MASHHAD, Khorasan Razavi, Nov. 25--Head of Theology Faculty Library of Ferdowsi University has announced that the faculty is facing problems in preserving and maintaining lithographic publications.
Soheila Pirouzfar told ISNA that the library has many lithographic books which are unique in the world.
She pointed out that the faculty needs sufficient budget for binding lithographic works.
Referring to the fifty-year history of Ferdowsi University's Theology Faculty, Pirouzfar noted that the faculty's library has about 60,000 books, including 2,100 handwritten books and 5,000 reference books.
"A number of American and British researchers have applied for making use from some manuscripts available at the library," she added.
Commenting on the maintenance of handwritten books in the library, she noted that library officials have tried very hard and made several correspondences for the restoration of handwritten books.
"We are looking for people who can help the library in restoring the books," she added.
Referring to atmospheric conditions such as temperature and standard places for keeping books, Pirouzfar contended that some books are on the verge of destruction and nothing has been done to prevent this.

TEHRAN, Nov. 25--A veteran author and critic has said that today, most of the critiques dealing with poetry are somehow influenced by theories.
According to ISNA, Abdelali Dastgheib further observed that poetry criticism is usually carried out on the basis of a special theory. For example, when they want to focus on poems by well-known Iranian contemporary poet Sohrab Sepehri, they use the theory 'foreignization', which was put forward by Roman Jakobson, an American of Russian origin, as the base for their discussions.
He observed that the materials being published in newspapers, books and publications in the name of critiques, are neither structural- nor content-based.
They do not also view poetry from sociological or psychological angles; rather they adopt a theory from someone and deal with the poetry on its basis.
Stating that criticism is different from developing theory, Dastgheib noted that critique means reading the entirety of a work whether anthology of poem or novel and then view it in a critical manner by resorting to the indices within the work, or at the beginning. The critic, he pointed out, should determine whether the work is poetry or not.
"After that, the position of the poet should also be clarified. Foroghi Bastami and Hafez, two leading Iranian poets, are both poets but they are not of the same caliber. Then the historical situation of the poetÕs lifetime should be taken into account.
When Hakim Abolqasem Ferdowsi, a well-known Iranian poet, composed his epic work, Shahnameh, he faced many problems and was even called an infidel, but today he is honored worldwide," Dastgheib said.
"The fourth stage is to realize that what has become available to us is not devoid of shortcomings and we should find out the weak and strong points of the work," he concluded.

TEHRAN, Nov. 25--Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad-Hossein Saffar Harandi here on Friday issued a message on the occasion of the Fourth National Razavi Theater Festival, IRNA reported.
In the message, Harandi said that the cultural and art event is considered as a new strategy to nurture artists' creativity. "In the critical arena, certain powers try to deprive people from their identity, therefore, the Islamic and Iranian artists should undertake a decisive role in this respect," the message read.
He added that the world oppressed have pinned hopes on the glorious Islamic Revolution of Iran and on the guidelines issued by the late Imam Khomeini and the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to get rid of the world arrogance' threats, and Iranian artists should do their best to disseminate the Islamic culture.
The minister referred to the Imam Reza (AS) Art and Culture Festival in his message, saying that holding such festivals and conferences is considered as honorable cultural and art movements which should be continued to flourish creativity in this regard.
The Fourth National Razavi Theater will be held in Tehran from November 26 to December 1.

Director Abbas Kiarostami

TEHRAN, Nov. 25--Noted Iranian film director believes that life is a great storry-teller for him, saying that sometimes a trivial issue around him serves as a miracle for him.
Speaking to ISNA after the screening of 'ABC-AfricaÕ in Shiraz, Abbas Kiarostami further called on the students not to abandon filmmaking on the pretexts of insufficient facilities.
Asked about the happy and colorful setting climate of the film despite the sadness of the survivors of AIDS, he said, "If you look well into your lives, you will find signs of happiness in the depth of calamities.
"While in Uganda for nine days, we witnessed only bitter events or in Roudbar, Gilan province, a devastating earthquake claimed more than 50,000 lives," he said, adding that but what were highlighted in the films 'ABC-Africa' and 'Life and Nothing Else' was life as well as the scenes depicting that the impacts of death were buried seriously.
Distinguishing the reporting and story-telling cinemas, he also said, "I do not think that there can be any cinema without story. We should seize any opportunity for making films," he said.
In response to a question about educational classes in Iran, he said, "It was always difficult for me to say that I do not teach any class in Iran."
The classes overseas were sponsored by governments, he said, adding, "For example, when I undertook a class in Italy, all those interested in the field throughout Europe were invited to take part."
Or in Morocco, the government supports filmmaking classes, but, this does not happen in Iran, he concluded.

