Zafir Posted October 19, 2006 18/10/2006 Turki al-Hamad [Previous Articles: The state comes first Following the Flock ] In one of the many cultural quiz shows that abound nowadays, one question was to identify a prominent ‘lascivious’ Arab poet [of the erotic Jahiliyya poetry tradition]. After the contestant picked his answer from the choices, the show’s presenter boomed back the answer in confirmation and congratulated him for being well-cultured – and for the money he had just won. That’s what made me stop to think, a number of not-so-innocent questions roaming through my head; who decides if this poet is lascivious? Or rather, who determines the difference between what is virtuous and what isn’t, and who draws the line between virtue and vice? Source Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
