“Voyage to Tomorrow”: Modern Arabic Science Fiction

Akhmedov Rafael Sharifovich

doi:doi:10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13

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“Voyage to Tomorrow”: Modern Arabic Science Fiction

Akhmedov Rafael Sharifovich

Published in Arabic Language, Literature & Culture (Volume 3, Issue 3)

Received: 20 August 2018 Accepted: 11 September 2018 Published: 13 October 2018

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Abstract

This paper is aimed to analyse time and space as the prominent themes of modern Arabic science fiction on the example of the novel “Voyage to Tomorrow” by Tawfiq al-Hakim. In this research a combination of two research methods - documentary analysis and literature review - was used. Documentary analysis involves obtaining data from about ten scientific articles and theses. Documentary analysis was used to obtain general data about the subject of the research. Results of the research make it obvious that time travel is one of the most contagious ideas in science fiction.  In modern society where time is a unit of value and instant gratification is prized, the idea of traveling through time appears more than ever in books, movies, and pop culture. Arabic science fiction writers try to incorporate the latest theories about the nature of the universe to give their stories greater realism. A pioneering figure of modern Arabic science fiction, Tawfiq al-Hakim, is the focus of attention in the paper because of his evolutionary and panoramic view of history and time in his novel “Voyage to Tomorrow”. Qualitative methods, documentary and literary analyses used in the research allowed the author to come to the conclusion that the ideas of the novel approach nature as transformational, rather than static and unchanging, and time as directional, rather than cyclic. The paper also shows how different traditions were combined in the “Voyage to Tomorrow” reflecting peculiarities of modern Arabic science fiction.

Published in	Arabic Language, Literature & Culture (Volume 3, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13
Page(s)	37-42
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2018. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Arabic Literature, Science Fiction, Time, Space, Subgenre, Dystopia

References

[1]	Al-Saadi, Y. (2015). “Arabic Science Fiction: A Journey Into the Unknown,” Al Akhbar English, vol. 3, p. 12.
[2]	Meisami, J. S., Starkey, P. (1998). “Encyclopedia of Arabic Literature,” New York: Routledge, p. 64.
[3]	Belkharchouche, M. (2010). “Science Fiction in the Arab World: A Genre Still in the Cradle,” Revue Sciences Humaines, vol. 34, p. 153.
[4]	Eassa, A., Eassa, F. (2015). “Youssef Ezeddin Eassa’s Radio Dramas,” Cairo: EAM, p. 14.
[5]	Al-Saadi, Y. (2015). “Arabic Science Fiction: A Journey Into the Unknown,” Al Akhbar English, vol. 3, p. 12.
[6]	Sidebottom, Ch. M. (2007). “An Introductory Survey of the Plays, Novels, and Stories of Tawfiq Al-Hakim,” as Translated into English. MA Thesis. The Ohio State University, p. 6.
[7]	Long, Ch. W. R. (1979). “Tawfiq Al-Hakim: Playwright of Egypt.” Reading, UK: Ithaca Press, p. 4.
[8]	Tawfiq al-Hakim. (2017). “Voyage to Tomorrow,” trans. W. M. Hutchins, A. I. Abdulai, and M. B. Lawani. Washington D. C.: Three Continents Press Inc., pp. 275-305.
[9]	Cachia, P. (1980). “Idealism and Ideology: The Case of Tawfiq al-Hakim,” Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 3, p. 225-235.
[10]	Hutchins, W. M. (1988). “The Theology of Tawfiq al-Hakim: An Exposition with Examples,” Muslim World, vol. 78, pp. 243-279.

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Akhmedov Rafael Sharifovich. (2018). “Voyage to Tomorrow”: Modern Arabic Science Fiction. Arabic Language, Literature & Culture, 3(3), 37-42. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13

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Akhmedov Rafael Sharifovich. “Voyage to Tomorrow”: Modern Arabic Science Fiction. Arab. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2018, 3(3), 37-42. doi: 10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13

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AMA Style

Akhmedov Rafael Sharifovich. “Voyage to Tomorrow”: Modern Arabic Science Fiction. Arab Lang Lit Cult. 2018;3(3):37-42. doi: 10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13

