LRC Presentations Fascinate Audience
On April 18, 2018, the Language Research Center at King Khalid University hosted a thought-provoking seminar featuring two presentations. The first, "The Concept of Poetry: T.S. Eliot versus I.A. Richards" was delivered by Dr. Manoj Kumar. The second, "Re-appropriating Magical Realism in Arabic Narratives," was presented by Dr. Mahmoud Radwan.
Dr. Kumar's presentation revolved around the contrasting views of T.S. Eliot and I.A. Richards on the concept of poetry. He began by discussing the etymology of 'poetry,' derived from the Greek word 'poiesis,' meaning 'making.' He then delved into the various aspects of poetry, such as forms, genres, and compositions. Dr. Kumar further detailed Eliot's classicism and theories of impersonality, juxtaposing them with Richards' literary criticism theories. He highlighted how both Eliot and Richards contributed to understanding the language of poetry despite their differing perspectives, concluding that both figures hold esteemed places in the realm of poetry and criticism.
Dr. Radwan's presentation explored the adoption of Magical Realism within Arabic narratives. He explained that the term, originally coined by Franz Roh in 1925, refers to the merging and blurring of boundaries between elements of realism and fantasy. According to Dr. Radwan, marginalized native writers often employ Magical Realism as a tool to dismantle dominant cultural paradigms and represent their suppressed narratives. This writing style has been adopted by renowned Arab writers such as Naguib Mahfouz, Ghairi Shalabi, Edwar Al-Kharrat, Emile Habibi, Ibrahim Al Kuni, and Ghadah Al Samman. Dr. Radwan concluded that in embracing Magical Realism, the act of writing becomes an act of survival, casting light on elements of Arab culture, tradition, and reality that risk being forgotten.
The seminar was deemed highly successful, with both presentations sparking insightful discussions on these compelling topics in literary studies.
