A Corpus-Based Analysis of Richard Foreman’s Nietzschean Play Bad Boy Nietzsche Through Zoltán Kövecses’s Conceptual Metaphor Theory

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty Member, Department of Theatre, Faculty of Art, Soore University, Tehran

2 Student of Theatre Directing, Faculty of Cinema and Theatre, University of Art, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

This study analyzes Richard Foreman’s postdramatic play Bad Boy Nietzsche through Zoltán Kövecses’s conceptual metaphor theory to uncover its multilayered meanings beyond linear narrative and dialogue. Using a descriptive- analytical method, data were collected from performance observation and textual comparison between the script and the staged version, leading to a reconstructed performance text. Employing a corpus-based approach with LancsBox and Voyant software, the analysis identified frequent words, collocational patterns, and key semantic structures. Thematic and semiotic examinations revealed dominant metaphors such as “identity as object, ” “ language as prison, ” and “ life as a critical journey,” which organized the performance’s visual, auditory, and kinetic elements and expressed themes of identity crisis, isolation, desire repression, and symbolic violence. The findings demonstrate that Kövecses’s framework , integrated with data- driven linguistic analysis , effectively interprets the semantic architecture of postmodern performances, offering valuable insights for scholars and theatre practitioners exploring deeper layers of meaning .

Keywords

Main Subjects

Linguistic Studies: Theory and Practice

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 02 June 2026

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History

  • Receive Date: 06 October 2025
  • Revise Date: 17 February 2026
  • Accept Date: 02 June 2026

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