jordan pulse -

Arab writer Dr. Medhat El-Adl stated that Arab drama represents one of the most prominent soft power tools capable of influencing societal awareness and shaping the Arab psyche, emphasizing that art has become an active element in formulating the cultural and intellectual identity of nations.
This came during the Middle East University (MEU) dialogues titled: "Arab Drama… Spaces of Soft Power," which was held in the presence of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Yacoub Nasser Al-Din; the President of the University, Professor Dr. Salam Al-Mahadin; former Minister of Culture, Dr. Haifa Al-Najjar; former Minister Ibrahim Badran; well-known Jordanian producer Mohammad Al-Majali; alongside a number of college deans, faculty and administrative members, and a gathering of students.
El-Adl pointed out during the dialogue, which was moderated by media personality Professor Dr. Hani Al-Badri, that the political and social transformations witnessed by the Arab region have imposed responsibilities on drama that transcend the traditional artistic framework, making it a space to express the issues of the Arab individual, defend values, and confront attempts to erase identity and distort awareness.
He said that conscience represents the true value of any dramatic or cinematic work, emphasizing that "conscience is extremely important, as it is what gives true value to what you do." He also touched upon the challenges facing Arab dramatic production, foremost among which are rapid technological transformations, the dominance of digital platforms, and changing audience reception patterns, which necessitates developing artistic discourse tools to keep pace with the current stage while maintaining content quality.
For her part, Al-Najjar pointed out the importance of investing in culture as a civilized tool that contributes to solidifying the image of Arab societies and enhancing their humanitarian presence globally.
On his part, Dr. Badran praised the role played by Middle East University in building an environment open to issues of thought and creativity, noting that "the real task is not just achieving success, but rather what comes after success."
In turn, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Middle East University, Dr. Yacoub Nasser Al-Din, stressed that Arab drama and soft power have formed, for long decades, an authentic part of the Arab cultural and intellectual psyche, contributing to building collective awareness and enhancing belonging and identity. He noted that Arab generations were raised on literary and artistic works that carried deep humanitarian and cultural messages and contributed to shaping the system of values and knowledge.
He indicated that the university's philosophy stems from building the "knowledgeable student" who is capable of possessing tools for critical thinking and logical analysis, as well as conscious openness to different cultures. He pointed out that the cultural and intellectual awareness of previous generations was linked to the humanitarian and national contents presented by Arab novels, movies, series, and songs, considering that the need today has become more urgent to produce Arab soft powers capable of keeping pace with the era and solidifying the values of awareness, freedom, and fundamental rights for the Arab human.
The dialogue witnessed an extensive discussion with students and faculty members regarding the future of Arab drama, the impact of digital platforms and social media on content creation and societal awareness, alongside the role of art in solidifying cultural identity and facing the intellectual challenges witnessed by the region.