The changing fashions and fortunes of the Arabic language is a strong theme at this year’s book fair. A discussion panel on using animated films to revive Arabic poetry is set to include a 22-year-old media student from Egypt, Nissmah Roshdy, who hopes animated poetry will help young Arabs fall in love with their mother tongue and so reinforce cultural identity.
As part of her graduation project, Roshdy made one of the first animations using Arabic verse, The Dice Player, the last poem written by Mahmoud Darwish, a prominent Palestinian poet and author.
“He uses many similes and metaphors in his writing bringing the picture closer to the readers,” Roshdy says, full of admiration. “We need to find new ways to promote the exquisiteness of the Arabic language, especially to the new generation.”
There are many challenges facing Arab youth, she says and Arabic is not getting the respect it deserves. “Since the era of internet and social networking, the new generation has opened up to the Western world, which is not bad.” However, she argues that many young people struggle to speak their mother tongue fluently. “We need to find new methods to draw their attention.” Animated poetry film is her way to reach the Facebook and Twitter generation.
“We should have broader knowledge of other cultures and be receptive of differences, but one shouldn’t forgo their own identity.”
“Arabic poetry has a renowned reputation in the Arab and Western world,” she says. “My films explain the poem through pictures and moving characters so viewers can feel the emotion expressed by the poet. “
• Meet Nissmah Roshdy, along with the poets Ghayath Almadhoun and Marie Silkeberg, for a discussion on reviving cultural identity, entitled Poetry in Motion, on Saturday at 8.15pm on the Discussion Sofa
aalhameli@thenational.ae