The Identity Issue

2020 ISSUE ONE HISTORICAL JEDDAH: A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ENLIGHTENING THE MIND TEACHERS PANDEMIC DREAMS TARZAN 1999; A REVIEW

OBJECTIVE EDITORIAL TEAM Originating from the Latin word lūmen, the Rufqah Alhulays  Al Hanouf Al Ghamdi English term luminary refers to a celestial body Alhanoof Alotaibi Heyam Abdulhameed that gives off light. The Luminary Magazine Shikhah Alharthi Dalia AlBadri aims to shine a light on the literary and artistic Tarfah Alkharji Njood Alkhalagi work of the English Department students and Mennatallah Mourad Fatimah Aziz reflect their thoughts, aspirations and Amani Alalyani accomplishments. In our mission to unveil their CONTACT US hidden talents, we provide an authentic and Department of European Languages and Literature, engaging medium where students can share their Faculty of Arts & Humanities, King writing and artwork with a wider readership Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. within the reach of the campus and beyond. [email protected] The Team COVER PHOTO BY: Al Hanouf Al Ghamdi

PHOTO CREDIT: Al Hanouf Al Ghamdi Ba Ishen House & Museum Contents RECOMMENDATIONS & MAIN THE PANDEMIC REVEIWS 02 Historical Jeddah: 11 Student Identity After 33 The Creative Features of Enlightening the Mind Coronavirus Meshal Al Jaser 06 Interchangeable Identity 14 101 Things to Do While in 34 I Lost My Body 2019 08 What I am Telling My Quarantine 36 Tarzan 1999 Grandchildren About the 18 Pandemic Dreams Fast-Moving Virus 13 A Round of Applause for  STORIES Teachers 22 Interview with Njood 26 What Does Homeland Al-Khalagi Mean to Me? THE LUMINARY 27 No One Cares! 1

PHOTO CREDIT: Dr. Amel Shoaib NEWS One of the oldest dentist clinics in Jeddah Historical Jeddah: Enlightening the Mind BY: TARFAH ALKHARJI On a magical carpet into Arabian history and on the wings of Ibn Battuta – we, the students of the Department of European Languages and Literature – were carried away to Al-Balad region on Monday, 24 February 2020, to explore the art and charm of Old Jeddah, a place that merges both traditional and modern styles of living. However, it was the former area we were interested in. The historical buildings there held so many great stories behind their facades. These structures preserved the identity of Al-Balad and its great past. The whole trip enriched our minds. We were privileged to be given a tour by a very knowledgeable and informative guide. She described the astonishing history of Old Jeddah and how it was saved from several invasions to preserve the beauty people now enjoy. This article covers the unique identity of the neighborhoods we visited and the beautiful architecture that we learned about. 2 THE LUMINARY Dr. Amel Shoaib PHOTO CREDIT:

NEWS PHOTO CREDIT: Dr. Amel Shoaib Tourist Coffee Shop Our tour guide surprised the group with so much detailed information about the identity of PHOTO CREDIT: Dr. Amel Shoaib Old Jeddah. She took the students through the different neighborhoods, each with its own Backdoor of the Ba ishen House unique identity of beautiful authenitc construction and distinct color schemes. The THE LUMINARY 3 buildings were designed to fit the Islamic traditions of Al-Hijaz. For example, in some houses, the main gate consisted of two entryways; a large door followed by another smaller one. The latter was too small to allow an average human body size to walk through. A person had to crouch to get through the door. Our guide also told us there were two stories of why the doors were built that way. The first one: when someone enters the house, their body would cover the entrance of the door, so a passersby would not be able to see what or who was in the house. One must remember the people of those times were very conservative. The second version of the story: these doors were adopted from Roman times.They were built so Muslims would be forced to bend whilst entering a building, something they would not do if they had the choice as it is not part of their religion. Whichever story was behind those doors, they were beautifully crafted and designed. Another example of the beautiful architecture is the traditional wooden roshan windows that were made of teak wood that most of the houses had on their exteriors. They were sculpted in a way that allows air to move easily in the home to cool it. Our guide also told us that the women of these long- forgotten times could open the blinds of these roshans and not worry about being seen by those on the streets below them. Still another architectural topic that surprised many of us was the logic behind the number of floors and the height of the ceilings of the house we saw. They depicted the different social levels of the people living in these neighborhoods and how it identified them and signaled their wealth.

4 NEWS As we moved on to complete our trip through the stone-paved streets, we were allowed to enter one of the houses (Bait Saloom) and be taken back in time. We were given a glimpse of how one of the families used to live in the past. We went from room to room enjoying the authenticity of the home. Most of us loved the main bedroom as we were given a glimpse of where the lady of the house slept and what kind of jewelry she wore. We felt the artistic touch in the beautifully decorated ceilings and the seating areas that were designated for the different genders. One of the rooms we were invited into held some traditional ideology; it had high seating areas that were designated for the male members of the household and their guests. The main chair in the forefront of the room was usually reserved for the oldest male member. The seats were built high because they served as storage units. The women also had their own area in the home where they welcomed guests. However, their seating areas were different. They were low leveled with a window seat overlooking the streets below them. In this part of the house, the furniture was traditional Hijaz style; from the beautifully embroidered table clothes to the exquisite, wooden, Indian-made, low side tables. We also saw the different traditional artifacts the family used such as the metal rosewater hand spray which was used after meals.We were truly transported to another era in time. PHOTO CREDIT: Dr. Amel Shoaib Saloom House Eِ ntrance THE LUMINARY

