in the field of education and the arts serves as a support base for his plays. This dissertation hopes to address the importance of an Islamic purpose and its use in the form of theatre as a more receptive mode of da'wah with Westernized Muslims of today .