State and Culture in Saudi Arabia: Understanding the Moment of Transformation
On April 20, AGSIW hosted a workshop examining the question of state and culture in Saudi Arabia.
Marwa Fakih
Non-Resident Fellow, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies
Marwa Fakih is an MPhil/PhD student in the anthropology department at University College London and a non-resident fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies. She specializes in visual and media anthropology with a focus on film and digital production. Her research interests include YouTube production, film industry, production cultures, nation branding, globalization, and neoliberalism. Fakih earned her master’s in sociocultural anthropology and a certificate in Middle Eastern studies from Columbia University. She is a former research associate at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington and a former research scholar at the Institute of Religious Culture and Public Life at Columbia.
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Podcast Production in the Gulf Arab States: Expanding Beyond the Region
Despite the challenges still facing podcast production, the enthusiasm of khaleejis to spread podcasting culture is encouraging collaboration and the passionate embrace of podcasting across the Arab region.
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Podcast Production in the Gulf Arab States: The Surge of Saudi Podcasting
With Saudi Arabia’s prolific work in online content creation and social media consumption, it is no surprise that Saudis are following the global trend in podcast creation.
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Podcast Production in the Gulf Arab States: Build It, and They Will Come
Podcasting culture is rapidly spreading across the Gulf. Though it still has a long way to go before catching on with the masses, it offers opportunities for growth and lucrative business prospects.
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Al-Moatasem al-Mamari: Institutionalizing Omani Youth Movements
AGSIW spoke with al-Moatasem al-Mamari, a physician engaged with youth and media, about the development of youth movements in Oman as well as their cultural impact and government interaction with them.
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Hadil Al-Moosa: Women Entrepreneurs in Oman
AGSIW spoke with Hadil Al-Moosa about media in Oman, labor laws, women’s entrepreneurship, and the role of government support for entrepreneurs.
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Abdullah Al-Busais: Fiction Writing in the Gulf
AGSIW spoke with Kuwaiti poet and novelist Abdullah Al-Busais about the growing interest in literature among Gulf youth, publishing and censorship issues, and the recent book fair in Kuwait.
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Almaha Aldossari: A Chef’s Journey to Veganism
Known on social media as “The Bedouin Vegan,” Almaha Aldossari presents the vegan philosophy to her followers as both a global idea and part of Saudi identity.
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Social Media Influencers in the Gulf Arab States
Authorities in the Gulf states are wrestling with the rise of social media stars, regulating their use of social platforms while simultaneously trying to capitalize on their fame.
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Sheno Ya3ni: Criticizing Society through Comedy
AGSIW spoke with the team behind Sheno Ya3ni, or so what? – a YouTube channel run by a group of Kuwaiti comedians – to learn how they have benefitted from using an online platform and how YouTube and social media affect cultural criticism in the region.
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The Blue Lake Farm: Pioneering Agritourism in the Gulf
AGSIW spoke with Ali al-Awadhi, executive manager of Nabta, to learn about the Blue Lake Farm and agritourism in Kuwait.
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Muhannad Shono: Creating His Own Saudi Narrative
When Muhannad Shono began his career Saudi's creative economy was not a domain to be celebrated in the kingdom.
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Amaani Yahya: Reaching out through Rap
Amaani Yahya might not be the first Yemeni woman to rap, but she is one of the first to use the artform to try to reach people outside Yemen.
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Moath Alofi: A Story of the City of Medina
Al-Medina al-Munawara is known primarily for the Prophet Muhammad’s mosque and his tomb inside it.
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Creative Coworking in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
When it comes to workspace trends, coworking has quickly risen to the top over the last two years.