NEWS Our guide also discussed the traditional clothing of that time. The picture gallery she guided us through was filled with images of forgotten times; we did not want to leave. She showed us portraits of men and women in colorful attires and traditional headdresses representing the country’s cultural heritage. The streets were another significant aspect of Al-Balad. They had their own stories to tell with their identity clear for all to see. Almost every street was named after a person in that part of Old Jeddah. For example, Abu Enabah Street was one of the most famous streets we walked through. It was named after a man who used to water the grapevines that were on that street. We ended our tour by visiting a traditional candy shop that took us back in time to our grandparents’ era. It was truly an amazing experience as it depicted the different social levels of the people living in these neighborhoods and how it identified them and signaled their wealth. Words are not enough to describe this sensational trip! We recommend all of you visit the Al-Balad region to know more about Old Jeddah and its incredible history. We are thankful to our university, King Abdulaziz University, and our department for the opportunity to go and explore one of Jeddah’s hidden treasures. PHOTO CREDIT: Dr. Amel Shoaib Houses with different colored roshans THE LUMINARY 5

MAIN INTERCHANGEABLE IDENTITY: FACTORS THAT SHAPE A PERSON'S INDIVIDUALITY By: Mennatallah Mourad FIGURE DESIGNED BY: MENNATALLAH MOURAD Who are you? What defines you? What makes up your identity?      While identity is simple in definition, it is oftentimes much more complicated when put into effect. It is generally assumed that the set of characteristics that make up an individual’s identity should be in harmony with one another. For example, it is agreed that a king cannot be a peasant simultaneously just as the detective in a case cannot also be the criminal. However, on a more personal level, it can be difficult to conform to one set of characteristics. For this reason, identity is variable with many factors at play.    6 | THE LUMINARY 

DARUOM HALLATANNEM :YB MAIN One of the reasons for the concept of identity being 7 interchangeable is simply human nature. Karl Marx theorized that human nature is fluid. Since the beginning of time, humans have been evolving and changing. To this day, we can observe this around us from never-ending construction sites to redesigned fashion pieces styled on the models walking the runway.      In addition, the environment has a significant effect on identity. The character of a person and the development of this character is greatly influenced by the geographical area an individual is brought up in because the societal laws that shape the mind differ from one place to another. In turn, this controls a person's outlook on life and directs their personality.    Similarly, culture and tradition are deeply rooted in identity. Tradition transforms the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual to further suit the collective customs and behavior of a certain group. This is successful in part due to humans being social creatures and the consequences of going against the crowd is too dreadful that it keeps individuals from taking on a different, frowned upon identity and dominates their individuality.    The availability of opportunity plays a defining role in establishing identity. Having a wider scope of possibilities increases the likelihood of fine tuning the characteristics to better suit the individual. For example, many people base their whole identity on their work which sometimes would not be possible without an education. In summary, there are many factors that influence a person's identity. Human nature, the environment, society, culture and tradition have a large impact on an individual's individuality. Therefore, the perception of identity as being set in stone is rather impractical. THE LUMINARY 

THE LUMINARY MAIN WHAT I AM TELLING MY GRANDCHILDREN ABOUT THE FAST-MOVING VIRUS By: Rufqah Alhulays As a person who is obsessed I will begin by telling them about the past, about with living a simple life, I have how humans used to do basic jobs to afford the been watching this world as a essentials for their living. For example, farmers stranger from the outside. As we used to get through different seasons by taking all know, drastic transformations care of their cattle and farming the land. have been happening around us Nowadays, life has become more complicated as in the last several years. I people are in constant competition to find perceive it more when I listen to suitable, well-paid jobs that can only be my grandmother's stories, those I obtained with good education. Working hard plan on passing to my  alone does not ensure a better living for families. grandchildren. Yet, I understand Perseverance and constant insistence on the changes even more when I reaching goals are as important since realize that I also have to relate expectations of living luxurious lives are in to them the story of how the demand; the concept of basic needs has pandemic of (COVID-19) changed. affected my generation. 8 PHOTO CREDIT: RUFQAH ALHULAYS

MAIN YRANIMUL EHT As technology advanced, the necessities for an average person besides food and clothing changed. For example, forty years ago, the average person needed a television, a telephone, and a car in order to communicate and stay connected to the world. However, today, these “basic- human-needs” changed again. In addition to the television, telephone, and car, a mobile phone, a computer device, a coffee machine, an air fryer, and many other gadgets and appliances have become everyday musts. Also, the concept of goods has changed due to massive industrial development and production. For instance, there are twenty different types of cheese and up to ten brands to choose between in the supermarket today. In the 1950s, a person used to pay two bills a month, one for water and another for electricity. In 2020, the number of additional subscriptions (Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV) is endless. New demands make people work harder Suddenly, a virus joined our marathon and harder. So, it is no wonder that today's and it is faster than the changes we world makes me feel like we are always in a have experienced, and it is infectious! competition, like we are racing one another It is not only dangerous, it is a cause of in a  marathon that is not a traditional one. possible death. Because of this virus, In this race, we have to reach the end not we are forced to put our competition to merely win, but to simply survive. aside and stay home in order to survive. PHOTO CREDIT: RUFQAH ALHULAYS 9

