Muslim Identity in 21st Century America: Ayad Akhtar's Works as Autobiography

Authors

  • Saljooq Asif

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6017/eurj.v11i1.8819

Keywords:

humanities, drama, 9/11, Muslims Americans, Akhtar, Spring 2015

Abstract

Recipient of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Ayad Akhtar has been lauded as the de facto voice of the American Muslim in theatre and literature. Akhtar, A Pakistani American, claims that all of his works are inspired by his life and personal experiences; they are, he admits, a form of autobiography. In a post-9/11 world, however, where the position of Muslims in the United States has become increasingly scrutinized, Akhtar’s works purposely play upon American fears and anxiety in regard to Islam. Indeed, Akhtar’s works rely heavily on Muslim stereotypes in order to unsettle American audiences and gain artistic recognition. By doing so, Akhtar not only continues the clichéd depiction of Muslims in American media, but also upholds Stephen Spender’s theory on autobiography: that the perspective of the autobiographer, his Self, is forever forced to submit to that of society, the Other.

Author Biography

Saljooq Asif

Saljooq Asif is a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, majoring in Biology and English. A member of the Arts & Sciences Honors Program, he is also a science editor for Elements. His writing has appeared in both The Heights, the independent student newspaper of Boston College, and Dianoia, the undergraduate philosophy journal of Boston College. Asif’s article was written for Professor Susan Michalczyk’s senior Honors seminar, Autobiographical Novel/Memoir, which focused on the autobiographical genre in literature and film. He would like to thank Professor Susan Michalczyk for her creative guidance, as well as Professor Ronan Noone for introducing him to Ayad Akhtar’s work.

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Published

2015-04-01

How to Cite

Asif, S. (2015). Muslim Identity in 21st Century America: Ayad Akhtar’s Works as Autobiography. Elements, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.6017/eurj.v11i1.8819

Issue

Section

Articles