The binary of the self and the other: Third Space Theory in Ayad Akhtar’s The Who & The What

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-fareast-language:TR">Throughblending of many concepts and connections, the third space is a hub forcreative and multicultural discourse where new and creative ways ofunderstanding are developed. Globalization and hybridity theories are relatedto the third space issue. Increased cultural hybridization and the ensuingeffects of globalization are two of the main causes behind the emergence of thethird space. Ayad Akhtar’s </span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; color: rgb(13, 13, 13); background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">TheWho &amp; The What</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; color: rgb(13, 13, 13); background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"> raisesquestions about assimilation into mainstream American culture versus thepreservation of cultural heritage. This study aims to analyze how charactersnegotiate these tensions and the impact on their sense of self and community.The study also analyzes some other related issues like interpersonalrelationships, identity and belonging, religion and secularism, gender rolesand family dynamics, and Islam and modernity </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">as starting points. The studycontends that these issues either legitimize assimilation or undermine culturalpreservation.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span>