No history of the Arab region is complete without mentioning the role played by romanticism in shaping the lives of its people from the ancient ages and the  subject continues to inspire a number of the region’s writers in their works, said HE the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari.

Speaking at a symposium on the ‘Impact of the Romantic Revolution on arts and literature’ yesterday at the Hilton Doha, the minister said Qatar has always played a big role in promoting art and other forms of different cultures, each of which helped the country’s residents understand the variety, diversity and flexibility of other cultures in their true spirit.

At the programme, held under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture, Art and Heritage, in association with the British Embassy and the British Council as part of the British Festival 2014, the Arabic translation of  ‘The Romantic Revolution’ by Tim Blanning was formally launched. The book’s translator Abdelouadoud el-Omrani from Tunisia was also present. Blanning also explained how the study of romanticism of the 17th and 18th centuries had influenced his writings.

The study of different cultures, said Dr al-Kuwari, has not only helped one enrich his knowledge of the history of different groups of people but also enables one to learn more about such issues as values and co-existence.

Insisting that the study of the ‘Romantic Revolution’ had a major role in helping the society gaining more knowledge about the arts and artists, he said the subject also added a personal and emotional dimension to all studies related to human creativity.

Recalling that Qatar played host to many cultural events of the USA, UK and EU countries in recent years, Dr al-Kuwari said the large participation of the country’s residents at such festivals was a reflection of their enormous interest in understanding different cultures and events.

Emphasising the role that translations played in promoting internationally acclaimed romantic stories and other works across the world, the minister said seeing the enormous possibilities of such works in the region, the Translation Interpreting Institute at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University has taken up the issue intensely and has been quite successful in its work so far.

The minister also showered praise on the English language for the role that it plays in reviving interest in the studies of the ‘Romantic’ ages in the region. “It is interesting to note that the Qatar Foundation is contributing considerably to promoting book translations, making use of the human resources and other facilities that it has at present,” Dr al-Kuwari said.

British Council (Qatar) director Martin Hope said the growing levels of cultural co-operation between the UK and Qatar would contribute remarkably to generate more interest in the study of cultures of each other in coming days. He recalled Qatar’s generosity and gesture in making UK the guest of honour at the 24th edition of the Qatar International Book Fair held in December.

The council official said the translations from English to Arabic and vice versa, made locally have made a very good impact on the UK-Qatar relations and the council’s donation of 400 books to the library of the Qatar University has gone down well with the people here.

 

 

 

 

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