Text Reading Forum 22: Transformations of the Saudi Literary Scene
The Jeddah Literary and Cultural Club continues its prominent activities through the 22nd Text Reading Forum, which holds its sessions with a deep critical and research presentation that reflects the transformations of the Saudi literary scene in light of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The forum reviews a number of pivotal issues that highlight the diversity of creative experiences and their continuous interaction with contemporary cultural changes, making it a leading platform for the exchange of ideas and visions between critics and writers.
The historical roots of the cultural scene and the establishment of the Text Reading Forum 22
The Jeddah Literary and Cultural Club, which is hosting the 22nd Reading the Text Forum, is one of the oldest cultural institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Founded in the mid-1970s, it serves as a beacon of intellectual enlightenment. Since its inception over two decades ago, the Reading the Text Forum has undertaken the mission of documenting and analyzing the transformations occurring in Saudi literature. Throughout its long history, the forum has formed a bridge connecting successive generations of writers and a critical laboratory where the latest literary theories are presented and applied to local texts, thus enriching the Arabic library with dozens of insightful research papers and studies that document the journey of creativity in the Kingdom.
Transformations of the art of haiku in contemporary Saudi literature
The first session on the second day of the forum highlighted the evolution of haiku in the Kingdom, as a modern poetic form still in its formative stages. This art form is influenced by multiple trends, ranging from imitating the original Japanese model in its early stages to serious attempts to adapt it to the local environment by modifying language and using Saudi cultural symbols. The discussions emphasized two complementary paths that have contributed to the establishment of this art: one creative, concerned with shaping a new poetic sensibility, and the other theoretical, seeking to ground it within its Arab and local cultural context.
Representations of place and the image of leadership in poetic discourse
The sessions discussed the representations of place in Saudi literature, as an active existential element in shaping human experience. Place emerged in poetic texts as a repository of memory and a space for emotional dialogue, particularly in works that evoke the deep connection between people and their homeland through a discourse that blends nostalgia and pride, reshaping the connection to place in a poetic form that transcends traditional approaches. One paper also addressed the image of leadership in contemporary Saudi poetry, noting a significant shift in the representation of the leader; from the traditional image associated with direct praise to a modern symbolic construct reflecting concepts of renaissance, development, and future vision, in harmony with the cultural and social transformations taking place in the Kingdom under Vision 2030.
Literature in the digital age: A qualitative transformation
In the same vein, the session explored the transformations that have occurred in the dissemination of literary content within the digital environment. Discussions revealed that literary texts are no longer measured solely by their aesthetic value, but have become subject to a system of influence strategies imposed by social media platforms. These strategies encompass elements of interaction, appeal, prestige, and social values, reflecting literature's shift to more dynamic and impactful digital spaces.
The regional and international impact of the 22nd Text Reading Forum
The significance of the 22nd Reading the Text Forum extends far beyond the local sphere, encompassing a broad regional and international impact. Regionally, the forum reinforces the Kingdom's position as a capital of Arab culture, attracting researchers and critics from across the Arab world to exchange perspectives on the intersections of Saudi literature with its Arab counterparts. Internationally, translating the forum's outcomes and highlighting contemporary literary forms, such as the interaction of Saudi literature with the global art of haiku and digitalization, contributes to exporting Saudi culture to the world. This openness aligns perfectly with the goals of Vision 2030, which seeks to build a vibrant society and a thriving economy based on soft power and culture as fundamental pillars of global human interaction.
The outcomes of the closing session confirmed that Saudi literature is witnessing a qualitative transformation, in which creative forms intersect with cultural and technological transformations, thus enhancing its presence in the cultural scene and keeping pace with the aspirations of the next stage, within a renewed knowledge environment that supports creativity and expands its horizons.
