A Dialogue in Al-Balqa on Place, Memory, and the Limits of Narrative
Amman2 min read
Share
On Saturday evening, the temporary committee managing the Jordanian Writers Association - Al-Balqa branch opened a discussion on the relationship between the Jordanian novel and place through an interactive dialogue session titled "Is the Jordanian Novel Afraid of its Geography?" featuring short story writer Samia Al-Atout, novelist Dr. Mukhlad Barakat, and journalist and writer Kamel Naseirat, moderated by short story writer Hadeel Al-Rahamneh.
The dialogue came as part of the committee's program aimed at revitalizing the cultural movement in the governorate, enhancing communication among writers, intellectuals, and those interested in literary affairs, and raising questions related to local reality and its cultural and social transformations.
The discussion addressed the presence of place in the Jordanian novel, the narrative's ability to approach the details of cities, villages, and local communities, and the memory, relationships, history, and social and cultural diversity that geography carries.
The participants also discussed the presence of place names, families, and real-life events in the novel, and the social sensitivities that might accompany approaching them.
The dialogue went beyond the concept of place as a mere backdrop for events, viewing it instead as an active element in shaping characters, memory, and identity, and capable of revealing aspects of local life that may not appear in public discourse or traditional narratives.
Furthermore, the participants discussed the novel's ability to question reality, approach the unspoken, and reclaim places that have remained marginalized or absent from the narrative, while Al-Balqa appeared as a suitable model for reading the relationship between geography, writing, and memory.
The event was attended by a number of writers, intellectuals, enthusiasts of literary and cultural affairs, and members of the local community.
Short story writer Samar Al-Zoubi heads the temporary committee for managing the association's branch in Al-Balqa, with its membership including Muhannad Al-Azab, Hadeel Al-Rahamneh, Qusai Al-Nsour, and Kayed Al-Awamleh.
