University of Isfahan Literary Arts 20088027 18 1 2026 03 21 A Study of the Reflection of Romantic Concepts in Afghanistan’s Press Poetry (Case Study: Poems Published in Zhowandun) A Study of the Reflection of Romantic Concepts in Afghanistan’s Press Poetry (Case Study: Poems Published in Zhowandun) 17 36 29702 10.22108/liar.2025.145371.2460 FA Mohammad Sadeq Hidayat Ph.D. Student, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Imam Khomeini International University (IKIU), Qazvin, Iran Seyed Ali Ghasemzadeh Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Imam Khomeini International University (IKIU), Qazvin, Iran Journal Article 2025 05 21 Abstract This research examines the manifestations of romantic concepts in Afghanistan’s press poetry, with a particular focus on poems published in Zhowandun, one of the most significant literary and cultural periodicals/journals in Afghanistan during the second half of the twentieth century. Active during a transformative period in Afghanistan’s political and social history, Zhowandun served as a platform for the publication of poems with diverse perspectives and thematic orientations. The primary aim of this study is to examine the romantic content of these poems. The study employs a descriptive-analytical methodology and relies on library-based sources to investigate how romantic ideas are embedded in the poetry featured in this journal. The findings reveal that poems published in Zhowandun, amidst a historically turbulent context, vividly reflect profound human emotions such as love, sacrifice, ecstasy, mysticism, and patriotic sentiment. Furthermore, themes such as nature-worship, nostalgia, martyrdom, freedom, and the condemnation of oppression are prominently present, conveying a revolutionary and romantic spirit. Distinguished poets, emphasizing these motifs, have played a significant role in shaping the imagery and thematic framework of the romantic poetic movement in Afghanistan as represented in Zhowandun. Keywords: Afghanistan’s Contemporary Poetry, Zhowandun Journal, Poetry Movements, Romanticism. Introduction Romanticism, a major literary movement of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, arose as a reaction to classical rationalism and Enlightenment doctrines. Centered on emotion, imagination, nature, and tradition, it profoundly reshaped art and literature. By introducing rebellious characters and exploring the spiritual crises of human existence, Romanticism offered a deep, universal portrayal of the human condition. In Afghanistan, literary Romanticism—especially in press poetry—emerged in the late nineteenth century, parallel with cultural shifts and the growing impact of Western literary translations. Intellectual circles and the press played a vital role in introducing, promoting, and expanding this movement. Modern poetry, distinguished by refined language and themes like love, freedom, and resistance to social norms, became a key form of Romantic expression in contemporary publications. Among these, Zhowandun stood out as one of the most influential literary-cultural journals of the second half of the twentieth century. It significantly reflected and advanced Romantic ideals, offering a powerful platform for literary idealism. While various studies have examined literature and the press in Iran, the Romantic dimensions of Afghanistan’s press poetry—particularly within journals like Zhowandun—remain largely underexplored. This research focuses on poems published in Zhowandun. It aims to answer two main research questions: How are Romantic concepts reflected in the poems of Zhowandun? Which poets and writers contributed to shaping these concepts? Materials and Methods This study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach and is grounded in library-based sources to systematically and rigorously examine Romantic concepts in the poems published in the literary-cultural journal of Zhowandun. With an interdisciplinary orientation, the research bridges the domains of literature, press history, and cultural studies to reexamine the emotional, intellectual, and aesthetic dimensions of Romanticism as expressed through press poetry. To this end, the researcher has collected and analyzed a set of poetic samples from various issues of Zhowandun, aiming to identify thematic and conceptual manifestations of Romanticism. The study particularly focuses on how Romantic elements such as individualism, emotionalism, nostalgia, and nature-worship are reflected in the broader social context. The use of written sources, archival documents, and meticulous data categorization enables a comprehensive and analytical perspective on the role and significance of this journal in portraying Romantic tendencies in Afghanistan’s contemporary literature. In examining the relationship between poetry and the press, this research endeavors to offer a clear image of how Romantic sentiment developed and expanded within the country’s cultural landscape. It highlights the role of the press—especially