Book by Asaad Al-Asadi
Basra holds a literary session to discuss ‘The City and Its Signs’
BASRA — The Basra Writers Union hosted a discussion session on Saturday to explore the newly released book “The City and Its Signs,” by author Asaad Al-Asadi. The event, led by writer Nuha Imran, attracted a diverse audience, including prominent critics and writers like Mohamed Khudair, known for his extensive work on the evolution of cities in history, politics, literature, and sociology. The discussion centered on the challenges facing urban residents amid chaotic urban development in Iraq and the broader region.
Mohamed Khudair, a respected novelist and storyteller, shared his thoughts with 964media: “The session focused on this book, which carries many historical, aesthetic, literary, and architectural signs without pointing to a specific city, though some of its references hint at Basra.”
Khudair added, “These signs can be categorized as either constructive, such as famous landmarks like bridges and cafes, or destructive, such as brickyards and public baths that suddenly disappear.”
Asaad Al-Asadi, the book’s author, explained that “The City and Its Signs” offers a semiological reading of the city, aiming to uncover distinctive signs that set it apart due to various factors—spatial, architectural, or social—emerging from individual or collective human actions. He encouraged participants to propose new ideas related to the book’s central themes.
Mustafa Al-Dukhan, deputy head of the Basra Ruaa Cultural Foundation, which organized the event, commented on the session’s impact: “We examined the book from multiple perspectives—architectural, academic, and critical—drawing on insights from literary and visual critics. The turnout was wonderful, and we are pleased to have established a community interested in the literary aspect of architecture, which can enrich Basra’s architectural and cultural heritage in the future.”
Al-Dukhan expressed hope that other institutions would take inspiration from this event and initiate similar discussions related to architecture and culture in Basra.
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