Bahman BookCity Reading Tuesdays – In Collaboration with Qoqnoos Publishing:
The session “Whispers of Shadows: A Journey through Gothic Literature,” featuring translator of Gothic and classic works Mehrdad Vosoughi and hosted by Amirabbas Rasouli, was held as part of the “Reading Tuesdays” series at Bahman BookCity. The event offered a comprehensive exploration of the genre—ranging from its historical origins and narrative logic to its manifestations in other art forms and the intricate challenges of literary translation.
At the start of the program, Amirabbas Rasouli introduced Mehrdad Vosoughi and briefly touched upon his translation portfolio before steering the discussion toward the definition and structure of Gothic literature. Adopting a genealogical approach, Vosoughi unpacked the historical context of the genre’s formation and its defining characteristics. He emphasized that the Gothic is not merely about “fear”; rather, it thrives on atmosphere, suspense, mystery, and the unveiling of the hidden layers of the human psyche.
The conversation then expanded to the intersections between the Gothic and other realms—from architecture and cinema to the potential of this atmosphere in new narrative forms. The session became increasingly interactive as the audience raised questions regarding the relationship between the Gothic and Persian literature, its function in animation and modern literary works, and even its connection to contemporary issues in science and technology.
The final segment of the program was dedicated to the craft of translation. Vosoughi spoke about the difficulty of transferring tone and atmosphere, how a translator navigates cultural and historical references, and the importance of linguistic precision alongside loyalty to the “spirit of the text.” In this section, the topic of Artificial Intelligence and its role in literary translation was also raised, sparking a dialogue among attendees about the capacities and limitations of AI in recreating style and narrative nuances.