Zhowandun—in cultivating an aesthetic and emotion-driven poetic sensibility. Research Findings Romanticism is an artistic and literary movement that, through its emphasis on emotion, individualism, creative imagination, and the veneration of nature, has played a vital role in transforming aesthetic sensibilities, especially within the realm of poetry. This school of thought, inherently multifaceted, pluralistic, and even contradictory, initiated an intellectual and aesthetic revolution against classical rationalism by advocating for personal freedom and emotional expression. In the context of Afghanistan, press poetry represents one of the prominent expressions of this movement. It not only serves as a space for articulating personal sentiments and poetic imagination, but also functions as a sociocultural medium reflecting public concerns in the face of identity, political, and cultural crises. Romantic themes such as philosophical despair, nostalgia, idealized love, nature-centeredness, and rebellious passion are vividly present in this type of poetry, situating it at the intersection of classical literature and modern journalism, and between social engagement and poetic fervor. Examining this convergence opens new horizons for understanding the intellectual and cultural developments within Afghan society. Discussion of Results and Conclusions As one of the most influential tools of mass communication, the press has played a foundational role in reflecting, disseminating, and evolving literary movements. Journals and magazines, by publishing literary works, have enhanced artistic taste among readers, expanded intellectual horizons, and facilitated interaction between authors and their audiences. Among these, Romanticism—emphasizing emotion, imagination, and individualism—particularly during times of crisis, has been notably reflected in Afghanistan’s press poetry. This study, focusing on the journal Zhowandun, demonstrates that the periodical reflects a wide range of Romantic concepts such as love, patriotic sentiment, nature-worship, nostalgia, joy, and socially engaged themes. Prominent poets such as Rafat Hossaini, Peygham-e Badakhshani, Bairang Kuhdamani, Shayiq Jamal, Pajwak, Latif Nazemi, among others, have portrayed Romantic motifs in both individual and social dimensions through their contributions to Zhowandun. Among these voices, Rafat Hossaini, Bairang Kuhdamani, and Shayiq Jamal—through systematic approaches—have played the most significant roles in articulating the elements of Romanticism. Their works not only represent personal emotions but also serve as catalysts for literary and social reflection. In summary, Zhowandun, by providing a dynamic and open platform, has played a key role in the reflection and flourishing of Romanticism within Afghanistan’s press poetry. Abstract This research examines the manifestations of romantic concepts in Afghanistan’s press poetry, with a particular focus on poems published in Zhowandun, one of the most significant literary and cultural periodicals/journals in Afghanistan during the second half of the twentieth century. Active during a transformative period in Afghanistan’s political and social history, Zhowandun served as a platform for the publication of poems with diverse perspectives and thematic orientations. The primary aim of this study is to examine the romantic content of these poems. The study employs a descriptive-analytical methodology and relies on library-based sources to investigate how romantic ideas are embedded in the poetry featured in this journal. The findings reveal that poems published in Zhowandun, amidst a historically turbulent context, vividly reflect profound human emotions such as love, sacrifice, ecstasy, mysticism, and patriotic sentiment. Furthermore, themes such as nature-worship, nostalgia, martyrdom, freedom, and the condemnation of oppression are prominently present, conveying a revolutionary and romantic spirit. Distinguished poets, emphasizing these motifs, have played a significant role in shaping the imagery and thematic framework of the romantic poetic movement in Afghanistan as represented in Zhowandun. Keywords: Afghanistan’s Contemporary Poetry, Zhowandun Journal, Poetry Movements, Romanticism. Introduction Romanticism, a major literary movement of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, arose as a reaction to classical rationalism and Enlightenment doctrines. Centered on emotion, imagination, nature, and tradition, it profoundly reshaped art and literature. By introducing rebellious characters and exploring the spiritual crises of human existence, Romanticism offered a deep, universal portrayal of the human condition. In Afghanistan, literary Romanticism—especially in press poetry—emerged in the late nineteenth century, parallel with cultural shifts and the growing impact of Western literary translations. Intellectual circles and the press played a vital role in introducing, promoting, and expanding this movement. Modern poetry, distinguished by refined