Saudi women in the arts

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The role of women in the arts and cultural life in the highly patriarchal society of Saudi Arabia is very limited. [1] Below, examples of contributions in literature, music, cinema, and television that have been made by women in Saudi Arabia are discussed.

Contents

Literature

In 1963, Thuraya Qabil became the first Saudi woman in the Hijaz to publish a poetry collection, with The Weeping Rhythms; [2] she and other women from the region, including Fatna Shakir, 'Abdiya Khayyat, and Huda Dabbagh, became prominent in Saudi letters during the 1950s and 1960s. [3]

In 2011, Saudi writer Raja Alem became the first woman to win the International Prize for Arabic Fiction for her novel The Doves’ Necklace. In 2015, Ahd Niazy founded Jahanamiya , Saudi Arabia's first feminist literary magazine. [4]

Music

In December 2017, the first ever concert in Saudi Arabia by a female singer, with an exclusively female audience, took place at the King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh. [5]

Film and television

There is only one cinema in the entire country, an IMAX screen that is used only for documentaries. [6]

Wadjda (Arabic : وجدة) is a 2012 Saudi Arabian drama film, written and directed by Haifaa al-Mansour. It was the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia [7] [8] [9] and the first feature-length film made by a female Saudi director. [10] It won numerous awards at film festivals around the world. The film was selected as the Saudi Arabian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards (the first time the country made a submission for the Oscars, [11] ) but it was not nominated. [12] [13] [14] It earned a nomination for Best Foreign Film at the 2014 BAFTA Awards. [15]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Women assert their presence in Saudi's emerging art scene". Middleeasteye.net. 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  2. ↑ Radwa Ashour; Ferial Ghazoul; Hasna Reda-Mekdashi (1 November 2008). Arab Women Writers: A Critical Reference Guide, 1873-1999. American University in Cairo Press. pp. 459–. ISBN   978-977-416-267-1.
  3. ↑ Sebastian Maisel (2009). Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab States Today: An Encyclopedia of Life in the Arab States. Greenwood Press. pp. 267–. ISBN   978-0-313-34442-8.
  4. ↑ Burge, Natasha (13 March 2017). "Inside Saudi Arabia's First Feminist Literary Magazine". The Establishment. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  5. ↑ Hussain, Lubna; Smith, Saphora (2017-12-17). "Saudi Arabia hosts first concert by female performer in country's history". NBC News. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  6. ↑ "IMAX 'to double' number of Middle East cinemas". alarabiya.net. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  7. ↑ "Cannes 2012: Saudi Arabia's First Female Director Brings 'Wadjda' to Fest". The Hollywood Reporter. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  8. ↑ Macnab, Geoffrey (15 May 2012). "Al Mansour reveals struggles of directing Wadjda". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  9. ↑ "First film shot in Saudi to debut at Cannes". Arabian Business. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  10. ↑ "Wadjda". Euronews. 2013-02-07. Archived from the original on 2013-07-22. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  11. ↑ "Oscars: Saudi Arabia Nominates 'Wadjda' for Foreign Language Category". Hollywood Reporter. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  12. ↑ "Oscars: Saudi Arabia Taps 'Wadjda' As First Foreign-Language Entry". Variety. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  13. ↑ "'Wadjda' is Saudi Arabia's first nominee for foreign-language Oscar". LA Times. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  14. ↑ "Saudi Arabia submits first film for Oscars with 'Wadjda'". Gulf News. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  15. ↑ "Film in 2014 | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 2 April 2018.


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