MAIN Today, the whole world is competing YRANIMUL EHT against the same enemy - an enemy that it is unseen, an enemy that is pure evil, an enemy that puts our lives in danger, an enemy that has put us all under the mercy of full lockdown. Because of this enemy, the rules have changed. Instead of hugging people you love and care about, you need to stay one meter away from them to keep them safe! Isn't it ironic! No matter how humans have been productive or progressive in the past, it is a pity that they have not produced a single weapon to fight the COVID-19 enemy. I cannot hide the fact that my previous wish of attending classes from the comfort of my bed, wearing my pajama has been granted in this time. However, this dream, now fulfilled, feels like a creepy nightmare. On a more positive note, I observe that In my opinion, this pandemic has granted us time to reassess our lives everybody, including roads and cars, and reconnect with ourselves. We all paid the price, an expensive one, by and of course, the earth who got not being able to meet with our friends and families. Yet, it has made us more extremely exhausted from our aware of the real value of things, such as the joy of having a meal in a marathon, is taking a little break restaurant or giving a simple handshake. It is not like I am being Personally, the only good news I heard thankful for this pandemic, because it is still taking lives. I am just more in the last few weeks is about how our thankful for the little things I once overlooked, while praying for COVID-19 planet is healing and breathing, while to leave us soon. its people are getting infected. So yes, we do not have to worry about the ozone hole anymore. However, we are really worried about the people who are leaving the planet. PHOTO CREDIT: RUFQAH ALHULAYS 10

THE PANDEMIC Student Identity After Coronavirus BY: DALIA ALBADRI After the realization of the severity of this crisis, learning became distant. The world today is depressed because of Regular students experienced learning in coronavirus. Everything has changed due a new way. Instead of waking up and to this severe pandemic: routines, getting ready to leave for school, relationships, occasions, activities, and students attended Blackboard classes even the educational process. In the first wearing their pajamas. It is actually moments of hearing the news of the really comfortable. However, most of us suspension of educational institutions, missed greeting each other in the many students cheered, but that cheer morning. Sitting in front of a computer did not last after they realized the screen for 4 to 5 hours daily caused us seriousness of the matter. As a college headaches. It dehumanized our student, being in this situation, I felt the educational experiences, turning us into effect of this change in shaping my new robots. Some of us felt as if our devices identity, one that has formed through my controlled us. We even sometimes faced educational status, my new perspective, technological issues because of Internet and my family relationships. traffic, and as a result, missed our classes. PHOTO CREDIT: AL HANOUF AL GHAMDI THE LUMINARY| 11

THE PANDEMIC Living in quarantine has changed students' life perspectives. We now see new aspects that we have never seen before, starting from appreciating the freedom we once had. We used to go out whenever we want, touch anything around us freely and hug friends with no fears, but now there are precautions to take, and limits not to cross. Many may think it is a negative situation, but I think of it as a kind of meditation with many positive sides. For example, staying at home began to inspire authors to write. It allowed us to appreciate more. Spending a lot of time at home can positively affect family relationships. Our presence with our families reduces the anxiety of the crisis, especially when we play games and talk about different life matters. My favorite part is listening to the old stories told by my grandfather. We started to learn new recipes which we cooked at home as an alternative way of ordering meals to protect our family from possible infections. I believe that this disaster made our family bond stronger. In light of the above, many of us are thankful for becoming aware of what this virus forced us to see. It is weird when we change to the best in a bad event, but this is the truth. They say blessing can come in disguise. I think coronavirus will also change the world positively. PHOTO CREDIT: AL HANOUF AL GHAMDI T H E L U M I N A R Y |   0142

THE LUMINARY MAIN 13 A Round of - Applause for - Teachers* by Heyam Abdulhameed With the terrifying uncertainty that Instructors are stepping up in surrounds this global pandemic, this fatal battle against millions of students, who along with coronavirus to fill in the their teachers are self-quarantining, distressing absence of wonder when they will return safely certainty with a sense of to their normal 8 a.m. classrooms. assurance. As the reported The stress that accompanies this death toll continues to crisis is paralyzing, but many increase, our feeling of teachers remain passionately anxiety does too, but so does committed to guide their students our teachers' valued support. and provide much-needed This is a time of gratitude for emotional support during this our schoolteachers and unprecedented time in human university professors. We recent history.  salute you. *Originally published in Saudi Gazette newspaper.

THE PANDEMIC AMANI AL-ALYANI 101 THINGS TO DO WHILE IN QUARANTINE TWITTER: @_AMANI_ALALYANI Read. Have a conversation you kept DIY something. hidden in your chest. Watch old nostalgic shows. Try making a birdhouse/feeder. (Alaolama - Tash Ma Tash) Write a review of a movie or book If you have workers in the house, you liked or disliked. talk to them and learn something Exercise burning comebacks for new about them or their culture. your next argument. Practice your recitation of the Watch movies online with your Quran aloud. friends (Rave – Netflix party … Learn how to make Saudi etc.). traditional food (Areeka - Saleeq - Asida). If you are a student, study. Eat. Grow an herb garden. Look at old pictures of loved ones. Draw something new every day Try Yoga or stretching. (pencil – charcoal or pen). Join online workshops. Order new clothes for Eid. Look up how to do manicure and Listen to podcasts or audio books. pedicure at home and do it. Have an honest conversation with Go to your parents'/partner’s yourself or others about how you closet and let them pick their feel at this time. favorite item and let them tell you Send money to charity. its story. If you have a pet, bathe and Do a cool nail art. groom it. Put on a face mask. Read more about COVID-19 :). 14

