"Стебель бамбука" и проблема идентификации в странах персидского залива

Литература стран Персидского залива стремительно развивается, осваивая новые жанры, приемы и темы, что обусловливает рост ее популярности в мире. Тем не менее, творчество представителей Залива мало изучено, а переводы наиболее известных произведений на русский язык отсутствуют, в т.ч. победителей Арабского Букера, среди которых обращает на себя внимание роман «Стебель бамбука» как попытка культурной идентификации Залива и критический взгляд на его актуальные социальные проблемы.

"The bamboo stalk" and the problem of identification in the Gulf countries

In recent decades it was possible to observe the rapid development of various genres, a variety of artistic techniques and themes in the modern literature of the Gulf countries, the fact that causes a steady increase in its popularity in the Arab world and interest in other countries. Nevertheless, literary works of the representatives of the Gulf remain poorly studied, and even translations of the more famous of them to the Russian almost do not exist, including winners of the Arab Booker prize as «The Bamboo Stalk» by Kuwaiti writer Saud al-Sanousi.

The novel of al-Sanousi should be viewed not only from the standpoint of undeniable artistic values, but also as an attempt to cultural identification of the Gulf and as a critical view of the traditional nature of its society. The author takes an unusual perspective for the disclosure of this topic - the narrative on behalf of the migrant, who, at the same time, is half Kuwaiti and who in vain tries to integrate into local society and become a member of the family of his died father. And it is no coincidence that Arab critics called the «The Bamboo Stalk» a novel of alienation.

The novel refers to the number of pressing social problems of this part of the Arab world, which continue to worry local intellectuals - the situation of migrant workers, the rights of the so called «bidoun» population, limited opportunities to realize themselves for women, elements of segregation based on ethnicity, caste pride, fear of neighborhood gossip, etc. No less tense we find in the dialogues of the main character Jose, or Issa, rushing between two cultures, Filipino and Arabic, on religious themes with representatives of Buddhism, Christianity and Islam.