The Israeli radio play: Toward a sociothematic analysis

Abstract

This article offers an outline for a sociothematic analysis of 40 years of radio plays in Hebrew. The examined corpus comprises 1,850 works, both originally radiophonic and adaptations from other media, broadcast by the Israeli Radio‐drama department from 1954 to 1992. Although clearly influenced by European radio drama, Israeli radio plays have nonetheless developed a unique blend of “form and content.” Through a selected number of radio plays, this first of its kind survey offers a thematic approach to the repertoire, in dealing with topics such as the Holocaust, the Arab‐Israeli conflict, and the image of the Israeli‐born “Sabra.”