THE PANDEMIC Try embroidery.    Delete old messages/apps/photos If you are a woman, practice your on your devices. Bake something new (try Lemon high heel walk. If you are a man, Cake lol). Reorganize your living space. ‫ﺑﺸﺖ‬practice your ( ) walk. Tell someone how much you love them. Work on quitting smoking or any Make a book out of all your cooking recipes. form of addiction that you may Plant seeds. Write a diary or a journal about this have. pandemic. Wash your sheets and pillow covers. Wash your hands. Conduct a 3-minute screaming contest with your siblings. If you have the space for it, try Drink water. sleeping outdoors. Fix something in the house. Find a reason to smile. Wear that fancy outfit that you never had the chance to wear. Play (Carrom–Uno-List a name, an animal, and an object game) with family members. Moisturize your body. Reorganize your closet (Marie Watch long awarded movies alone. Kondo style). Remember old hardships and cry. Hug a loved one.  Dye your hair a fun color (if you Learn calligraphy (YouTube didn’t like it, no one will see it).  lessons). Look up funny tweets or memes. Try to make your favorite restaurant Workout. meal at home. Paint something (try oil, acrylic, Sleep. watercolors, or mix). Learn a new language.  Try to keep up with praying all your Search thought-provoking topics prayers on time with the additional on Wikipedia. ones (Sunnah). Video chat with distant relatives or Make different kinds of bread from friends (Skype, Face Time, or scratch. Google Hangout). Dance, anything. Practice your singing skills. Daily coloring books are not for 15 kids only, try them.

THE PANDEMIC Watch funny TikToks. Learn new air fryer recipes. Discover hidden gems of old, rare Get some sun. movies or music. Have a photographing session of Learn splits or handstands (be yourself or anything around you careful). (people, food, or landscapes). Take deep breaths. Think happy thoughts.  It's not like you are going anywhere If you have the space for it, have a soon, but wash your car. racing contest with family Make someone give you a relaxing members.   head massage. Organize your plastic containers Watch interesting documentaries. cabinet. Imagine sad/funny/heroic Master your board games scenarios of you before you sleep. collection (puzzles, Legos, Carrom, Play online games. or UNO). Change an old traditional food Look into different conspiracy theories. recipe into a modern style. Shop and support local businesses. Write a short story or a haiku poem. Draw or paint a self-portrait on the Wash your clothes, make your bed. mirror. Water your plants. Send a thank-you note for a health Perfume the whole house with your care worker or a teacher. favorite fragrance. Put on a deep conditioning hair If you have a sewing machine, learn treatment or beard oil. how to make a shirt or a dress. Conduct a cooking contest with your Clean your house. family members. Surf your siblings' closet and have a Take a photoshop or digital art online dress-up party. course. Discover your love language for the Try latte art. Teach a younger sibling his first Doa’a 16 people around you. or help them memorize Ayatt Alqursi or Alfatha.

For more wildlife gems: THE LUMINARY IG: @felinewhispher DEPARTMENT TRIVIA OUR CATS PHOTO CREDIT: Mennatallah Mourad The lost travelers between Bldg. 8 and Al Jawhara Bldg. depend on the kindness of students who feed them and show them affection in so many ways. 17

THE LUMINARY THE PANDEMIC BY: MENNATALLAH MOURAD Pandemic Dreams By now, there is no doubt that most This leads to the development of an people are aware of the physical interesting phenomenon known as effects - fever, difficult breathing, “pandemic dreams.” Pandemic and even pneumonia - that the dreams are best described as the coronavirus inflicts on the physical strangely vivid and sometimes body. However, many remain disturbing dreams that occur, as the oblivious to the possible effects it has name suggests, during a pandemic. on the human psyche. With all These dreams range from nightmares certainty, a global pandemic of an inevitable apocalypse to spreading panic and fear would pleasantly simple yet realistic dreams affect the collective thoughts and of spending time outside in nature or emotions of the public. with loved ones. 18

THE LUMINARY THE PANDEMIC The Subconscious and Conscious Mind To understand the peculiar Whichever emotions conjure up to the phenomenon that is “pandemic dreams,” we must first probe into surface by the conscious mind end up the psychology behind the act of dreaming. According to the being stored in the unconscious mind. neurologist Sigmund Freud, the mind is made up of the conscious, The unconscious mind develops unconscious, and preconscious. These three levels of awareness throughout the stages of sleep allowing perform on different levels to allow the brain to store and make them to seep into and guide the use of the information it receives. imaginary images and events of the dream. For this reason, it is safe to say that dreams are not out of hand as previously thought and that it is possible to regain control over certain aspects. During the waking hours when you go about your day, it is your conscious mind that takes the initiative. Then, at the end of the day when you nod off into a meditative state, the mind switches gears to the preconscious and eventually to the unconscious. The unconscious mind delves into our innermost emotions and core beliefs rather than common logic (which explains why dreams often go beyond the realm of possibility) while the conscious mind is more rational and deals with every day, worldly interactions. 19

THE LUMINARY THE PANDEMIC Controlling Dreams It is extremely helpful to understand how to control dreams, especially for those suffering from persistent nightmares. Listed below are a few changes you can implement to decrease the likelihood of waking up from one. End the night with a Wind down by spraying a meditation session. This relaxing scent that draws eases any anxiety from the up pleasant memories. day that could trigger unwanted dreams.  Set the theme for what you would like to dream Avoid overwhelming yourself about before you drift off with worrisome statistics to sleep. and news too close to bedtime. Start a dream journal. 20

