The new Saudi Minister for Culture & Information, Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja, has started to make his mark, says this column by Samar Fatany in Arab News. His actions are more in the line of the Culture side of his brief, but they do show a tendency toward openness that will hopefully translate to the Information side. They are not earth-shaking changes—except for those who are offended by them—but they suggest that the Saudi government is taking decisive steps away from parochialism as well as patriarchism. It’s unfortunate that Fatany goes off on an anti-Israeli rant toward the end of the piece, but as an opinion columnist, she’s free to express her opinions.
Asharq Alawsat provides a profile of the new Minister here.
Media reforms: Welcome steps
Samar Fatany | Arab NewsSaudi society is witnessing a new era of freedom. The Ministry of Culture and Information should be commended for empowering the media and encouraging openness and cultural diversity. A national campaign to encourage public debate and exchange with other cultures around the globe is gaining momentum.
This year the ministry has added new incentives to the annual Riyadh Book Fair and the annual Janadriya National Heritage and Culture Festival by allowing women’s participation and opening the doors for families to attend for the first time. This is truly a welcome development. The role of the ministry in organizing literary events and cultural festivities is greatly appreciated by the intellectual community, including artists, writers, film producers and concerned parents anxious to provide a healthy cultural environment for their children and enhance their talents and artistic skills.
Although some may appreciate these initiatives, there are many skeptics who say that without proper institutions or academies that teach fine arts, society will remain limited by amateurish attempts that now dominate the literary and cultural scene. If we are really serious about promoting culture and preserving our cultural heritage, there should be more investment in public libraries and museums, opening of cinemas and theaters, creation of arts and music academies, encouragement for literary clubs and improvement of cultural festivals.
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March:08:2009 - 16:09
Mom Blogs – Blogs for Moms…
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March:08:2009 - 21:36
It’s unfortunate that Fatany goes off on an anti-Israeli rant -
What exactly do you mean by, “unfortunate”?
March:08:2009 - 23:05
I meant that it spoiled the thrust of her article. She has very strong feelings about Israel/Palestine and sometimes lets them get in the way of what I consider reason.
The arguments she makes offer nothing new. They’re the same I’ve heard for the past 30 years at least. Almost an obligatory mantra, it seems.
March:09:2009 - 14:45
Perhaps it is obligatory. What would the article look like if she left out that last paragraph? Don’t you think she thinks her argument is more effective, not less, if she raises the spectre of “a worldview imposed by the clever and articulate Israelis”? It isn’t her job to educate people otherwise, is it?