Latest news with #SecondHeritageConference
Gulf Today
06-07-2025
- General
- Gulf Today
Meet helps re-read Western texts with a critical Arab eye
The Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH) has wrapped up its Second Heritage Conference, held at the Arab Heritage Center in Sharjah University City. Over two days, the event brought together researchers, academics, and experts from more than 20 countries, both Arab and international. The conference included engaging discussions about different aspects of popular heritage, featuring talks, research presentations, and workshops that covered a variety of topics related to cultural studies and documentation. During the closing ceremony, Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, the Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, presented Dr Saif Al Badwawi with the award for Personality of the Year. This honour recognized his exceptional work in preserving folklore and his dedication to documenting the cultural identity of the UAE and the surrounding region. Additionally, speakers, guests, and strategic partners were acknowledged for their contributions, which played a significant role in making the conference a successful cultural event. In his closing remarks, Al Musallam, said: 'The Second Heritage Conference, with its theme 'Folklore in the Eyes of the Other,' represented a milestone in the journey of heritage knowledge. It opened wide windows onto travel literature and revealed subtle, multifaceted aspects of how others receive our folklore. These sessions and scholarly papers represent a profound step in re-reading Western texts with an Arab critical eye, restoring the image and its balance, and rehabilitating our cultural voice.' He added, 'We at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage believe that openness to what has been written about us is a cultural necessity, and that engaging with this written heritage from abroad requires solid scientific tools and responsible critical awareness. The dialogue, diversity, and difference we witnessed over the two days constitutes an intellectual treasure upon which we will build future conferences, publications, and research. This will place our heritage at the heart of the global cultural movement and chart new paths for researchers and those interested in understanding the self through the lens of the other.' Abu Bakr Al Kindi, Director of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, said: 'We are proud of the scholarly momentum and rich discussions witnessed at the Second Heritage Conference. We are also proud of the high level of participation, which confirmed that popular heritage remains vibrant and meaningful, forming a solid foundation for cultural dialogue and convergence.' Dr Saif Bin Abdul Badawi expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to the institute for this generous gesture, commending the institute's pioneering role in supporting researchers and those interested in heritage issues. He added, 'This honour is not merely a celebration of me personally, but rather a tribute to all those who care about heritage and work to preserve and document it.' He considered that 'this initiative will continue to be a catalyst for further contributions to the journey of research and science.' Dr Mona Bounaama, Content Director at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and conference coordinator, praised the success of the event and the level of interaction witnessed in the conference programme. He noted that the presentations reflect a collective awareness of the importance of reading folklore through the eyes of others. RECOMMENDATIONS: The 'Second Heritage Conference' issued several scientific and cultural recommendations to enhance studies on travel literature and representations of the 'other' in popular heritage. Participants urged a reevaluation of the writings of travellers and Orientalists using contemporary scientific criticism methodologies. They advocated for analytical comparisons between groups of travellers from various geographical regions and similar time periods to derive a more realistic portrayal and compare it with available local studies. The attendees emphasised the need to establish practical laboratories for translating Western research and studies on travel literature and forming scientific committees to review untranslated travel accounts, particularly Russian works. Among the recommendations was the proposal to extend the conference from two to three days and to publish the presented research in a scientific book. WAM
Al Etihad
05-07-2025
- Al Etihad
Heritage Conference recommends documentation of travel literature
5 July 2025 19:02 SHARJAH (WAM)The Second Heritage Conference, organised by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage under the theme 'Popular Heritage Through the Eyes of Others', took place at the Arab Heritage Centre in the University City of conference issued several scientific and cultural recommendations to enhance studies on travel literature, and representations of the "other" in popular urged a reevaluation of the writings of travellers and Orientalists using contemporary scientific criticism advocated for analytical comparisons between groups of travellers, from various geographical regions and similar time periods, to derive a more realistic portrayal and compare it with available local attendees emphasised the need to establish practical laboratories for translating Western research and studies on travel literature, and forming scientific committees to review untranslated travel accounts, particularly Russian the recommendations was the proposal to extend the conference from two to three days, and to publish the presented research in a scientific also suggested creating an online library featuring works of travellers and Orientalists, along with a specialised database for researchers and translators in this recommendations further called for stimulating critical studies addressing representations of the "other" in popular heritage through various approaches, including anthropology, semiotics, narratives, and post-colonial they highlighted the need to examine the interaction between oral and narrative cultures as described by travellers, questioning the ideological and epistemological backgrounds that shaped their representations, and deconstructing the positions of self and other in their Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, stated, "The recommendations from the Second Heritage Conference embody our vision at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, which aims to establish awareness of the importance of reading popular heritage from multiple perspectives, especially through the writings of travellers and Orientalists."Through this conference, we sought to initiate a critical intellectual dialogue with these records, opening new horizons for understanding the self and the other, and enhancing the presence of our heritage in the global cultural sphere with a scientific spirit and objective approach."
