Monica Ruocco

Telling the real: Literary reportage in contemporary Arabic literature

Introduction

Telling the real: literary reportage in contemporary arabic literature. Explore contemporary Arabic literary reportage. Discover its evolution, blend of fiction, truth, and journalism, and its vital role as a counter-narrative in war situations.

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to delineate the recent evolution and innovations of literary reportage in contemporary Arabic literature, a genre of considerable significance for a number of reasons, primarily due to its capacity to engender a novel form of engagement. The paper seeks to furnish an overview of select reportages composed within the last two decades by writers who have employed this genre to investigate the connections between the creative word and committed journalism, between fiction and truth. The paper will then focus on the role of literary reportage in war situations, where it functions as a counter-narrative, emphasising the inescapable role of the written word in situations of violence and dehumanisation. 

Review

This paper proposes a timely and pertinent examination of literary reportage within contemporary Arabic literature. The abstract clearly outlines its objective: to delineate the recent evolution and innovations of this genre, highlighting its capacity to foster a novel form of engagement. By focusing on how reportage navigates the complex interplay between the creative word and committed journalism, and between fiction and truth, the study positions itself at the intersection of literary theory, media studies, and socio-political critique. The selection of reportages from the last two decades promises a current and relevant analysis of this often overlooked yet significant genre in the Arab literary landscape. A significant strength of this proposed paper lies in its explicit intention to explore the nuanced connections between literary creation and journalistic integrity. The theoretical framing around "fiction and truth" and "creative word and committed journalism" is particularly compelling, suggesting a robust analytical framework for understanding the genre's epistemological claims. Moreover, the decision to specifically address literary reportage's function in war situations as a "counter-narrative" is a crucial contribution. This aspect promises to shed light on the vital role of literature in resisting dominant narratives, offering alternative perspectives on violence, conflict, and dehumanization, and underscoring the enduring power of the written word in extreme circumstances. To maximize its impact, the paper could further elaborate on the specific methodologies employed to analyze the "select reportages," particularly concerning how the distinctions between "fiction and truth" are textually identified within the chosen works. It would also be valuable to consider the challenges and ethical considerations inherent in literary reportage, especially when functioning as a counter-narrative in highly sensitive contexts. A brief comparative glance at how this "novel form of engagement" differs from earlier forms of journalistic or documentary writing in the Arab world, or even internationally, could further contextualize its innovations. Ultimately, this study holds substantial promise for enriching our understanding of literary genre, the ethics of representation, and the socio-political agency of writing in critical global contexts.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.