"Shaghaf” organizes a seminar on "Literature as a World Media Tool' Under the patronage of the Press House

on Tuesday, Under the patronage of the Press House - Palestine, the Cultural “Shaghaf” Initiative held a dialogue seminar on "Literature as a World Media Tool", in Gaza City, in the presence of the members of the initiative and a number of writers and those interested in cultural and media issues.

During the seminar, The writer and the political analyst, Tawfiq Abu Shumar, the writer Yusri Al-Ghoul, the Founder of the Cultural “Shaghaf” initiative, and Samar Al-Malfouh, a Project Coordinator at the Press House had addressed the attendees.

Samar Al-Malfouh initiated by welcoming the guests and thanking the team of “Shaghaf” initiative for their interest in holding these seminars, stressing their importance in enhancing the cultural and media landscape in the Gaza Strip.

Al-Malfouh stressed that the seminar is the first initiative of the project " “Towards an Independent Media Platform for Capacity building, Awareness, and Involvement of Journalists", which was organized by the Press House Institution and aims to support youth initiatives.

Yousri al-Ghoul, the Founder of “Shaghaf” Initiative, said that the reality of culture and cultural initiatives, under the Palestinian division, raises questions about the role of the Palestinian writers in presenting the issue and how to move from the local media context to the world one.

Al-Ghoul added: "Literature must be treated as a media tool that reaches all languages and peoples in different periods. Literature remains and spreads because it carries an idea and a message, contrary to the daily news that ends with the end of the event." Citing that "There are international literary novels that have been in circulation until now, which reflects the realities of its writers since the Periods of their issuance".

Al-Ghoul continued, "The globalization of the literary text is very important, and it means that the issues it poses must be universal, because literature is an integral part of reality”, he added, "The focus should be on humanization of literature, and on the writer's interest that his text influences different categories of readers, regardless of the diversity of their views and religions and interests.”

He also said regarding the problems facing literature, that there are some ancient local and regional publishing houses have become headed towards commercial publication and material return regardless of the content, indicating that the follower should distinguish between good literature and the well marketed one.

Al-Ghoul explained that the writer must write in easy and simple language, explaining the role of this type of writing in reaching large segments of readers to deliver the literary work from local to global context.

For his part, the writer and political analyst, Tawfiq Abu Shumar, talked about the role of literature in drawing a road that is itself a media platform to address the world, expressing his happiness with young intellectuals, whose activities revolve around the word and culture.

Abu Shumar stressed that the West exploited the rich cultural heritage of the Arab world in the production of new works that became famous and influential in the Western and Arab worlds, calling on young people to re-discover the creations of the Arabic literature and its creativity.

He also added: "Literature is the most important media tool, which is the first lever for any media message," indicating the official role of countries in the dissemination of literary heritage and support writers and literary in topics that are most daring and attuned to reality.

On the most prominent problems of Arabic literature, Abu Shumar had said: "Many of the literature are banned in Arab countries to this day, and they are full of rich literature and beautiful language." , adding, “For example, the famous Harry Potter novel has directly affected by the Arabian novel “Thousand and One Night, the matter that wrongs the Arab writers for not researching the heritage of Arabic literature and discovering its aesthetics.

And In response to the attendance interventions, Abu Shumar explained that the strong literary work carries a media message that is equivalent to dozens of programs and seminars presented via screens.

He added: "Naji Al-Ali was able through one picture only to convey messages had been translated in all Western and international media, which strengthen the role of literature as an influential media tool.

At the end of the seminar, Al-Ghoul thanked the Press House for their continuous support of the activities of “Shaghaf” Initiative, and he honored the Press House Institution, represented by Mrs. Samar Al-Malfouh, the Project Manager of the Institution.

For its part, Al-Malfouh thanked the team of “Shaghaf” initiative, stressing the continued support of the Press House for these events and stressing the ability of these young people to prove the close relationship between literature and media, and to enhance the role of literature as an influential media tool.