Sharjah 24
05-07-2025
- Sharjah 24
Heritage Conference recommends documentation of travel literature
Calls for contemporary critical analysis Participants urged a reevaluation of the writings of travelers and Orientalists using contemporary scientific criticism methodologies. They advocated for analytical comparisons between groups of travelers from various geographical regions and similar time periods to derive a more realistic portrayal and compare it with available local studies. Importance of practical laboratories The attendees emphasised the need to establish practical laboratories for translating Western research and studies on travel literature and forming scientific committees to review untranslated travel accounts, particularly Russian works. Extended conference duration and digital resources Among the recommendations was the proposal to extend the conference from two to three days and to publish the presented research in a scientific book. They also suggested creating an online library featuring works of travelers and Orientalists, along with a specialized database for researchers and translators in this field. Encouraging diverse critical studies The recommendations further called for stimulating critical studies addressing representations of the "other" in popular heritage through various approaches, including anthropology, semiotics, narratives, and post-colonial studies. Additionally, they highlighted the need to examine the interaction between oral and narrative cultures as described by travelers, questioning the ideological and epistemological backgrounds that shaped their representations and deconstructing the positions of self and other in their writings. Promoting heritage awareness Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, stated, "The recommendations from the Second Heritage Conference embody our vision at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, which aims to establish awareness of the importance of reading popular heritage from multiple perspectives, especially through the writings of travelers and Orientalists. Through this conference, we sought to initiate a critical intellectual dialogue with these records, opening new horizons for understanding the self and the other, and enhancing the presence of our heritage in the global cultural sphere with a scientific spirit and objective approach.
Sharjah 24
04-07-2025
- General
- Sharjah 24
SIH concludes Second Heritage Conference
The conference included engaging discussions about different aspects of popular heritage, featuring talks, research presentations, and workshops that covered a variety of topics related to cultural studies and documentation. During the closing ceremony, Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, the Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, presented Dr Saif Al Badwawi with the award for Personality of the Year. This honor recognized his exceptional work in preserving folklore and his dedication to documenting the cultural identity of the UAE and the surrounding region. Additionally, speakers, guests, and strategic partners were acknowledged for their contributions, which played a significant role in making the conference a successful cultural event. Significant advancement in cognitive criticism In his closing remarks, Al Musallam, said: 'The Second Heritage Conference, with its theme 'Folklore in the Eyes of the Other,' represented a milestone in the journey of heritage knowledge. It opened wide windows onto travel literature and revealed subtle, multifaceted aspects of how others receive our folklore. These sessions and scholarly papers represent a profound step in re-reading Western texts with an Arab critical eye, restoring the image and its balance, and rehabilitating our cultural voice.' He added, "We at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage believe that openness to what has been written about us is a cultural necessity, and that engaging with this written heritage from abroad requires solid scientific tools and responsible critical awareness. The dialogue, diversity, and difference we witnessed over the two days constitutes an intellectual treasure upon which we will build future conferences, publications, and research. This will place our heritage at the heart of the global cultural movement and chart new paths for researchers and those interested in understanding the self through the lens of the other." Esteemed participants Abu Bakr Al Kindi, Director of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, said: "We are proud of the scholarly momentum and rich discussions witnessed at the Second Heritage Conference. We are also proud of the high level of participation, which confirmed that popular heritage remains vibrant and meaningful, forming a solid foundation for cultural dialogue and convergence." Al Badawi praises Sharjah Heritage Award Dr Saif bin Abdul Badawi expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to the institute for this generous gesture, commending the institute's pioneering role in supporting researchers and those interested in heritage issues. He added, "This honor is not merely a celebration of me personally, but rather a tribute to all those who care about heritage and work to preserve and document it." He considered that "this initiative will continue to be a catalyst for further contributions to the journey of research and science." Engagement in the conference Dr Mona Bounaama, Content Director at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and conference coordinator, praised the success of the event and the level of interaction witnessed in the conference program. He noted that the presentations reflect a collective awareness of the importance of reading folklore through the eyes of others, and reflect a future vision that enhances documentation and critical analysis efforts, opening broader horizons for researchers and specialists in this field.
Sharjah 24
03-07-2025
- General
- Sharjah 24
2nd Heritage Conference refutes Western travellers' writings on UAE
Conference Highlights Critical Reflections Dr Bounama stated that the programme held alongside the Second Heritage Conference — under the theme "Folk Heritage Through the Eyes of Others" — discussed a selection of valuable topics presented by a group of researchers. These researchers delivered interventions centred on the records and accounts written by Western travellers. Understanding the Western Perception of the Region In remarks to 'Sharjah 24,' Bounama added that these academic approaches aim to understand the image that has formed in the Western mind through travel writings, impressions, and observations. He pointed out that the programme shed light on the most prominent manifestations and features that have remained embedded in the Western imagination about the Arab region.