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@article{10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13,
  author = {Akhmedov Rafael Sharifovich},
  title = {“Voyage to Tomorrow”: Modern Arabic Science Fiction},
  journal = {Arabic Language, Literature & Culture},
  volume = {3},
  number = {3},
  pages = {37-42},
  doi = {10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.allc.20180303.13},
  abstract = {This paper is aimed to analyse time and space as the prominent themes of modern Arabic science fiction on the example of the novel “Voyage to Tomorrow” by Tawfiq al-Hakim. In this research a combination of two research methods - documentary analysis and literature review - was used. Documentary analysis involves obtaining data from about ten scientific articles and theses. Documentary analysis was used to obtain general data about the subject of the research. Results of the research make it obvious that time travel is one of the most contagious ideas in science fiction.  In modern society where time is a unit of value and instant gratification is prized, the idea of traveling through time appears more than ever in books, movies, and pop culture. Arabic science fiction writers try to incorporate the latest theories about the nature of the universe to give their stories greater realism. A pioneering figure of modern Arabic science fiction, Tawfiq al-Hakim, is the focus of attention in the paper because of his evolutionary and panoramic view of history and time in his novel “Voyage to Tomorrow”. Qualitative methods, documentary and literary analyses used in the research allowed the author to come to the conclusion that the ideas of the novel approach nature as transformational, rather than static and unchanging, and time as directional, rather than cyclic. The paper also shows how different traditions were combined in the “Voyage to Tomorrow” reflecting peculiarities of modern Arabic science fiction.},
 year = {2018}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - “Voyage to Tomorrow”: Modern Arabic Science Fiction
AU  - Akhmedov Rafael Sharifovich
Y1  - 2018/10/13
PY  - 2018
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13
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JF  - Arabic Language, Literature & Culture
JO  - Arabic Language, Literature & Culture
SP  - 37
EP  - 42
PB  - Science Publishing Group
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AB  - This paper is aimed to analyse time and space as the prominent themes of modern Arabic science fiction on the example of the novel “Voyage to Tomorrow” by Tawfiq al-Hakim. In this research a combination of two research methods - documentary analysis and literature review - was used. Documentary analysis involves obtaining data from about ten scientific articles and theses. Documentary analysis was used to obtain general data about the subject of the research. Results of the research make it obvious that time travel is one of the most contagious ideas in science fiction.  In modern society where time is a unit of value and instant gratification is prized, the idea of traveling through time appears more than ever in books, movies, and pop culture. Arabic science fiction writers try to incorporate the latest theories about the nature of the universe to give their stories greater realism. A pioneering figure of modern Arabic science fiction, Tawfiq al-Hakim, is the focus of attention in the paper because of his evolutionary and panoramic view of history and time in his novel “Voyage to Tomorrow”. Qualitative methods, documentary and literary analyses used in the research allowed the author to come to the conclusion that the ideas of the novel approach nature as transformational, rather than static and unchanging, and time as directional, rather than cyclic. The paper also shows how different traditions were combined in the “Voyage to Tomorrow” reflecting peculiarities of modern Arabic science fiction.
VL  - 3
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Akhmedov Rafael Sharifovich

Department of the English Language and Literature, Gulistan State University, Gulistan City, Uzbekistan

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APA Style

Akhmedov Rafael Sharifovich. (2018). “Voyage to Tomorrow”: Modern Arabic Science Fiction. Arabic Language, Literature & Culture, 3(3), 37-42. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13

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ACS Style

Akhmedov Rafael Sharifovich. “Voyage to Tomorrow”: Modern Arabic Science Fiction. Arab. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2018, 3(3), 37-42. doi: 10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13

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AMA Style

Akhmedov Rafael Sharifovich. “Voyage to Tomorrow”: Modern Arabic Science Fiction. Arab Lang Lit Cult. 2018;3(3):37-42. doi: 10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13

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@article{10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13,
  author = {Akhmedov Rafael Sharifovich},
  title = {“Voyage to Tomorrow”: Modern Arabic Science Fiction},
  journal = {Arabic Language, Literature & Culture},
  volume = {3},
  number = {3},
  pages = {37-42},
  doi = {10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.allc.20180303.13},
  abstract = {This paper is aimed to analyse time and space as the prominent themes of modern Arabic science fiction on the example of the novel “Voyage to Tomorrow” by Tawfiq al-Hakim. In this research a combination of two research methods - documentary analysis and literature review - was used. Documentary analysis involves obtaining data from about ten scientific articles and theses. Documentary analysis was used to obtain general data about the subject of the research. Results of the research make it obvious that time travel is one of the most contagious ideas in science fiction.  In modern society where time is a unit of value and instant gratification is prized, the idea of traveling through time appears more than ever in books, movies, and pop culture. Arabic science fiction writers try to incorporate the latest theories about the nature of the universe to give their stories greater realism. A pioneering figure of modern Arabic science fiction, Tawfiq al-Hakim, is the focus of attention in the paper because of his evolutionary and panoramic view of history and time in his novel “Voyage to Tomorrow”. Qualitative methods, documentary and literary analyses used in the research allowed the author to come to the conclusion that the ideas of the novel approach nature as transformational, rather than static and unchanging, and time as directional, rather than cyclic. The paper also shows how different traditions were combined in the “Voyage to Tomorrow” reflecting peculiarities of modern Arabic science fiction.},
 year = {2018}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - “Voyage to Tomorrow”: Modern Arabic Science Fiction
AU  - Akhmedov Rafael Sharifovich
Y1  - 2018/10/13
PY  - 2018
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13
T2  - Arabic Language, Literature & Culture
JF  - Arabic Language, Literature & Culture
JO  - Arabic Language, Literature & Culture
SP  - 37
EP  - 42
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2639-9695
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20180303.13
AB  - This paper is aimed to analyse time and space as the prominent themes of modern Arabic science fiction on the example of the novel “Voyage to Tomorrow” by Tawfiq al-Hakim. In this research a combination of two research methods - documentary analysis and literature review - was used. Documentary analysis involves obtaining data from about ten scientific articles and theses. Documentary analysis was used to obtain general data about the subject of the research. Results of the research make it obvious that time travel is one of the most contagious ideas in science fiction.  In modern society where time is a unit of value and instant gratification is prized, the idea of traveling through time appears more than ever in books, movies, and pop culture. Arabic science fiction writers try to incorporate the latest theories about the nature of the universe to give their stories greater realism. A pioneering figure of modern Arabic science fiction, Tawfiq al-Hakim, is the focus of attention in the paper because of his evolutionary and panoramic view of history and time in his novel “Voyage to Tomorrow”. Qualitative methods, documentary and literary analyses used in the research allowed the author to come to the conclusion that the ideas of the novel approach nature as transformational, rather than static and unchanging, and time as directional, rather than cyclic. The paper also shows how different traditions were combined in the “Voyage to Tomorrow” reflecting peculiarities of modern Arabic science fiction.
VL  - 3
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download