Hamid Reza Azarang, a prominent actor and director, expressed concern behind the scenes of the play 'Cyrus' about the existing abuses of this historical figure's name, saying: 'We talk about Cyrus, but how loyal are we to his ideas!?' His comments sparked many reactions among the audience.
Criticism of the Appropriation of Cyrus's Name
Azarang pointed out that in our country, Cyrus is not remembered with pride, emphasizing that he is only acknowledged in specific instances when his name becomes a tool for profit. He stated: 'Cyrus is a reminder of a historical thought that still has something to say. Perhaps if we learned a bit from him and his thinking, we wouldn't witness this level of collective anger in society today.'
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Social Abuses
Azarang further noted that in many cases, individuals and institutions use Cyrus's name as a tool for attracting attention or personal gain. He expressed that this situation can be interpreted as a form of disloyalty to the history that Cyrus represents, asking: 'Do we praise Cyrus or do we just use his name?'
These remarks from Azarang clearly reflect his deep concern about the cultural and social situation in the country. He emphasized the importance of learning from Cyrus's ideas and pointed to the necessity of changing society's approach to historical figures. According to him, if we remain loyal to Cyrus's ideas, we might be able to reduce the anger and despair that exists among the people.
In this context, Azarang referred to the role of art and theater in conveying cultural and historical concepts and emphasized the importance of artistic works in strengthening cultural understanding. He said: 'Plays and artistic works can be bridges for connecting with history and great ideas and help us learn from the past.'
These statements and concerns from Azarang once again highlight the need for a reevaluation of culture and national identity. In today's world, where many values and norms are changing, revisiting history and its great figures can help us better face our social and cultural challenges.
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