Investigating Kuwaiti Television Serial Dramas of Ramadan: Social Issues and Narrative Forms Across Three Transformative Production Eras
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Investigating Kuwaiti Television Serial Dramas of Ramadan: Social Issues and Narrative Forms Across Three Transformative Production Eras Ahmad HAYAT Ph.D. Thesis 2020 Investigating Kuwaiti Television Serial Dramas of Ramadan: Social Issues and Narrative Forms Across Three Transformative Production Eras Ahmad HAYAT Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) University of Salford School of Arts and Media 2020 I Contents 1. Abstract …………………………………………………………………… …….. IV 2. Introduction ……………………………………………………………….……… 1 3. Literature Review ……………………………………………………………….. 12 3.1 Production Eras and Periodization ……………………………….. 13 3.2 Arab Television Eras ……………………………………………….. 24 3.3 Arab Television Programming …………………………………….. 33 3.4 Social Issues in Television Programming ………………………... 40 3.5 Narrative Forms and Formal Characteristics ……………………. 52 3.6 Conclusion …………………………………………………………… 74 4. Methodology ……………………………………………………………………... 76 4.1 Case Study Selection ………………………………………………. 78 4.2 Units of Data Collection and Analysis …………………………….. 88 4.3 Chapter Design and Approach …………………………………….. 97 4.4 Conclusion …………………………………………………………… 99 5. The Pre-Satellite Era: Al-Aqdar (1977) ……………………………………….. 101 5.1 List of Characters …………………………………………………… 102 5.2 Story Synopses and Theme Analyses …………………………… 103 5.2.1 Storyline A Synopsis ……………………………….. 104 5.2.2 Storyline A Theme Analysis ……………………….. 105 5.2.3 Storyline B Synopsis ………………………………... 106 5.2.4 Storyline B Theme Analysis ………………………... 108 II 5.2.5 Storyline C Synopsis ………………………………... 109 5.2.6 Storyline C Theme Analysis ………………………... 110 5.2.7 Storyline D Synopsis ………………………………... 111 5.2.8 Storyline D Theme Analysis ………………………... 112 5.3 Sociocultural Context ……………………………………………….. 113 5.4 Narrative Form ………………………………………………………. 122 5.5 Conclusion …………………………………………………………… 128 6. The Satellite Era: Bo Marzouq (1992) ………………………………………… 130 6.1 List of Characters …………………………………………………… 132 6.2 Story Synopses and Theme Analyses ……………………………. 132 6.2.1 Storyline A Synopsis ………………………………… 133 6.2.2 Storyline A Theme Analysis ………………………... 134 6.2.3 Storyline B Synopsis ………………………………… 137 6.2.4 Storyline B Theme Analysis ………………………... 138 6.2.5 Storyline C Synopsis ………………………………... 140 6.2.6 Storyline C Theme Analysis ………………………... 142 6.2.7 Storyline D Synopsis ………………………………... 146 6.2.8 Storyline D Theme Analysis ………………………... 147 6.3 Sociocultural Context ……………………………………………….. 150 6.4 Narrative Form ………………………………………………………. 163 6.5 Conclusion ………………………………………………………….... 169 7. The Network Proliferation Era: Zawarat Al Khamis (2010) …………………. 171 7.1 List of Characters …………………………………………………… 172 III 7.2 Story Synopses and Theme Analyses ……………………………. 174 7.2.1 Storyline A Synopsis ………………………………… 174 7.2.2 Storyline A Theme Analysis ………………………... 177 7.2.3 Storyline B Synopsis ………………………………… 179 7.2.4 Storyline B Theme Analysis ………………………... 182 7.2.5 Storyline C Synopsis ………………………………... 183 7.2.6 Storyline C Theme Analysis ………………………... 186 7.2.7 Storyline D Synopsis ………………………………... 187 7.2.8 Storyline D Theme Analysis ………………………... 190 7.2.9 Storyline E Synopsis ………………………………… 191 7.2.10 Storyline E Theme Analysis ………………………... 193 7.2.11 Storyline F Synopsis ………………………………… 194 7.2.12 Storyline F Theme Analysis ………………………… 196 7.2.13 Storyline G Synopsis ………………………………... 197 7.2.14 Storyline G Theme Analysis ………………………... 199 7.3 Sociocultural Context ……………………………………………….. 200 7.4 Narrative Form ………………………………………………………. 213 7.5 Conclusion …………………………………………………………… 222 8. Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………. 225 9. Appendices ……………………………………………………………………… 233 10. Reference List ………………………………………………………………….. 236 IV Abstract Produced for the holy month of Ramadan to accommodate society’s religious rituals, Kuwaiti television serial dramas are designed to address culturally specific social issues and pervade television during Ramadan. This research identifies the development of Kuwaiti television serials and establishes a framework for distinguishing television productions in the Middle East. While researchers have prioritized the political economy and journalistic reception studies of Arab television, the state of Kuwaiti television serials that has influenced the formation of other regional Ramadanian serial programmes has thus far been neglected. Kuwaiti serials present a limited amount of episodes condensed over thirty days of airing during Ramadan that require intense audience engagement, consistent recollection of information, and narrative closure. Through close textual analyses of representative case studies and interviews with programme writers, this research highlights the rationale prompting specific depictions of social issues