Is the life of Arabs wholly defined by Islamic doctrines and religious law, as many assume due to the prevalence of Islam in the Arab world? Since the turn of the 21st century, rising interest in Islam—amid signs of civilizational conflicts—has led to numerous discourses and studies, both globally and within Korea. However, much of this attention has focused on contemporary political and economic issues of the Islamic world, while humanistic inquiries into the inner life of Arab people have remained scarce. Have we truly tried to understand the Arab worldview, their values, and the emotional texture of their lives—their joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure? This colloquium aims to shed light on the lived experiences of Arabs by engaging with literary works that reflect their perceptions of religion, life, and society. Through selected Arabic texts written from the pre-Islamic era to the modern period, we will explore key humanistic themes that illuminate the cultural and emotional dimensions of Arab life.
Moderator: An Soyeon (Seoul National University Asia Center)
Speaker: Kim Neungwoo (Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, Seoul National University)