Jalal Toufic Libros

Drawing on a rich cultural heritage, the author weaves a fictionalized memoir that explores the lives of three deeply affected peoples. Influenced by Nietzsche and Kafka, he transforms ordinary moments, like sitting in a café, into profound reflections on life, philosophy, and cinema, shaped by his experiences as a filmmaker. The narrative delves into the concept of 'distraction' as an essential aspect of existence, blending humor, eroticism, and surrealism to create a compelling vision of daily life intertwined with art and history.

Jalal Toufic is a thinker and a mortal to death. He was born in 1962 in Beirut or Baghdad and died before dying in 1989 in Evanston, Illinois. This second edition of a collection of his essays whirls around the appearance of the unworldly in art, culture, history, and the present.

What Was I Thinking? serves as an initiation into the realm of thought. Jalal Toufic, with his analytical mind, creates an open-ended "summa" that explores the arts as a privileged site for thinking, even amidst inevitable failures. He juxtaposes his insights with texts from traditional religions and mystics, achieving a serene detachment and joy in thinking reminiscent of Nietzsche's understanding. Toufic stands out as one of the most original thinkers today, embracing the challenge posed by Heidegger in What Is Called Thinking? His exploration ventures into uncharted artistic territories, delving into their layers, paradoxes, and inherent inaccessibility. This endeavor requires immense courage and unique freedom, allowing his mind to pursue unpredictable conclusions, ensuring his writing remains relevant. His work resonates with the spirit of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity and Nietzsche's breakthroughs, establishing Toufic as a significant intellectual force.

Jalal Toufic uses Poe's “The Oval Portrait” as a departure point for a discussion of the possibilities of the portrayal of pubescent girls.