THE LUMINARY THE PANDEMIC Dream Journaling Dream journaling refers to documenting your 2. Write in the journal first dreams in writing. It is said to aid in remembering dreams more clearly when thing in the morning for done on a consistent basis and paves the way for lucid dreaming. In a lucid dream, the more clarity. With every dreamer is aware that they are dreaming whilst being in the dream. This action passing second, it heightens control over the events that occur in the dream. Additionally, it makes it easier becomes more difficult to to wake up on command and assists in transforming dreadful nightmares into remember the details of delightful dreams. the dream. 3. Jot down the date in each entry. This makes it easier to stay on track and serves as a helpful reminder to write daily. 4. Add descriptions that involve the five senses to pave the way for increased awareness in To start a dream journal: upcoming dreams such as 1. Pick out a notebook to use specifically for colour, taste, smell, sound, writing down dreams. This habit trains the brain to build a connection between trying to and touch. remember the dream upon waking up and looking at the notebook before even opening 5. Finally, make sure to it.  fulfill the standard sleep requirements by having at least seven hours of sleep for optimum rest. 21

An Illustration from the book INTERVIEW 22 Njood Al-khalagi BY: SHIKHAH ALHARTHI When I interviewed our young writer Njood Al-khalagi, she said that she is the girl who  always cries! She started writing two years ago. She is too realistic but at the same time, too melancholic. She thinks that most people don’t like that about her. However, this is the voice that she chooses to write with, and this is how she is going to continue writing. 1. SO, NJOOD, YOU HAVE PUBLISHED TWO BOOKS SO FAR, RIGHT? Yes. -AND, YOU ARE CURRENTLY WRITING ANOTHER ONE? Yes, but for now, I’m partially pausing everything because of university, but I’m working on another book, yes. 2. WHEN DID YOU FIRST REALIZE YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER? Well. I have been writing since I was young, but I didn’t realize that I want to be a writer. However, three years ago, I was depressed and I was sick of repeating my problems to my friends. You know! I just reached a point where enough is enough. So, I stopped talking about it and started to write about it. That is why it is a little bit melancholic. THE LUMINARY

INTERVIEW 3. WHAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST SURPRISING 7. WHAT WAS THE HARDEST SCENE TO WRITE THINGS YOU LEARNED IN CREATING YOUR IN YOUR NOVELLA WRITING THE TRIFLES? BOOKS? This novella is written in a foreign setting, and That I can publish a book that is worth zero dollars. there are some scenes where I wanted to show the But at the same time I can gain money. If I’m foreign side. The hardest scene is when I tried to knowledgeable enough, I can publish it for dollars! write about Lora, the main character; as a foreign character going to church or talking about her identity as catholic. These were very hard. 4. WHAT OTHER AUTHORS ARE YOU FRIENDS 8. DO YOU HIDE ANY SECRETS IN YOUR BOOKS WITH, AND HOW DID THEY HELP YOU TO THAT ONLY A FEW PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND? BECOME A BETTER WRITER? Yes, of course. Every time my sisters and friends Actually, I don’t have author friends. People who read the things I write, they say things like \"You critique my books and give me recommendations remember what happened that day!\" and so on. for making them better are only my sisters and However, in real life, I don’t express my emotions my friends. very much and when I write, they know and see my opinion. 5. WHAT WAS AN EARLY EXPERIENCE WHERE YOU LEARNED THAT LANGUAGE HAS POWER? Several times in my life. I was in a situation with 9. IN YOUR NOVELLA, WRITING THE TRIFLES, people saying things that were too bad and I just YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW LIFE IS MEANINGLESS realized how powerful it is on me, so that time, I AND FOCUSED ON HOW YOU WERE SEARCHING started to use language accordingly. Because if FOR YOUR IDENTITY. CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN you can affect someone to this extent by saying THAT? something in a bad context, how is your reader going to see it when he sees a timeline for a The main character’s identity, Lora, was a bit character going through such time? confused whether she was herself or not. More specifically she has low self-esteem, and she 6. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE thinks that everyone is mocking her, or judging her WRITING THE TRIFLES? body and clothes. She always keeps saying, \"I like to be ugly so no one can see me\". Her identity is a To be honest, it took about one month from bit deformed. She wants to make it obvious for me. I set a schedule for myself and started. In everyone, but she is afraid of it, and at the end of Ramadan 2018, I started writing it, and in the the novella she wrote in her diary and then closed same month but on the last day, I finished it. I it. There is a deeper meaning here; no one is was writing two pages per day. actually looking at her appearance, that her identity is fine, and she can live with it. THE LUMINARY 23

WHAT WE our cats our university PHOTO CREDIT: AL HANOUF AL GHAMDI ASSOCIATE WITH OUR our coffee machines our favorite hangout DEPARTMENT our club our Bldg. 8 Our classes our classes our Bldg. 4 24 T H E L U M I N A R Y

REPORT REPORT The Department's Report How many languages do you speak? reveals the findings of a short statistical survey based on 66 English Section students' answers. BY: DALIA ALBADRI Most of the students who participated in the survey speak two languages: Arabic and English (64.2%). 35.8% are multilingual, 25.4% speak three languages, and 10.4% speak four languages. When multilingual students were asked what languages they spoke, the answers varied. The French language came at the very top with 42.1%. Korean came next with 26.3%, and Japanese was third with 21.1% speakers. Other students speak Spanish (17.5%) and a few knows Turkish (10.5%). Two students speak Urdu and one of them speaks Polish as well. Finally, one student speaks German and another one speaks Barnawi. What is your level of proficiency? The survey results shows that most of the students are at a beginner's level in the languages they speak. When asked about the reasons for learning these languages, 79% said they fell in love with the languages, while 21% just claimed that they enjoyed learning languages. In addition, when the students were asked, \"If you had the chance to learn another language, which one would it be?,\" interestingly, 37% answered that they would like to learn Spanish, 22% said German, and finally only 11% replied that they would like to learn Italian. It is apparent that we are students who simply love languages! THE LUMINARY 25