language and themes like love, freedom, and resistance to social norms, became a key form of Romantic expression in contemporary publications. Among these, Zhowandun stood out as one of the most influential literary-cultural journals of the second half of the twentieth century. It significantly reflected and advanced Romantic ideals, offering a powerful platform for literary idealism. While various studies have examined literature and the press in Iran, the Romantic dimensions of Afghanistan’s press poetry—particularly within journals like Zhowandun—remain largely underexplored. This research focuses on poems published in Zhowandun. It aims to answer two main research questions: How are Romantic concepts reflected in the poems of Zhowandun? Which poets and writers contributed to shaping these concepts? Materials and Methods This study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach and is grounded in library-based sources to systematically and rigorously examine Romantic concepts in the poems published in the literary-cultural journal of Zhowandun. With an interdisciplinary orientation, the research bridges the domains of literature, press history, and cultural studies to reexamine the emotional, intellectual, and aesthetic dimensions of Romanticism as expressed through press poetry. To this end, the researcher has collected and analyzed a set of poetic samples from various issues of Zhowandun, aiming to identify thematic and conceptual manifestations of Romanticism. The study particularly focuses on how Romantic elements such as individualism, emotionalism, nostalgia, and nature-worship are reflected in the broader social context. The use of written sources, archival documents, and meticulous data categorization enables a comprehensive and analytical perspective on the role and significance of this journal in portraying Romantic tendencies in Afghanistan’s contemporary literature. In examining the relationship between poetry and the press, this research endeavors to offer a clear image of how Romantic sentiment developed and expanded within the country’s cultural landscape. It highlights the role of the press—especially Zhowandun—in cultivating an aesthetic and emotion-driven poetic sensibility. Research Findings Romanticism is an artistic and literary movement that, through its emphasis on emotion, individualism, creative imagination, and the veneration of nature, has played a vital role in transforming aesthetic sensibilities, especially within the realm of poetry. This school of thought, inherently multifaceted, pluralistic, and even contradictory, initiated an intellectual and aesthetic revolution against classical rationalism by advocating for personal freedom and emotional expression. In the context of Afghanistan, press poetry represents one of the prominent expressions of this movement. It not only serves as a space for articulating personal sentiments and poetic imagination, but also functions as a sociocultural medium reflecting public concerns in the face of identity, political, and cultural crises. Romantic themes such as philosophical despair, nostalgia, idealized love, nature-centeredness, and rebellious passion are vividly present in this type of poetry, situating it at the intersection of classical literature and modern journalism, and between social engagement and poetic fervor. Examining this convergence opens new horizons for understanding the intellectual and cultural developments within Afghan society. Discussion of Results and Conclusions As one of the most influential tools of mass communication, the press has played a foundational role in reflecting, disseminating, and evolving literary movements. Journals and magazines, by publishing literary works, have enhanced artistic taste among readers, expanded intellectual horizons, and facilitated interaction between authors and their audiences. Among these, Romanticism—emphasizing emotion, imagination, and individualism—particularly during times of crisis, has been notably reflected in Afghanistan’s press poetry. This study, focusing on the journal Zhowandun, demonstrates that the periodical reflects a wide range of Romantic concepts such as love, patriotic sentiment, nature-worship, nostalgia, joy, and socially engaged themes. Prominent poets such as Rafat Hossaini, Peygham-e Badakhshani, Bairang Kuhdamani, Shayiq Jamal, Pajwak, Latif Nazemi, among others, have portrayed Romantic motifs in both individual and social dimensions through their contributions to Zhowandun. Among these voices, Rafat Hossaini, Bairang Kuhdamani, and Shayiq Jamal—through systematic approaches—have played the most significant roles in articulating the elements of Romanticism. Their works not only represent personal emotions but also serve as catalysts for literary and social reflection. In summary, Zhowandun, by providing a dynamic and open platform, has played a key role in the reflection and flourishing of Romanticism within Afghanistan’s press poetry.

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