and the utilization of narrative elements in Kuwaiti serials across three different production periods to contextualize them within the broader field of television programming. Because this format has undergone modifications for over four decades due to the changes occurring in the television landscape, the investigation focuses on three main periods in the development of Kuwaiti television: the pre-satellite era (1961- 1990), consisting of state-owned networks and local accessibility, the satellite era (1990-2000), which expanded accessibility due to satellite technologies and introduced private-owned networks, and the network proliferation era (2000 onward), which witnessed the rapid increase in networks and demand for productions. The exploration V reveals how and why specific thematic meanings and narrative forms developed during each era and demonstrates how social changes and production contexts inform serial programming in Kuwait. In the process, a historical overview of the development of Kuwaiti television serial dramas and the impact of the production context and societal changes on the narrative forms and content is provided. 1 Introduction This thesis examines changes in production context, narrative form, and representations of social issues over three distinct eras of the Kuwaiti Ramadan television serial. Formed to fill the broadcast schedule during the holy month of Ramadan and address social concerns, the Kuwaiti television serial drama of Ramadan is a culturally specific format that first evolved in the 1970s and has continued to the present day. This distinct Kuwaiti television format was formed to correspond to society’s religious habits during the holy month of Ramadan. During this month, all social activities are altered around specific daily hours because people fast from sunrise to sunset. To accommodate these norms, television producers and writers in Kuwait generated a distinct serial format that consists of a particular narrative form that begins on the first day of the month and achieves closure before the month’s end. This form continues to engage audiences despite the various alterations occurring due to the transformative television landscape. For more than four decades, television in the Middle East experienced technological and commercial changes that shaped and reshaped programming, censorship, and control. This is reflected in the development of Middle Eastern programming and because Kuwait is located within this region, Kuwaiti serial dramas encountered drastic alterations over the years. However, unlike other countries in the Middle East, the cultural particularities of Kuwaiti serials reflect not only the change in its programming form but also the change in the social structure and concerns of society. Although these alterations persisted, the format continued to evolve and survived uncertain industrial practices: the pre-satellite era (1961-1990), the satellite era (1990- 2 2000), and the network proliferation era (2000 onward). Because this format is constructed specifically for the holy month of Ramadan, seasons are structured around thirty days of broadcasting. Therefore, depending on the production era, serials are either eleven episodes, fifteen episodes, or thirty episodes per Ramadan. Evolving over these eras, certain narrative and formal attributes developed and reshaped the Ramadanian model. As a result of its broadcast and social particularity, the format is made to address culturally specific social issues and values. However, social and cultural changes influence the values portrayed and the dominant assumptions of society. With technological advancements expanding audience reach and creating a competitive television environment throughout the Middle East, and with Kuwait undergoing social developments influenced by economics and politics, society’s dominant assumptions and values have changed accordingly. Hence, this study is an investigation of the narrative form and production context of Kuwaiti television serial dramas of Ramadan, the reflection of Kuwaiti society and values in these serial dramas, and the development of these reflections over time. Middle Eastern countries vary in their social, economic, and political developments. Every country experienced various historical changes at different stages due to its unique political, geographical, and economic status. Kuwait underwent social and cultural changes during each era that are significantly specific to the country’s development and historical origin. Social issues and values concerning prewar society where modernization due to the oil boom was taking place differ from postwar society where economic and political distress prevailed due to the aftermath of the war. These eras also differ from contemporary society where women have gained more political 3 rights, economic involvement, and as a result reshaped gender