STORIES THE LUMINARY WHAT DOES HOMELAND MEAN TO ME? BY: RUFQAH ALHULAYS The story started when my grandfather came from Palestine to Saudi Arabia after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. He thought that it would be a temporary situation, as he would go back to his homeland, but it turned out to be a new beginning for a new life. Two generations are living in Saudi Arabia now. I am considered to be of the second generation. I am one of the granddaughters. I was born here. I studied here. I lived my whole life here, but I don’t know whether I am a citizen or refugee. Whenever I tell people that I am Palestinian, I feel a sense of displacement. I find it difficult to answer this simple question. I have Mosakhan for lunch and Jareesh for dinner and I use keda and haik in the same sentence. The most interesting part is that people get surprised when they hear my Hijaz accent. I remember one of my friends hearing a compliment about my use of the Saudi language. She told me, “It is normal! People should not find it strange! You actually were born here!” I realized then that I have an identity crisis. I can say that I only know one country, the one I lived in for the past two decades, yet I feel I belong to another place I never visited before. I made all my memories in the Kingdom's cities, and I belong to its different streets; I have a story to tell about each one of them, but my passport says otherwise! Dear reader, it would be strange to say that I feel homesick for places I have never been to. I feel nostalgic to memories I have never lived. I miss the smell of the orange trees I have never smelled. I savor the taste of olives that are only imported. I still wonder, what homeland means and to which borders do I belong? I wish I could belong to the sky where borders do not exist! 26

STORIES THE LUMINARY NO ONE CARES BY: NJOOD AL-KHALAGI Inspired from Alain De Botton     She sits in the café corner all by herself. She has been told that she is a coward. She has never experienced bravery except by looking in her mirror and questioning her reflection. It is difficult for her to sit by herself while everyone is observing her. Fixing her clothes won't change the situation. Brushing her hair differently won't help her, especially with her short hair, which is hard to style. She never talks or laughs out loud. For her, it is hard to express herself before others because of her fear of being judged.          Two people come and fix their eyes on her. Their mouths open and close, and most probably, they are saying something about her: that is what she thinks. Thus, she walks through life, considering how the person next to her in the elevator is thinking about her, how the waiter in the restaurant is evaluating the number of dishes she orders and then judging her appearance, thin or fat, accordingly. The saleswomen are mocking her taste in dresses with her friends on their break. She thinks how disturbing and uncomfortable it is to genuinely be herself.      \"Excuse me, Miss, we are about to close in five minutes!\" says the manager. She laughs as she walks, but she doesn’t give a second thought to whether a purchase is made or not. The waiter never really takes notice of the order or cares about her appearance. The person next to her in the elevator has never glanced her way. She could have laughed or talked loudly without him ever noticing because he was wearing headphones. And finally, the saleswomen in the store had no friends at all, besides she wore pinkish trousers and a bright yellow and green T-shirt; who was she to make judgments about others? She smiles... she can spread her wings without fear because no one gives a second thought to her existence in the first place, because she realizes that  No One  CARES 27

POETRY THE LUMINARY POETRY Noon Artist: Fatima Aziz The sun’s rise is a gentle kiss and its Stranger fall is a glorious farewell. But its stoic, calm presence in the middle of the day Even with friends I feel, is its true nature.  Happiness somehow is steal Its glaring warmth, its eagle eye. Its Among crowds of people my soul, hardness, its searching gaze. It sees Lonely, goes down to a hole through me. It tells me I am loved. Always wondering, who am I? No answers, or even one reply. Fatimah Aziz Still a stranger in this world  Write What You Feel With no directions-  All meanings, dreams are sold, Write what you feel. Writing will make you heal. To other people in somewhere, Forget the tragedies you write, Who never dream or care. That will help you to see the bright side.  They happen to make you stronger, Hanin Al-Jobory encourage you to stand longer. Tarfah Alkharji 28

POETRY THE LUMINARY Forbidden Talks Artist: Amani Alalyani Two girls behind a screen One starts the stream I know it’s out of love: but I keep seeing things I shouldn't have seen His ropes are grounding me: but it's a pipe dream Shallow walls for me to lean Weak hands to fight the regime My story is his to deem I remember losing the gleam The day I faced the hot steam. I know it’s out of love; but I Keep seeing things I shouldn't have seen His ropes are protecting you: But you scream I memorized the color scheme Blue, purple and broken self- esteem Are you wrong for having a dream Why do you fear the extreme It is your story to redeem. By Amani Alalyani 29

Art THE LUMINARY DEPARTMENT ART studVeinstusa'l mexinpdrse.ssIniotnhsishasveecttihoeni,rwsehainrteroofduce different rising talents. Dunia is a 22 year old student who identifies herself as a self-taught digital artist. She has been practicing art for four-and-a-half years, and is interested in painting Fantasy and Sci-Fi art. IG: @duniart_ 30

