Empowering Discussions on Women's Issues and Literary Contributions
The inaugural session of the "N" Forum for Women’s Creativity, held in Marrakech, marked a significant stride towards fostering open dialogue and critical thinking surrounding pressing issues affecting women and the intricacies of writing. Organized by the Dar Al-She’ar in Marrakech in collaboration with the Digital University Library of Cadi Ayyad University, the event celebrated World Book Day and Copyright Day on Friday, April 24, at the university library's lecture hall. It featured insightful contributions from esteemed researchers Zohour Karam, Alia Maâlain, and Fatima Zahra Iflaḥn, who delved into contemporary themes such as memory, writing, digitization, gender, and interpretation, within a framework aimed at transcending traditional discussions surrounding terminological and conceptual challenges.
The "N" Forum for Women’s Creativity aspires to establish itself as a vital knowledge platform, dedicated to critical inquiry into issues related to writing and women, moving beyond narrow categorizations. It seeks to transform into an open workshop for reflection, dialogue, and investigation into literary creation, poetry, storytelling, and the arts, while addressing new critical inquiries related to libraries, books, and digitization.
Revisiting Memory and the Role of Women in Writing
In her contributions, Dr. Zohour Karam emphasized the necessity of rethinking current realities. She stated that women represent a contentious subject in the context of social change, arguing that altering established narratives surrounding women can liberate collective memory. Karam's belief is that when women write, they do so from a place of self-awareness, offering alternative perspectives that draw attention to the feminine self beyond the superficial representations imposed by mainstream culture. In light of the technological revolution and digitization, Karam has redefined concepts relating to artificial intelligence and digital memory, advocating for awareness of the opportunities these rapid developments present today.
Dr. Alia Maâlain, from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Mohammed V University in Rabat and author of "Tebara, Women on the Wings of Poetry," explored the concept of personal memory. She examined the complex relationship between personal history and the collective memory of libraries and books through her family lineage, particularly focusing on the legacy of her grandfather, who was closely accompanied by books throughout his life. Maâlain's work redefines the notion of 'family' within Hassani culture, moving away from traditional narratives and emphasizing the integral role of books in people's lives.
In the context of Hassani culture, where poetry serves as the custodian of Arab memory, it becomes evident that memory extends beyond written texts to encompass the revival of poetic heritage as a tool for cultural resistance and identity. Through her literary excavations, Maâlain reveals how books have the potential to reshape lives, trajectories, and even cities, producing significant reference texts that resonate today. As Borges famously stated, "I have always imagined Paradise as a kind of library," encapsulating the essence of the discussions on memory in libraries and books.
In the second thematic focus on writing, women, and creativity, Dr. Fatima Zahra Iflaḥn, a prominent academic and rights activist, addressed the intricate relationship between women and writing. She posited that writing represents not only the voice of women but also a form of resistance. Iflaḥn explored how writing enables women to transcend darkness, transforming women's literature from mere self-expression to a powerful vehicle for dismantling silence in deeply personal spaces.
Iflaḥn also assessed foundational theories that shape this complex relationship between women and writing, navigating through significant Western and Arab contributions that have redefined women's presence in interpretive spaces. The inaugural forum serves as a platform for discussion and dialogue, fostering a new understanding of self, identity, and writing.
The "N" Forum for Women’s Creativity aligns with the ninth cultural and poetic season of Dar Al-She’ar in Marrakech, facilitated through collaborative efforts with the Digital University Library, which seeks to engage with vital questions and issues surrounding creativity and critique, particularly in relation to women's issues and the art of writing.
As reported by middle-east-online.com.
