Biography of Master Afshin Aala
Afshin Aala (born March 24, 1969) is an Iranian poet and writer. He considers himself a political and social poet.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Tehran and holds a first-class badge of art from the Ministry of Culture and Guidance equivalent to a doctorate.
Biography
Master Aala was born on March 4, 1969, in Noor city. He obtained his culture and literature diploma in 1967 in the same city and in the same year entered the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the University of Tehran. Simultaneously with his studies, he cooperated with Kayhan Bachcheha and Soroush-e-Nojavan magazines. After his studies, he chose children’s literature and working in the press. He actively participated with Fereydoun Amouzadeh Khalili in launching Aftabگردان newspaper (the first children’s newspaper in Iran). [citation needed] His background includes being the editor-in-chief of children’s, toddler’s, teenagers’, and Shab Bekheyr Koochoulou radio programs, editor-in-chief of Gonbad-e-Kaboud, Sadaf, and Doust publications, head of the Children’s Cultural Center, and management in Radio Farhang. Until 2015, he was a member of the board of directors of the Association of Iranian Poets.
🌹Please tell us in what areas of children’s literature you have been most active from the past until now?
For the toddler, child and adolescent age group.
🌹What are your components for a children’s literary work?
We must note that children’s poetry is “poetry” before it is “childlike”. Therefore, in defining children’s poetry, we must adhere to all the criteria that exist in the definition of poetry in its general sense.
Obviously, childlikeness is also the main but second feature in the definition of children’s poetry. Therefore, a children’s poet must have a good grasp of both areas.
🌹In your opinion, what components should a good children’s song for the media have?
In children’s songs, we have the option to deviate from the technical and professional components of poetry in favor of necessary teachings or fantasy tools in words and meaning. But this deviation should not come at the cost of weak language and absurd themes. In addition, the music of the song must also be calculated and professional, and in the combination of instruments and arrangement of melodies, we must not forget the originality of the musical form. Today, unfortunately, both in kindergartens and in official institutions dealing with children’s affairs, we are facing the prevalence of low-quality music and the unbecoming phenomenon of the synthesizer, for which a solution must be devised.
🌹Do our children’s programs have the necessary characteristics to be effective and beautiful for children or not?
Why lie? I haven’t been following children’s programs in the media for a long time. But by watching the programs that I catch glimpses of, I don’t think we are in a proper position.
Proper program making for toddler, children, and adolescent audiences requires the presence of experts and artists in this field, and their close relationship with producers, editors-in-chief, presenters, and other executive staff. Currently, such a presence is not observed.
🌹What is the most important characteristic in special works for children?
The most important feature of a lasting and impactful children’s work is the alignment of the creators’ perspective with the audience’s perspective. That is, we must adjust our height to the child’s height to look at our surroundings from their exact point of view. Of course, this does not mean having a childish look and behavior. We can present our engineered themes and messages to children, but with a childish look and essence that is not miles away from their mental and linguistic world.
🌹As an expert in children’s literature, are you satisfied with the special children’s programs on IRIB?
Audio productions have higher standards compared to television productions. For example, the program Salam Koochoulou is still one of the strong and engaging children’s programs due to the skillful production and presentation of Ms. Vakili. Similarly, Shab Bekheyr Koochoulou is great due to the good performance of Ms. Nashiba.
🌹What is your suggestion for improving children’s programs?
With the current existing realities, which are far away from the desired work, I cannot offer detailed suggestions in various sections! Rather, I can only ask the authorities in charge to think about a serious transformation, at least for the child and adolescent audience. The most expert artists and thinkers must be recruited, alongside thinking about serious training for the program-making staff.
Of course, achieving this is not possible with the current budget situation. But respected managers must know that professional media work for children is one of the most vital duties in media work, and it must be funded.
Thank you for your time. Be victorious and proud.