It Is Time to Search and Improve Now

A Review on Children Stories in the Field of Sacred Defense Literature When I was the editor-in-chief of “Roshd-e Nojavan”? Magazine “Growth Magazine for Teenagers) I talked to one of very dear friends of mine who was a cultural official in one of the organizations. We were talking about where we worked and what we did. He asked: Are you still in “Roshd-e Nojavan”? Magazine?

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پنجشنبه - ۱۲ فروردين ۲۰۰۹ / 2009 12 January

I answered: Yes. I have been “Rosh-e Nojavan”? for almost 10 years.
He said: I hope you improve and go to “Roshd-e Javan”? (Roshd Magazine for the youth), “Roshd-e Moallem”? (Roshd Magazine for teachers), etc.
I don’t know yet if this dear friend of mine said that sentence seriously or he was kidding. Now that I want to write this article, I use this sentence as much as possible. And I say that such view to the literature of children and teenagers or in other word, such view to activities in cultural fields for children and teenagers is a very dangerous look. The fact that we think carrying out activities for children and teenagers is unimportant is very far from justice. Or the fact that we make more efforts for carrying out cultural activities for adults and consider little share, or even less share to audiences in the age group of children and teenagers is very unjust.
This is the event that has occurred in the field of publishing books with the subject of resistance literature for children and teenagers –at least it has occurred in the Year 1386 (2007-2008) that is the main subject of our discussion.
Through a general look at the whole books which have been studied, I believe that “The literature of resistance for children and teenagers”? have become very small and meager in this year. Besides, producing books has been carried out in a very weak way.
Many people have discussed about the necessity of paying attention to the literature of war and in other word, the literature of resistance for the audiences in the age group of children and teenagers. It is also discussed that this type of literature can basically have a place among different literary forms for this group of audiences. It is discussed how this type of literature should be focused and how writers should write in this form of literature.
It is obvious that this type of literature is known as one of the types that are highly welcomed by audiences throughout the world. Since this type of literature is full of adventures and extraordinary events it can be attractive for this group of audiences.
Besides, the war and the 8 year sacred defense of our people –as a both historical and valuable phenomenon- requires us that we attach special importance to this type of literature.
But have we truly been able to fulfill our duty regarding this type of literature in the field of children and teenagers literature?
A general study shows that publishing books with the subject of sacred defense for children and teenagers had strange ups and downs during different years. It was natural that narrative books were not common during the first year of war; but one year after war, it was one of the best years as far as story literature with the subject of sacred defense special for children and teenagers was concerned.
But unfortunately, the following years were again unsuccessful in this respect. In the Year 1368 (1989-1990) a special event occurred. And it was entrance of writer combatants to the field of story writing. It was the good characteristic of that year that combatants who had closely touched events of war and sacred defense started to write the events with a more realistic view.
These ups and downs continued in following years too. But we can know the Year 1376 (1997-1998) as the top point of sacred defense literature special for audiences at the age group of children and teenagers. Approximately 49 books were published in this field. And these ups and downs have been continued till the present time.
Mentioning these drops and successes during different years takes a long time and can not be completed here in this article. The subject of this discussion is the books published in the Year 1386 (2007-2008). And it seems that 1386 was a very unsuccessful year in this field. Approximately 12 or 13 story books were published for the audiences at the age group of children and teenagers. Majority of these books were published by governmental publishers. And it can not be considered as a favorable event in this field. There may be a question formed on minds when I wrote this introductory. That question is if quantity of books can be the criterion for improvement and moving towards in this field? The answer is no. it is not obviously a criterion for improvement in publishing sacred defense books for children and teenagers. But the number of titles of books can be however one of the reasons that publishers and writers pay attention to publishing and compiling such books in this field.
We however aim at general studying of such titles of books in this article. We intend to study them as far as subject and artistic affairs, etc are concerned.
Generally speaking, in the same basic study of books with the subject of sacred defense in the Year 1386 written for the audiences at the age group of children and teenagers; the following cases can be paid attention:

1: Repeated Subjects, Lack of Creativity in Presenting New and Modern Frameworks and Forms

Apart form complements, it is very difficult to be active in the field of war literature and or resistance literature for the age group of children and teenagers. The successful and creative writer is a person who can choose very beautiful subjects out of a collection of rough and sometimes far from imagination events in battle fields and present them in a beautiful form to his/her audiences. A very artistic elegance is required to present concepts such as self sacrifice, martyrdom, bravery, etc for this group of audiences. And if it happens we will witness creation of everlasting works.
I believe that now after passing years after sacred defense, it is time that writers in this field exit from forms which are completely cliché, repeated and full of mottos. During past years, we sometimes witnessed that some writers wrote in forms which were not cliché and repeated; but it is not sufficient. At least, we should not go back to previous forms anymore. A story in which the writer gives lecture and motto in a completely direct way can not attract the clever audience of today. Nowadays, writers in the field of sacred defense have access to very good sources and subjects. And each of them can be the subject for writing a beautiful and everlasting story. Mottos and saying what the writer means directly in the story does not attract the audiences at all. And at the same time, this style of writing will cause this group of audiences to dislike these subjects and as a matter of fact, it has a negative influence on these audiences.
Among this limited number of books, there were some books that seemed to be written 20 years ago when this type of literature was being formed in Iran if we do not look at the publishing date printed on the these books.

2: Inattention to Beauty of the Prose and Type of writing for Children

One of the necessities of a good narrative book is the fact that the book has been written based on the prose that is suitable for the age of audiences of this book. One of the reasons that some of these books are not attractive may be inattentiveness to the type of prose and its suitability with the age group of children audiences. Even if a subject is suitable, it may be lost under the shadow of weak writing. Unfortunately, in some of these books, the writer has not observed basic rules of writing. There should be an editing group in a publishing organization in order that this editing group at least edits the appearance of the writing.

