Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Saudi society remains attached to its cultural and traditional identity despite its gregarious international presence. Saudi Arabia is, however, faced with an eventuality, which is that it is headed toward a more open and accepting society, indeed a globalized society that holds on stringently to its principles and values. Social debates are less reserved and more heated, with opposing factions agreeing and disagreeing on the young generation's day-to-day social issues. One of these issues is the lack of legislation paving the way for cinema complexes to launch in the Kingdom. Some of the questions being asked revolve around the practicality of continuing to ban cinemas in a globalized information age, where all kinds of films are readily available to all in cyberspace. And for those seeking a movie-going experience, travel to a neighboring country is still the only available solution. It is about time that we look again at this ban and set the gears in motion toward building cinemas in mall complexes nationwide, where we impose strict codes of conduct and dire consequences for those who breach the boundaries of acceptable behavior. Furthermore, regulatory bodies and censors are able to screen films prior to their release and ensure the agreement of film content in line with our moral standards. Dr. Abdulrazaq Al-Usmani, a former international media instructor at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, said cinemas were prevalent in Jeddah in the past and were referred to as “backyard cinemas” but it was on a grassroots level and never saw its full potential realized. He added that cinemas are not yet present in Saudi Arabia due to the very nature of the Kingdom's society, where radio and television also faced serious criticism, particularly from religious conservatives, before they became socially acceptable. It was the permeability of television and radio after the 1950s and 1960s that made its acceptance in Saudi Arabia inevitable. The movie-going experience, according to Al-Usmani, is a communal and social experience that enforces the cinemas' nature as a form of recorded theater. The audience is engaged with the film and involved with the characters and their journeys. It was the television's ability to bring films into people's homes that mitigated the need for further arguments in favor of cinemas, he said, adding that the global nature of the information age proves that cinemas are no threat to Saudi cultures, traditions or lifestyles. Dr. Abdullah Al-Subaih, social psychiatry instructor at Imam Muhammad Bin Saud University, said the Arab world's experience with cinemas is a negligible one, indicating that the cinema through its films showcases values and principles that are in direct opposition to Saudi culture. Al-Subaih said that Saudi society opposes cinemas in the country with its strong sense of identity and culture in mind. He added that there the cinema lacks any content that could be deemed respectable and that the availability of this content over the Internet and television does not justify or enforce the argument for a cinema complex. Dr. Saud Saleh Kateb, communication and technology specialist at King Abdulaziz University, said opposition to cinemas is a small group that fears any kind of social change — the same faction that opposes all social changes such as the employment of women and education for girls. He added the content that the cinema showcases is readily available to all and that the cinema complex is no longer a problem as long as it is regulated. Kateb confirmed the need for legislation to prevent crude behavior. He concluded that moviegoers find the experience very enjoyable, an experience that should be a right to all individuals in the Kingdom.
