A postmodern reading of AbolalaMaari's poem based on the theori of Jean-Francois Lyotard

Abstract

Jean-François Lyotard, the French sociologist and philosopher, is considered one of the foremost theorists of postmodernism. He introduced the theory of grand narratives, emphasizing the role of language in shaping power structures within society. In this context, Lyotard employs Wittgenstein’s theory of language games to demonstrate how grand narratives are transformed through their own linguistic mechanisms into dominant discourses in society. Conversely, he also shows how petit narratives (minor or local narratives) oppose these grand narratives through their own language games.

On the other hand, in the field of poetry, Abū al-ʿAlāʾ al-Maʿarrī expressed his philosophical and social views through complex language and nuanced meanings. Therefore, the present study aims to answer the following question: How can we extract the types of grand and minor narratives, as well as their associated language games, in al-Maʿarrī’s poetry using Lyotard’s theory of narratives, thereby offering a postmodern reading of his work?

Using a descriptive and analytical approach, the research concludes that the most prominent grand narrative in al-Maʿarrī’s Luzūmiyyāt is tradition, under which other narratives such as history and knowledge also fall. The minor narrative he presents in opposition to these grand narratives is reason. Al-Maʿarrī also employs the element of antithesis in his language game in various forms. Regarding the language game of religion, he argues that personal interpretations and impressions of religion should not serve as a standard for societal conduct; instead, understanding religion should rely on verified sources and rationality.