A new book titled «مرايا التجريب… الحساسية الجديدة للشعر المغاربي» (Mirrors of Experimentation... The New Sensitivity of Maghrebi Poetry) has been published by the National Foundation for Printing Arts (ENAG). Authored by Algerian academic and critic Dr. Nasser Bakria, the publication analyzes transformations in Maghrebi poetry over recent decades. The work aims to strengthen the presence of Algerian literary criticism in following Maghrebi poetry's achievements.
Analyzing the New Sensitivity
The book's approach incorporates philosophy, cultural studies, and theories of experimentation, according to its author. It offers a reading that moves beyond traditional aesthetic judgments in order to observe what Dr. Nasser Bakria terms "the new sensitivity." This "new sensitivity" represents a shift in poetry's view of the world, moving from the centrality of form to the centrality of vision. It also transitions from the authority of a model to the freedom of difference and experimentation. Dr. Bakria proposes a new way to understand experimentation, not merely as a formal adventure, but as a deep transformation in poetry's consciousness of itself and the world.
Poets and Shifting Horizons
The book focuses on the poetic experiences of a new generation of Maghrebi voices, examining the works of Algerian and Maghrebi poets who have reshaped the relationship between language, identity, and writing. Poets whose works are discussed include Ramzi Naili, Abdelrazzak Boukebba, Lamis Saidi, Adel Lotfi, Afra Talbi, Amal Raqaq, Khaled Ben Saleh, and Chokri Boutraâ. These poets represent a diversity of visions and styles, united by the question of experimentation and the search for a new horizon for poetry. The publication analyzes transformations in Maghrebi poetic discourse, including the deconstruction of linguistic and aesthetic centralities. It notes the opening of poetry to visual arts, narrative, and cinema, further noting the re-evaluation of the margin as a space for meaning production, rather than merely a writing subject.
The Evolving Poet and Practice
The book examines how the concept of the poet has evolved, noting that the contemporary poet is no longer a singular voice for the collective or a source of certainty. Instead, the author describes the contemporary poet as an anxious self, whose writing emerges from areas of ambiguity and questioning. This new poetic discourse utilizes everyday experiences, marginal perspectives, and transient moments as foundational elements. Practical examples within the book illustrate how this new generation of poets has transformed their expressive tools. They have shifted from prioritizing rhetoric to emphasizing experience, and replaced the notion of a unified voice with a multiplicity of voices. The poets have moved away from a closed model of poetry towards an open text, reflecting a broader change in their creative practice. These changes in expressive tools are central to the book's analysis.
Broader Context and Impact
The book places these poetic experiences within a broader cultural and philosophical context. It is expected to serve as an important reference for researchers, literature students, and critics. The publication is anticipated to open new discussions on the future of Maghrebi poetry, questions of identity, the margin, and the new poetic sensitivity amid current cultural transformations. This full study aims to provide a critical framework for understanding the dynamic evolution of Maghrebi poetic expression.