3: Pure, Modern, New and Attractive Subjects Have Not Been Paid Attention

As we mentioned, the mind of the writer should search for elegant working as much as possible in order to write story for the audiences at the age group of children and teenagers. Not any subject can be suitable for this age group. The 8 year history of sacred defense of Iranian nation is full of events and subjects that can be narrated for this age group; adventures such as special events, bravery and extraordinary bravery of combatants, emotional issues in back of battle fields, etc. And any of these subjects can be very attractive and readable for these audiences. By the way, no all subjects should be necessarily about the events of war. Side events of war can be also attractive for the audience.
Most of subjects of narrative books published in the Year 1386 have been directly chosen out of events in war.

4: Considerable Weakness in Drawing Pictures for Books

The strange point about the books published in the Year 1386 is being very weak in drawing pictures for these books. I remember well when I joined “Roshd”? magazines group in 1983; there were limited people who draw pictures for stories written for children and teenagers. Today, after passing all these years, drawing picture for the books written for children and teenagers has improved undeniably as far as quality and quantity are concerned.
But it is strange that there is a kind of tastelessness in drawing pictures for these books. That is while good picture drawing can be very influential in attracting audiences to buy and study books; the event that we rarely witness in the books published during recent years. Using dark, rough and mostly very direct and cliché pictures which lack creativity and beautiful coloring make some of these books look unattractive and amateur. While for this age group of audiences picture drawing can be a complementary element for text; but unfortunately the situation is vice versa.

5- Not use of the Satiric Form for Indirect Presentation of Concepts and Values of Sacred Defense to Child and Teenager Audiences.

Maybe one of the very attractive forms for this group of audiences is well and skillful use of satiric element for writing different stories with the subject of resistance literature. Being attractive is the characteristic of satiric writing. Beside all difficulties and sufferings as well as efforts made during sacred defense, interesting and funny events occurred too. And these events can be a subject for writing stories for children and teenagers. Basically, the spirit of Islam combatants (Iranian combatants) during sacred defense was in a way that they knew the enemy as wretched and degraded people. And even in the most difficult situations, our combatants joked with each other.
Satiric narration of stories and tales can be itself attractive for audiences; but unfortunately, there is only one book published in this year which could become close to this form to some extent.

6: Making the Book

Type and form of making a story book for child and teenager audiences are two factors for beauty of a book. Since many years ago, it was common that a book in square form came to minds whenever people spoke about story books for children. It is however a good size for children books. And this size has been probably approved by experts in this field; but isn’t it possible to design the size and form of the book more innovatively? As we know the concept and form of atmosphere in books are changing innovatively. Can’t we produce books in more diverse forms?
There are new forms of books for children and teenagers presented in different book fairs which are held in different countries every year. These books can be good examples for publishing and producing our books. Using low quality book cover and paper decreases beauty of books considerably. In this particular period of time, there was no special book as far as this aspect was concerned. Children books were almost all produced in square shape and similar to each other. And the books for teenagers were not very interesting either.

7: Dominance of Governmental Publishers

I do not know if the fact that governmental publishers have been responsible for publishing books with the subject of sacred defense during this period of time can be an advantage or not; but it seems that it may cause these books to be written based on orders little by little. Why so few private publishers have entered this field? Isn’t it better that governmental centers do something in this regard? Isn’t it better that they support other publishers rather than carrying out this activity directly?
Isn’t it better that such centers invite different private publishers and ask about their problems with a serious planning? Isn’t it better that such centers make brisk and brighten up this type of literature by supporting these private publishers?
Why shouldn’t a particular publisher have even one beautiful book in its shop window with the subject of sacred defense for children? This is while this particular publisher publishes many titles of books during a year –of course with the support of Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance- where is truly the problem?
Apart from any partiality, the 8 year sacred defense of Iranian nation was in fact a turning point in the history of this land. So why don’t we fulfill our duty about these efforts and self sacrifice in the field of narrative literature with the subject of sacred defense?
Writers and publishers have surely many things to say in this respect that should be certainly paid attention. Don’t we ever limit literature of resistance to governmental publishers and books written based on orders.

8: Now about the Good Points!

What I mentioned were shortages and weaknesses that I could state; but there were good books that are appreciable and should be selected. These good books are both in child audiences section and teenager audiences section. When ever the writer has exited from cliché forms the book has become noticeable and beautiful.
As for the books written for teenagers, I can refer to the Book “I Wish I Were a Little Older”? written by Mr Akbar Sahraee. This book has been written in a simple, fluent and sincere way. There is no motto in this book. And the story is narrated in a reasonable and normal way not in an unbelievable way. There are not any unnecessary and extra events and characters. It is at the same time a beautiful and real narration of sacred defense atmosphere. This book was selected as the best book for teenagers by the jury of this festival.
As for the books written for children audiences, I can refer to “The Earthly Notes”? written by Mr Moselm Nasseri. To some extent, this book could be selected as the best book by the jury of the festival. And it was because of simple narration and prose of the book as well as artistic writing about war and sacred defense in an indirect way.
As the last word, I want to say that sacred defense literature for audiences in the age group of children and teenagers requires improvement and growth. It is the absolute right of this lovely generation to know about the war that was imposed to the people of this land and the sacred defense that people did. Don’t we ever reach to the point that our children and teenagers pass through alleys, streets and high ways which are named under sacred names of our great martyrs and they do not know any of these martyrs!
This job requires a high determination. And the powerful artists and writers of this country can absolutely fulfill this duty.
Writer: Ahmad Arablou