The digital space is an arena for promoting literary publications in "Abu Dhabi Book."

Writers and creative people ask for "dread" to support their publications

• The exhibition uses the digital space to reach the largest segment of readers.

  Photography: Eric Arazas

picture

Social networking sites have turned into an arena in which writers, creators, and publishing houses compete to advertise their new books and publications after they have seen the broad influence of social media, and some have not only advertised their books through their personal accounts on the media, especially Twitter, but rather turned to the request « Fazaa »from his companions and acquaintances to attend the signing of the book or to buy it.

While others have mastered the publication of quotations from the content of their books, including those that were ambiguous or strange to draw the reader's attention, or that came directly to express the content of the book.

The role of digital or virtual space has grown in various areas of life, and has become one of the main axes covered by the activities and discussions of the 30th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, which will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, until May 29.

Especially since the current session represents the first hybrid version of the exhibition, and it combines real and virtual activities.

Digital applications

Marketing for new publications was not limited to writers and private publishing houses, as most government and official institutions were keen to announce their publications through their social media accounts.

The exhibition used the digital space to reach the largest segment of readers and book lovers of all ages, so the exhibition allows, through its website, its digital platforms and its application, to follow the seminars and sessions that are organized during the period of its stay, and the reader can also view all the titles and publications presented in it, and the participating publishing houses And to buy what they want to own through the website and the digital application, while providing virtual tours inside the exhibition for adults and children alike.

Hypothetical criticism

On the other hand, the digital and virtual space and its related issues emerged as a focus of discussion in a number of seminars and dialogues included in the exhibition, including a dialogue session held yesterday evening entitled: “Virtual criticism between theory and practice”, which dealt with hypothetical criticism on social media. Is it a phenomenon or a fleeting situation?

What are the controls that make it a real criticism?

She also addressed the role of cultural institutions in controlling and controlling the virtual criticism scene.

The two Emirati critics demanded Dr.

Abeer Al Hosani and Dr.

Fatima Al-Maamari, laying the foundations for practicing literary and creative criticism, and during the session moderated by Hajar Al-Raisi, they confirmed that most of what social media witnesses does not live up to the concept of criticism, which is based on a clear methodology and tools, but can be included under the name of personal impressions and viewpoints that express Its own taste.

Al-Hosani called for the creation of a special platform for critics, in which summaries of criticism would be collected and the link between the critical work and the public would be.

Pointing out that literary criticism has its own standards and tools, "without literary productions, there is no criticism, and criticism means distinction, as the critic has two eyes that the writer does not."

Meanwhile, Dr. Al-Maamari warned against the compliments and "courteous criticism" that spread widely through social media, and its danger to literature and the writer himself.

Pointing out that there is a difference between the "critic claimant" on the one hand and some young readers who launch their own pages to display their views on books "and these are a good seed that the critics should take care of and take care of."

License and laws

The critic d.

Fatima Al-Maamari, that there should be a driver's license to practice the profession of criticism, and strict laws are put in place in this sensitive field that may negatively affect the cultural sector, in addition to the need for critics to be approved by governmental cultural institutions and not from academies and trade associations, tightening during the session Organized by the Abu Dhabi Group for Culture and Arts, as part of its participation in the exhibition, and within the sixth session of its initiative "Literature and Book Corridor", the importance of having a national strategy for creative criticism that clarifies the goals, indicators and measures concerned with rooting the profession of criticism, enhancing critical mobility, and enriching Emirati critics and dedicating their presence.

Adding: "We need to put this cultural movement in its proper place to play the desired role in enriching the creative sector in the country, and the literary sector in particular."

• Digital space is one of the main themes of the Abu Dhabi Book Fair.

Follow our latest local and sports news, and the latest political and economic developments via Google news