Historical Screening is a Criterion for the Longevity of Works
According to the reporter of Iran Book News Agency (IBNA) in Qom, Mohammad Reza Sougandi, the Director-General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Qom Province, at the unveiling ceremony of the book ‘Shourideh’ – a collection of Ashura elegies by several writers from the Pirang Literary Association – emphasized the necessity of evaluating literature and art in relation to their time, stating: Literature and art must be measured in terms of their connection to time, because history is a filter. Many poets and writers have come and gone, but the question is, which works have endured and what has been recorded in the memory of time?
He considered historical screening an important criterion for assessing the longevity of works and added: Works, individuals, and ideas are divided into three groups based on their relationship with time: first, those who, although living in the present, remain in the past and only dwell on past news and events; second, those who move along with time; and third, those who are pioneers and step ahead of their time.
The Director-General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Qom Province also emphasized the necessity of active imagination in literature: Humans live with their dreams and aspirations. Perhaps one reason for human suffering is that we sometimes destroy each other’s dreams. Everyone has their inner world, and literature should foster and develop these worlds.
This cultural manager referred to the present era as the age of ‘surface information explosion’ and stressed: The increasing volume of shallow information makes society restless. If society moves away from rationality, it leads to restlessness and impatience, and decision-making moves away from the path of wisdom.
He concluded: A book is a sign of rationality, and a writer can bring a restless society closer to peace by utilizing art and literature.
Authorship; A Path That Begins with Questioning and Learning
Hossein Varjani, a critic and researcher of fictional literature, considered continuous questioning and learning as a condition for the growth of authorship at this ceremony, stating: We must always be questioning and learning; this process is a prerequisite for growth in writing, especially storytelling.
He considered the proportion between narrative time and story volume as one of the important principles of writing, stating: A fifty-year story cannot be narrated in two or three pages. The quantity of writing is not the value; it is precision, subtlety, and artistic meticulousness that create quality.
This literary critic further described the process of reading and criticizing a story as two-stage, saying: First, there is personal reception and initial reaction. Then, we must refer to the text itself and provide a brief introduction to the author, analyze the structure, and examine narrative elements such as characterization, plot, point of view, and tone; and finally, we offer criticism based on this analysis.
Varjani listed five conditions for becoming a storyteller: interest and passion, extensive study, especially of literature, participation in specialized classes and workshops, familiarity with humanities, and continuous perseverance and practice are the five conditions for becoming a storyteller.
He also emphasized the emotional role of religious literature, stating: Religious literature should create a sensory or emotional change in the audience, not merely provide information.
‘Sougnegaresht’; Recording Internal Changes and Spiritual Memory
Subsequently, Seyyed Mahmoud Mirsanei, the director of the Pirang Literary Association, explained the process of preparing this book, saying: One of the most important and necessary tasks that must be done before publishing any work is its critique, review, and revision; a task that has been carried out in the ‘Pirang Literary Association’ for nearly 15 years. In this process, the work is read by the author, then revised and rewritten based on the opinions and solutions of the association members, and after that, it reaches the printing stage. Therefore, one of the main concerns in the field of book publishing should be the revision of the work before its release.
He introduced the book ‘Shourideh’ as the outcome of critique sessions and the collective effort of the association members, stating: This book is the result of these very sessions and has been written by the association members; works that narrate the story of Muharram from different regions, with various customs, under the title ‘Sougnegaresht,’ which is an innovative and new term, and subsequent collections of ‘Sougnegaresht’ are also planned for future publication.
This writer and literary critic introduced ‘Sougnegaresht’ as a way to reflect and return to truth, saying: Sougnegaresht is a path for contemplation and return to truth, and Muharram is like a sea from which everyone benefits according to their capacity.
The director of the Pirang Literary Association considered Sougnegareshts as recorders of internal transformations and a part of cultural memory, adding: In fact, Sougnegareshts are narrative essays that record internal transformations; narratives that express our lived experiences, from childhood to today. These narratives should not be forgotten, as they are part of our cultural and spiritual memory. These narratives must be documented to awaken and inform us, like a mirror, about our identity and the path ahead.
