Mini-Bio

updated: April 2, 2005

Dr. Anwar Al-Ghassani
Iraqi poet, journalist and university professor

I was born in 1937 in Qal´at Salih, province of Al-Imarah, in the south, grew up and went to school in Kirkuk in the north of Iraq.

I write poetry in Arabic, English, Spanish and German. In 1992, my epical poem "Iraq" was published in Arabic by Riad El-Rayyes Books (London/Beirut.)

I studied painting in Iraq and journalism in Germany (PhD in journalism, Universität Leipzig).

Currently, professor of journalism, computer-mediated communication and Internet at the School of Mass Communication, University of Costa Rica. I also write occasionally for Arabic papers and magazines.

- Member of Pen International /English Centre (London)
- Editor/Owner of Iraq (Iraq information and discussion list).
To subscribe to the list, send a blank message to:
Iraq-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
- Director of Postgraduate Program in Communication, University of Costa Rica (2001-2003)

Languages: I have command of Arabic, German, English and Spanish. I also speak Turkmenish and Kurdish.

Email: alghassa@racsa.co.cr
Website: http://al-ghassani.net

More information and work samples at my website.

Thanks for your reading.

Anwar Al-Ghassani

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Current And Ongoing Production, Research And Activities

Academic Research Projects

- Contemporary Iraqi Culture and Media: Opportunities, Problems and Risks. (2005-2006. Research project of the School of Mass Communication, University of Costa Rica).

Academic Writing Projects

1. Computer-mediated Communication (2005-2006, textbook in Spanish)

2. Towards a Taxonomy of Computer-mediated Communication (May 2005, book chapter in Spanish for the School of Mass Communication, University of Costa Rica).

Elaboration of Academic Projects

1. Online Postgraduate Program in Communication - Virtual Master. (Writing the project document. In cooperation with the University of Granada, Spain).

Literary Writing Projects (A Selection)

1. Beautification After My Birth At Ur (Collection of poems in Spanish with samples and parallel translations of my poems in Arabic, German and English to be published on the occasion of my participation in the International Poetry Festival of Costa Rica – June 18-25, 2005).

2. Writing Poetry in Several Languages (Essay in Spanish for the International Poetry Festival of Medellín, Colombia – June 24 – July 2, 2005).

3. The Poetry of Jorge Debravo (Essay in Spanish for the International Poetry Festival of Medellín, Colombia – June 24 – July 2, 2005).

4. Interaction Between Text and Graphic Elements in My Poetry and Visual production (Reply to questions by Al-Wassiti e-zine).

Forthcoming Participation in International Events

1. International Poetry Festival of Costa Rica – June 18-25, 2005). Confirmed.

2. International Poetry Festival of Medellín, Colombia – June 24 – July 2,
2005). Confirmed.

3. Research stay at The University of Erfurt, Germany (three months, Autumn 2005) Not confirmed yet.

4. Invitation to the Fifth Conference of IFLAC - The International Forum for the Literature and Culture of Peace- and the 25th World Congress of Poets, in Los Angeles, U.S., August 2005. Not confirmed yet.