Art THE LUMINARY Artist: Fatima Aziz The Oracle from the poem titled \"Look at the Moon\" Fatimah Aziz is a multi-talented artist who accompanies her poetry with heartfelt drawings. Artist: Al Hanouf Al Ghamdi Artist: Shouq An authentic one-of-a-kind Saudi inspired postcard A fantastical creature of Shoug's vivid imagination Shouq Alghamdi is an inspiring sculptor who likes to craft different fantastical creatures. A Saudi Arabian piece from the The Rural Post Card collection made by Al Hanouf Al Ghamdi. The photograph reflects various scenes of different locations in the country. IG: @lolaryy 31

Recommendations Recommendations Identity Related Material WRITTEN BY AL HANOUF AL GHAMDI YRANIMUL EHT The Bamboo Stalk (2012) is a novel written by Persepolis (2007) is a autobiographic comedy that narrates the life of the  Kuwaiti  author Saud Alsanousi. It is the  Iranian  author Marjane Satpi. The story covers a critical period in Middle narrated by a Kuawiti/Philippino individual Eastern history as an  extremist   movement starts to flourish in the region named José who experiences multi- and the family struggles to stay home. The book has won many prizes and is identity  conflicts. He never met his father, and praised internationally. It is a candid  representation of a child's mind that grew up in the Philippines with his  Christian copes with overwhelming events. mother who used to work as a house maid. The story discusses the  difference  between the two cultures and highlights the situation of the domestic sphere in the Arab world in a sincere  heartfelt voice. The novel won The  International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2013. 32

Recommendations (Image: IMDb.com) The Creative YRANIMUL EHTMotion Pictures of Meshal Al Jaser WRITTEN BY ALHANOOF ALOTAIBI Meshal Al Jaser is a multitalented filmmaker, In the story, we witness the maltreatment of a writer, actor and director. He does it all. Excelling domestic worker from the perspective of a child. in his career at the age of 24, he has a YouTube The little girl has many curious questions in channel where he uploads a series called Folaim mind  regarding the maid's  well-being as she compares her to a caged yellow chick. ‫) (ُﻓﻠﻴﻢ‬. It is an episodic series similar to Tash Ma Furthermore, Meshal presents honest attention to details that evoke certain feelings; his close-up Tash in its satirical comedy; however, Meshal shots captivates our attention, and his playfulness Aljaser takes his ideas to an entirely new level in his choice of color palettes depending on the with his extraordinary visual style. From the heart scenes fascinates us. Although, he mostly uses wrenching episode of \"Under Concrete\" to the warm tones to match the theme of his stories, we hilarious episode of \"Allolo,\" he manages to see how well he understands colors in his educate his viewers in a creative way all while switching to monochrome in some scenes to stirring up their emotions. convey feelings of somber. Meshal Al Jaser's \"Is Sumiyati Going to Hell?\" is just one of his many Telfaz11's Six Windows in the Desert  has been amazing works that is genuinely underrated. airing on Netflix since the 27th of February. The Meshal Al Jaser has a beautiful and raw way of series showcases the talents of Saudi creators. It is representing the Saudi identity in all its aspects, a collection of short films focusing on Saudi good and bad. Arabian culture and it features one of Meshal Al Jaser's short films \"Is Sumiyati Going to Hell?\" 33 which brings forth important questions, ones that are often asked but never addressed.

THE LUMINARY Review Review I LOST MY Screenshot from film BODY 2019 As a boy, the protagonist Naoufel dreamt of becoming an By: Alhanoof Alotaibi astronaut and a pianist. Yet, he stops dreaming when he becomes stuck in a past where his parents are dead and I Lost My Body is a 2019 French film that spotlights he is not. In one particular scene, we see Naoufel lying director Jérémy Clapin’s breathtakingly vivid down in the room he shares with his cousin whose side of animation based on Guillaume Laurant's book Happy the wall is filled with posters of his interest, while Naoufel's Hand. The story chronicles two parallel narratives, wall is empty. As a young adult, Naoufel works as a pizza one told from the perspective of a severed hand that deliveryman and is often scolded by his boss for tardiness, escapes a dissection lab and crawls across Paris in a At one-point Naoufel was supposed to deliver pizza to a quest to find the body it was once attached to, while girl named Gabrielle, however he never gets past the the other from that very same hand owner, Naoufel. security door. He chats to her through the intercom of her The events occur in flashbacks following Naoufel's apartment's building whilst it rains and finds himself and his hand's journey from childhood to adulthood. captivated by her. Later on in the story, they sets up a I will talk more about the characters and how this meeting with her to confess his love. motion picture stunningly unfolds in terms of sounds and visuals because it is sensational in every sense of the word. 34

