The exhibition, which lasted nine days (from December 3rd to December 11th) and under the slogan “I read in the time of Beirut”, was the setting up of twenty-six seminars which dealt with various topics, in particular “Al-Arabiya 24/ 24”, “The constitution of Taif between distortion, excision and violation”, “The centenary of Farah Antoun”. And faithful greetings to each of Riyad El-Rayes, Michel Juha, Samah Idris, Melhem Shawul, J. Fanous and Jabbour Al -Duaihy.
The exhibition also featured autograph parties for over two hundred publications in the pavilions of participating publishing houses, which numbered 133 Lebanese houses, as well as Arab participation.
As part of the last day’s activities, a poetry evening entitled “Poetry is the elixir of life” was held, organized by the Shoats of Literature Forum, represented by its chairman, the poet Ismat Hassan, the White Ink Forum represented by its president, Marduk Al-Shami, and the Green Koura Poet Forum, represented by its president, poet Mireille Shehadeh, moderated by Ali Abi Raad.
At the beginning of the symposium, the organizers honored journalist Muhammad Ali Reda Amr, filmmaker and journalist Youssef Raqqa, media activist Ikmal Saif Al-Din and two media figures Claude Soma and Claude Abu Shakra.
Later, Hassan recited two poems from his writings, the first titled “Poetry makes me eat” and the second titled “Lebanon the King”. Shehadeh recited a number of his poems, then Al-Shami recited three of his poems.
A symposium was also held to discuss Dr. Abdul Hadi Muhaisen’s book “A Cultural Dose”, moderated by Dr. Muhammad Qubaisi, Professor Elias Hanna and Dr. Salwa Al-Amin.
Qubeisi introduced the participants, emphasizing that the book “A Cultural dose” is like a dose of water that quenches thirst with its precious information and increases the reader’s knowledge and culture.
In turn, Hanna described the book as an inexhaustible source, in which the writer explained how to promote science among Arabs and Muslims in countries of Islamic expansion, especially the science of algebra and the determination of prayer times, emphasizing the importance of the book objectively list historical facts.
As for Dr. Salwa Al-Amin, she said, “This book is a distinguishing mark between the published written works and the other side in its ups and downs. The author wanted it to be a journey into the world of the Orient and of the West.”
And he continued: “It is a complete book in terms of contents and perspectives on the cultures of the various eras with their writers, intellectuals and poets”.
The writer pointed out that the reason for the book is that it is the fulfillment of a dream he had in the beginning of his youth, as it was his early beginnings due to his interest in learning and reading, indicating that there will come a time when which cultures and sciences will be transmitted from generation to generation.
The conclusion was a symposium entitled: “Problems of Modernity in Arabic Poetry” moderated by Professor Claude Sawma, with the participation of Professor Nariman Alloush, Dr Muhammad Tawfiq Abu Ali, Dr Yousra Bitar and adviser to the Minister of Culture Muhammad Wissam Mortada, Suleiman Alloush.
The symposium began with a speech by Soma, in which he introduced the participants, emphasizing that the phenomenon of modernity has been raised and still is because in its nature it brings with it many contradictions and raises various problems around it.
As for Nariman Alloush, he defined poetry as the dance that weighs its steps without needing two feet.
For his part, Dr. Muhammad Abu Ali stressed that the problems are almost confined to a group that is a term, the reader, the critic, the media and the creator problem, emphasizing the need not to differentiate between the two terms, modernity and contemporary because modernity is the expression that is not affected by time while the contemporary is belonging to which era
In turn, Dr. Yousra Bitar addressed the theme of the Renaissance and its link with thought, modernity and writing, since there is no modernity in the presence of religious and political obstacles.
As for the adviser to the Minister of Culture, Suleiman Alloush, he confirmed that the problems of modernity in our Arab poetry are still under discussion, as they include the poet’s position on existence and society, indicating that the poet is not considered modern at all. unless it goes beyond the structures of time, place and prevailing ideas, because creative modernity is constantly evolving.
