From Sindbad to Sci-Fi: Reimagining Arab Science Fiction

From Sindbad to Sci-Fi: Reimagining Arab Science Fiction

By Islam & Science The 13 September 2013 - 21h09

Yasmin Khan embarks on a new venture, inspired by our London based workshop discussions she spoke at earlier this year.

Yasmin Khan

She says: “One of the things that emerged from our talks was the need to establish a safe platform to explore contemporary issues in science from a Muslim perspective. After reflecting on our group discussions, It occurred to me that science fiction (sf) is a naturally coexisting realm where new ideas can be explored, imagined, digested, rejected or embraced. Yet this genre is noticeably absent in the Islamic world today. The Islamic world does not generate new sf material but consumes what is already produced and exported by Western world. Sci-Fi has come to be regarded as a Western phenomena whilst hundreds of years ago epic writers such as Ibn al-Nafis explored new ideas by posing ‘big questions’ such as What’s out there? Are we alone? Who are we? His theological (Al-Risalah al-Kamiliyyah fil Siera al-Nabawiyyah) can be regarded as proto-science fiction. Similarly, al-Qazwini‘s futuristic tale of Awaj bin Anfaq and al-Farabi‘s story about a Utopian society was ahead of its time.”

So with this in mind, Yasmin is currently producing a salon event on the theme of Arab science fiction as part of the Nour Festival of Arts, London’s biggest celebration of contemporary Arab culture:

One of the questions the salon will aim to tackle is the inter-relationship between science and science fiction. How does a vacuum of original Sci-Fi material impact the Muslim/Arab world today? Is scientific and technological progress dependent on a a revival of the imagination? If science fiction can help to bridge the arts/science divide, is a revival of Arab Sci-Fi urgent?

The salon will be a rare opportunity to bring to the fore fresh thinking on the topic. The event will have broad appeal and will interest people that are new to the subject as well as engage individuals who have a deeper passion for the science fiction genre.

I am particularly hoping to seek out emerging talent and inspire aspiring writers and artists from among the Diaspora.

~ Yasmin.

The event is labelled as a ‘Sci-Fi Salon’ to suggest a more participatory and intimate style of event – a modern format that harks back to traditional Arab roots: Women’s literary salons and societies in the Arab world.

‘From Sindbad to Sci-Fi: Reimagining Arab Science Fiction’

VENUE: Science Museum’s Dana Centre

DATE: 2 October, 7-9pm

The event is FREE and tickets can be booked online:

http://www.danacentre.org.uk/events/2013/10/02/707

For event updates visit:

www.SindbadSciFi.com