TEHRAN, Nov. 25--Works by a 73-year-old Iranian calligrapher, Nasrollah Afjehei are currently on display in an exhibition in Manchester, UK, which is also featuring miniatures by another Iranian artist Alireza Sa'adatmand.
Islamic Cultural Center of Regent's Park is cooperating in holding the exhibition in the northern English city of Manchester from November 23 to 26, ISNA reported.
An exhibition of about 30 works by Afjehei and Sa'adatmand will also be held in London from November 30 to December 2. The event is sponsored by Iranian Embassy's Cultural Department and London Islamic Center.
Iran's ambassador and Iranian cultural attachŽ in Britain, as well as the head of London Islamic Center will deliver speeches at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.
Afjehei's works were earlier showcased in France, Indonesia, America, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Dubai (UAE) and Switzerland.
Although Afjehei has used certain forms of paintings in his works, he has remained devoted to the art of calligraphy throughout his works.

ISFAHAN, Nov. 25--Closing ceremony of international seminar themed 'Holy Qur'an, Problems of Contemporary Society and Commemoration of Ragheb Isfahani' was held in Isfahan University's Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) lecture hall.
Qur'anic researchers from Iran, Egypt, Syria, Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq, Ghana, UK, China, Tunisia, Sudan and Lebanon submitted their papers on the holy Qur'an and various aspects of human life, IRNA reported.
At the closing ceremony, the findings of the seminar's five commissions were presented in the form of academic papers.
Head of Isfahan Theological School, Hossein Mazaheri, delivered a speech on the role of the Qur'an in the society.
He said that Qur'anic teachings are the best means for human salvation.
A total of 40 papers out of 206 sent to the seminar's secretariat were from foreign Qur'anic researchers.
Upon approval of the scientific board, a total of 50 papers were selected by specialized committees in Persian, Arabic and English languages. "Some 33 papers were prepared by foreign scholars," he added.
The specialized committees included 'Qur'an and Science', 'Qur'an and Social Issues', 'Qur'an and Political Issues', 'Qur'an and Economic Issues' and 'Qur'an and Legal Issues'.

TEHRAN, Nov. 25--An exhibition of books and photos titled 'Labbeik' opened in a ceremony attended by the deputy head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).
The event displays photos featuring the rituals of Hajj, the major pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia as well as books on the event.
Speaking to Fars on the sideline of the event, Honardoust said that the national broadcaster seeks to engrain Hajj pilgrimage into the lives of the people and counter the idea that Hajj is a periodical event and financial ability is the prerequisite for undertaking Hajj pilgrimage.
He further said that the event is being held to mark Hajj Week, which according to him, is not a suitable designation because the ideals of the divine trip are not limited to a special period; rather they should be incorporated into the daily lives of Muslims.
"We are trying to make the public more familiar with Hajj teachings and secrets," he said, adding that setting up of Labbeik Internet-TV Network is also one of the useful measures to confront dealing with Hajj as a seasonal phenomenon.
The network aims to convey the idea that if some obscene sites are found in the Internet, some ethical and blessed websites are also there online, which are more welcomed than the unethical ones by the audience, he concluded.

TEHRAN, Nov. 25--Iran is participating in the Seventh Tokyo International Filmex Festival with five films which were screened in the competition and special films sections.
According to IRNA, the film 'Offside' directed by Jafar Panahi was screened Friday in the special films section of the event, which is to end today (November 26).
The films 'Workers Are Working' by Mani Haqiqi, 'Have Any More Apples' directed by Bayram Fazli, 'Half Moon' by Bahman Qobadi, were featured in the competition section of the event while 'Offside' and 'Cry of Ants' by Mohsen Makhmalbaf were screened in the special films section.
At the nine-day event, some 34 films from different countries were screened in various sections, the most important of which is the competition section.
The first prize of the competition section is a cash award of one million yens while the second prize is the award of the jury which is worth of 200,000 yens.
The festival has also a 500,000-yen award for the best film which is selected by the audience.
'Sound of Obstacle' by Amir Naderi and 'Gol ya Pouch' by Abolfazl Jalili were screened at last year's event.
Noted Iranian director, Abolfazl Jalili served as the head of the festival's panel of jury last year.