Death of Saudi critic Saeed Al-Sarihi
Prominent Saudi critic and writer Saeed Al-Suraihi passed away on Wednesday after a prolific career spanning decades, leaving behind a rich cultural and intellectual legacy. Al-Suraihi, who died in Jeddah, was a leading figure in modern literary criticism in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world, and his death represents a significant loss to the cultural landscape, where he was a key player and shaper of its transformations.
Historical context: From academia to public influence
Saeed Al-Suraihi began his academic and professional career in the cities of Taif and Jeddah, where he earned a doctorate in literature and criticism and worked as a professor of modern literature and criticism at Umm Al-Qura University. His career was not limited to academia; he also had a strong and influential presence in the journalistic field, working for the newspaper "Okaz" and serving as its editor-in-chief for a period. He also headed the Jeddah Literary and Cultural Club, making him a pivotal figure in the Saudi cultural movement for decades.
The importance of Al-Suraihi and his influence on the cultural scene
Saeed Al-Suraihi's name is closely associated with the major intellectual transformations that Saudi culture witnessed during the 1970s and 80s, particularly with the rise of the modernist movement. Al-Suraihi was one of the most prominent advocates and theorists of renewal, engaging in renowned intellectual and critical debates in defense of new questions in literature and thought. His critical project was characterized by its boldness and depth, and its ability to deconstruct literary texts and connect them to their social and cultural contexts. He was famous for his column "Takharif" (Nonsense) in the newspaper "Okaz," which served as a platform for his sharp critical ideas and profound intellectual insights, addressing issues that transcended literature to touch upon public affairs, thus earning him a wide readership.
A lasting intellectual legacy
Al-Suraihi enriched the Arabic library with numerous important critical works, most notably "The Allure of the Name: Meaning and Significance in the Poetry of Muhammad al-Thubaiti" and "Writing Outside the Brackets." He was not merely an academic critic, but an engaged intellectual who interacted with the issues of his society and sought, through his writings, to establish a rational and open critical discourse that rejects preconceived notions. With the passing of Saeed al-Suraihi, the Arab cultural scene loses a unique critical voice and a courageous thinker who dedicated his life to serving the written word and intellectual pursuits. Despite his absence, his writings and ideas will remain a source of inspiration for researchers and writers, and a testament to a life brimming with intellectual and literary contributions.