Review Before his confession, Naoufel visits Gabrielle at the library Screenshot from film where she works to borrow a book about the arctic. She flips through the pages and tells him that they could never experience the calmness of the snow where they are. He tells her to cup both her ears with her hands and to cover them one at a time saying it resembles the sound of snow crunching beneath one's feet. In this scene, we are reminded of Naoufel's love for sounds. He was often seen carrying around a portable cassette tape recorder as a kid in which he would record everything, from the sound of a spinning globe to the sound of his mother playing the cello. The soundtrack of this film is hauntingly beautiful, especially in scenes related to the disembodied hand, that often has Dan Levy's \"Memories\" playing in the background whenever there is a flashback to Naoufel's childhood. When talking about the hand's flashbacks, I am talking While the hand could never re-attach itself to about the memories from the hand's actual point of view. Naoufel, it's okay. I Lost My Body wasn't called I Lost Oftentimes in films, hands are depicted in either a My Hand for a reason. It is a metaphor about the horrifying or a comical way. For example, take the fictional constant search of oneself, of our identity, and a character referred to as \"Thing\" in The Addams Family. place where we belongs. It is a moving story that However, in I Lost My Body we are shown a series of deals with loss and finding freedom within ourselves. tactile memories the hand has: like the grains of sand The freedom Naoufel experiences when he takes slipping through its fingers, or the warmth of the sun felt that leap from the rooftop of a building to a crane when covering the sun with its palm. We see the curiosity liberates him from the constraints of \"destiny\" and of a child seeing a snail or a rose, and the first instinct is his circumstances. A reminder that labels like our to reach out, only to be poked by the snail's eyes or race, gender, class, religion, or interests should not pricked by the rose's thorn. In one scene we even see a define our identities, neither should the expectations baby grasping the hand's finger. Through this humane of society as they can be excluding, putting us in a imagery we find ourselves attached to this severed hand box and isolating us from one another. It can make (no pun intended) and even cheering it on when watching us forget the little things, our curiosity, our sensitivity, its struggle with a pigeon or battle with a group of rats. but most importantly, our being. “Je suis là”, a phrase Simultaneously, Naoufel and the hand experience a that appears in one of the scenes painted on the feeling of longing and alienation, and when the hand wall of a building, and it translates to “I'm here”. Such finally makes its way to its owner, the plot strands a strong statement about our being; our being as reconcile. humans and how being human is really the most essential part of our identity. I am human. I am, here. THE LUMINARY 35

Review Tarzan 1999 WRITTEN BY AL HANOUF AL GHAMDI Tarzan is a beloved family animation by Disney Animation Studio in 1999. It is highly approved both commercially and critically. As it made $448.2 million in the Box Office and has an average rating of 89% by critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is made by a very creative team of Disney’s best craftsman, such as Kevin Lima, Chris Buck, and Glen Keane and was animated in Los Angeles, Orlando, and Paris. Moreover, it was made with a mix of hand drawn technique and pioneering computer based software called Deep Canvas, all with a budget of $130 million. This makes it the most expensive movie ever made at that time. Furthermore, through the movie Disney showed interest in social identity and was able to deliver a fresh rhythmic story about it in this renaissance era movie. In this review, I am going to explore this feral child story, Tarzan role in exploration, and the animated feature’s representation of this theme. Because it is a feral child story, Tarzan works as a representation of all humans as a species, and one of the aspects that the film touches on from the very beginning is Tarzan’s identity with nature. It is worth noting that the working team traveled to Uganda expecting to find brutal animals, only to find apes in very peaceful state. So, their expectations of that world changed a bit, so it made sense that the opening song was “Two Worlds, One Family” as it narrates the parallel stories of the ape family (Kala the female ape) who loses a child and the human family who gets lost in a place with no civilization. So, it starts to investigate our boundaries with other creatures. Of course, it is true that various - if not most - animated features showcase friendly animals that befriend humans. However, this movie tickles that aspect in a more mature sense as Kala fights her whole tribe just to raise Tarzan and she sees no difference between them. Also, Tarzan grows to consider the apes his one true family and decides to stay with them as he finally concluded that despite their physical differences, he cannot leave them because they are his family. Screenshot from the movie Tarzan 36 THE LUMINARY

Review The second exploration of identity in the feature is The third perspective is the nature of Tarzan’s non- Tarzan’s attitude towards being different. He has a very human uprising which imparts the topic of the honesty of lonely experience, being a hairless thin ape, as Kerchak, the the first man. Living an uncivilized life, the moral leader of the ape family clearly shows his disapproval of complex that Tarzan adopts is different from other having him and alienates him. As Tarzan keeps trying his humans. He draws the answer to all his questions from best to please him and the rest of the extended family but nature itself and not from other humans. He struggles to his efforts end up in chaos. After one of the big major choose between leaving his family and knowing more fights, we get transferred to one of the most prominent about his own race and its world. Moreover, Tarzan has a scenes when Tarzan tearfully observes his reflection in the lot of sincere child behavior, because everything is new to water, trying his best to make sense of his misshaped him. Although he did not speak much, through sensitive appearance. It is only when Kala comes and tries to ease directing and candid animation, viewers were able to see him that he decides, with only Kala’s affection to fuel him, the heart of everything Tarzan was experiencing, as the that “He is the best ape in the world” as the sequence song working team illustrated various authentic, parenting, “Son of Man” begins and we witness his journey into emotions explicitly.  For example, the songwriter, Phill adulthood. We behold his human growth as he learns to take Collins, wrote “You Will Be in My Heart” as an allegory advantage of his difference, as he starts to mimic other to his daughter. The animator Glen Keane also notes that animals. At the end his fight with the Leopard - the animal when Tarzan was first looking at Jane, those were in fact that killed both of his human parents – his protection of his his eyes looking at his firstborn. So, he managed to depict ape family leads him to gets the praise and the acceptance his eyes with heartfelt lucidity, as he experience belonging of his tribe and the whole jungle. Therefore, before he met for the first time. any human. He had made his place in his world. In conclusion, Disney produced a very intimate and worldly adoption of Tarzan. It is a rhythmic ceremony and a celebration of life that made the whole world feel very connected to it. In specific, Tarzan serves as a representation of human as species against the outside, which lead us to question our relationship with the world around us and nature, and draws more hopes to us as species and individuals. THE LUMINARY Screenshot from the movie Tarzan 37

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