The Issue of the Ancient and the Modern in the Arab Critical Heritage: An Analytical Study

Abstract

    The The issue of "the old and the new" is one of the most prominent issues that has preoccupied Arab criticism since its earliest eras. It continues to be widely discussed in contemporary critical studies. This issue is evident in the nature of the relationship between the Arab critical heritage, with its foundations and concepts, and the modern critical approaches that have arrived in the Arab world influenced by Western theories. The roots of this issue go back to the Abbasid era, when a conflict emerged between advocates of authenticity, who viewed ancient poetry as the ideal model, and advocates of renewal, who called for contemporary poetry that kept pace with the spirit of the times. This conflict was embodied in the works of prominent critics such as Ibn Qutaybah, Al-Amidi, and Al-Jurjani, each of whom attempted to establish criteria for evaluating poetry and identifying its distinctive features, despite their differing orientations, ranging from a preference for the old to a tendency toward renewal.

    Discussions about the issue of the old and the new are linked to cultural identity, as the issue also relates to the issue of cultural identity. The tendency toward

excessive modernity may be viewed as a dissolution into the other and an abandonment of authenticity, while an excessive adherence to the past may lead to stagnation and isolation. The issue of "old and new" in Arab criticism is a vital and ever-evolving one, reflecting an ongoing intellectual and cultural struggle.