Oman Cultural Club Explores ‘Imagining the Other’ in Contemporary Fiction
Muscat: The Cultural Club today organized a dialogue session titled “Imagining the History of the Other in Contemporary Omani Fiction,” as part of efforts to promote cultural and critical engagement in the Sultanate of Oman.
The session, moderated by Dr. Khalid bin Ali Al Maamari, explored the concept of “imagining the other” in narrative texts, the role of incorporating the “history of the other” in novels, and how it is reshaped to reflect cultural interaction within Omani literature.
Dr. Hosni Melitat, Assistant Professor at Sohar University, presented a paper highlighting the role of this concept in enriching narrative structures. He noted that Omani fiction has become more open to diverse human experiences and cultures, expanding its intellectual scope. He cited the novel “The Secret of the Moorish” by Mohammed Al Ajmi as a case study.
Dr. Mahrous Mahmoud Al Qallali, Professor of Literary Criticism at Sultan Qaboos University, discussed the concept of the “mental image of the other” within comparative literature, referring to the field of imagology. He explained that Omani novels present varied representations of the “other,” shaped by cultural and social contrasts and the writer’s perception of self and others.
He added that such representations may appear as symbolic or stereotypical images but reflect accumulated cultural perspectives within Omani society.
The study examined several Omani literary works, including “The First Sparrow” by Azhar Ahmed, “Naranjah” by Jokha Al Harthi and “Me and Grandma Nina” by Ahmed Al Rahbi.
The session concluded with discussions highlighting the role of comparative studies in strengthening literary criticism and enhancing the presence of Omani literature in regional and international contexts.
