In this workshop, Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghathami presents a simplified introduction to cultural criticism, starting from various methodologies for reading texts, including psychological, social, and historical approaches that explore the content, aesthetics, and underlying meanings of literary works.
With his engaging style, Al-Ghathami clarifies the distinctions between different critical approaches: textual criticism focusing on literary aesthetics, thematic criticism that overlooks aesthetics in favor of content, and cultural criticism that digs beneath the aesthetic surface to uncover hidden messages embedded in texts.
Through practical steps and applied examples, Al-Ghathami will guide participants in using the tools and research methods of a trained critic—ensuring a balanced approach that neither wrongfully judges a text nor distorts its original intent.
This session is held as part of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), as part of the Centre’s efforts to promote culture, foster a love of reading, and provide a platform for the public to explore the latest cultural topics and the latest book releases.