In the realm of Afro-Asian literature, there is a triad of genres that are especially relevant - these genres are playwriting, poems (and song lyrics), and prose. Traditional ballads or poems outlining Afro-Asian history are part of the culture's oral history - these poems or songs were passed down from generation to generation, and they told of the unique struggles and successes of Afro-Asian people. In fact, in most cultures, oral histories marked the beginning of teaching history. Later, when more people were able to read and write, history became recorded in prose, plays, and textbooks.
About The Genres
• Poetry/Songs - Songs about the history and culture of the Afro-Asian people were written and performed, and then passed down. Today, Afro-Asians still express their creativity, and honor their culture, by crafting beautiful poems, such as haikus, ballads, or sonnets. Freeform poems with specific structures or meters are also prevalent - these have a free-spirited, stream of consciousness feeling...
• Plays - Playwrights use dialogue and monologue to reinforce ideas, emotions and themes. Many playwrights celebrate their own culture and ancestry by setting plays in the past, and referencing historical events in their storylines. Plays, when performed, will feature backdrops, costumes, and jargon that reflects the culture and unique spirit of Afro-Asian people.
• Prose - Prose has no particular meter - it flows naturally, and it is not poetry. Prose can be found in essays, in novels, and in letters to other people. In many ways, prose is the purest expression of human thought - in literature, prose is used to expose truth, to describe objects, places, and people, and to draw a reader deeper into a story.
To learn more about Afro-Asian history and literature, visit a library or take a university course on that subject. By studying the work of Afro-Asian authors, poets, and playwrights, you will gain a greater understanding of the special culture and its people.
About The Genres
• Poetry/Songs - Songs about the history and culture of the Afro-Asian people were written and performed, and then passed down. Today, Afro-Asians still express their creativity, and honor their culture, by crafting beautiful poems, such as haikus, ballads, or sonnets. Freeform poems with specific structures or meters are also prevalent - these have a free-spirited, stream of consciousness feeling...
• Plays - Playwrights use dialogue and monologue to reinforce ideas, emotions and themes. Many playwrights celebrate their own culture and ancestry by setting plays in the past, and referencing historical events in their storylines. Plays, when performed, will feature backdrops, costumes, and jargon that reflects the culture and unique spirit of Afro-Asian people.
• Prose - Prose has no particular meter - it flows naturally, and it is not poetry. Prose can be found in essays, in novels, and in letters to other people. In many ways, prose is the purest expression of human thought - in literature, prose is used to expose truth, to describe objects, places, and people, and to draw a reader deeper into a story.
To learn more about Afro-Asian history and literature, visit a library or take a university course on that subject. By studying the work of Afro-Asian authors, poets, and playwrights, you will gain a greater understanding of the special culture and its people.
