ADDRESSING THE GAP IN THE ARTS AND CULTURE INDUSTRY IN DUBAI: PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS BY SALEM MOHAMMAD HUMAID ALRIYAMI VO 1 2 A DISSERTATION PRESENTEDTO THE UNIVERSITY OF WALES, LAMPETER IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY 2008 6800608987 Salem Humaid 192 Chapter 6: Presentation of Cultural Issues in the UAE and Dubai 1. Introduction The culture of Middle East is vibrant. It is mixed with classic Arab Islamic flavour and western modern thoughts. Many experts believe that the culture of the Arabs and UAE in. particular, is pretty dynamic. Every decadeshows a new social trend, like 1970sUAE showed a reckless social activity, and the 1980s showed different characteristics.Nowadays, Islamic fundamentalism is knocking the door. Different phasesof the UAE's culture have not changedthe intellectual sphere of the society. One can really say that the UAE is facing an intellectual bankruptcy. Apart from poetic advancement,UAE's cultural activities are null. There are, of course, cultural activities like seminars,lectures, and fairs, but there are no audiencesfor them. People do not seemto be interested in cultural activities or preserving ancient traditions. There are, of course, a lot of stories, political analyses,and historical books written, but any new philosophy is not promoted in the society. To evolve, any society needsnot only economic progress, but intellectual growth and free society, too. Every civilization has evolved remarkably, not only becauseof economic and military power, but also by contributions to art, music, literature, and architecture, for example. The culture of the UAE is not getting a motivation or support for a cultural revolution. Education and exposure to different activities is one way to move ahead. Cultural foundations in Dubai are working in this direction very appreciably. There are a lot of foundations whose main work is to reward and promote new thinkers and writers. Cultural foundations in different cities of the UAE are also enthusiastic about their work, but budgetary concerns are a big drawback. Government in the UAE needsto plan their cultural policy proactively. A cultural revolution in the UAE must go hand-in-hand with business development in the country; otherwise, the energizer of a human society, i. e., culture, may go missing from the UAE's fast-changingsociety. ._` 11111168006089961ai0wiaa01 Salem Humaid 193 2. The Cultural Issues The UAE modern society is one of the fastest changing societies in the world, and the samecan be said about the UAE culture. However, there are different misleading and contradicting analysesabout the cultural issue in the UAE. There exist three interrelated theories that provide a realistic reading of the cultural issue in the UAE. The first theory stressesthat the modern UAE culture, though a young one, has observedtwo historic phases.The secondtheory claims that the cultural issue in the UAE overcame a state of idleness since the 1980s, and is currently observing a state of revival. The third theory says that the current cultural processin the UAE is a newly born and fragile one that is prone to recession,if ' not properly supportedby domestic and official institutions. fact The first theory regarding the cultural issue in the UAE emanatesfrom the mere that there first inception are two distinguished phasesin the modern UAE cultural movement. The startedwith the led deep of the UAE Federation at the end of the 1970s, observing a huge oil wealth, which to social individualism Such changes and new intellectual trends amid an atmosphere of and carelessness. They changesleft a negative impact on cultural, artistic, literary, and social activities. also obstructedthe idleness, road toward a cultural, literary, and intellectual movement. The main trait of that phase was lack interest in paralysis, comprehensivecultural frustration, a popular and official of cultural activities, has and a common anti-culture attitude, fighting and cornering the intellectuals. That phase passed,and a new phase started since 1980s. Contrary to the oil wealth phase, the new phase observed several developments that revived the cultural movement in the UAE. The most prominent feature was the increase in the number of university students, educatedpeople, and graduates.Knowledge among the public grew in general, and exceeded the phase of indulgence in commercial enterprises and self- 1 `abd Al-Khaleq `abdullah, Al-haraka Althagafiya fi Al Emarat (The Cultural Movement in the UAE), 1Sted, The Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2000, p. 13. Salem Humaid 194 ' richness, and new immaterial interests started to appear. Furthermore, the 1980s phase observed the longest economic recessionin the UAE, related to the downtrend in oil demand and the decreasein oil production, prices, and revenues. That led to a similar decrease in government expenditure and individual consumption. Such factors helped the cultural movement to mature, and there was a relative cultural revival that was accompaniedby an official interest in building cultural institutions, supporting cultural activities, and enhancing literary and artistic works, leading to regular cultural festivals and activities. Thus, the cultural recession is now overcome in the UAE, and there is currently cultural revival. Now, one can say that there is a cultural movement in the UAE that is still in process. This movement is currently reflected in more cultural activities and more literary and cultural personalities and mature dialogue. by The cultural movement has several features,namely the pioneering position occupied poetry in UAE The UAE and poets. Thus, poetry is the most rich and prominent cultural product the society. Gulf There different poetic movement has realized a distinguished presencein the Arab and region. are is big between types of poetry, including rhythmic and prosaic types. However, there a gap poetry and Literary, intellectual other cultural activities, as the latter cannot competewith poetic works. artistic, and interested in do activities are still unable to compete with poetry in the UAE. Even those such activities is lacks interest not yet have the position occupied by the poets. The UAE audience poetry-oriented, and intellect in story, arts, and intellectual works. So if poetry occupies the top rank, then and academic research comes at the bottom of the list of the UAE cultural movement. Until now, there are no 1 Ibid., p. 14. Salem Humaid 195 distinguished intellectuals on the local cultural platform, at a time when intellectual, theoretical, and academicworks are still meagre.' The cultural movement in the UAE is a real fact, having its own institutions and developing itself in a way that allows talking for the first time about the culture's role in the UAE social development process.It is difficult to say now that the UAE culture is a disintegrated one, however, UAE nationals have to admit that they lack a realistic and an integrated strategy. The UAE culture needs a free environment, as the UAE intellectuals suffer frustration and personal conflicts. Therefore, the new cultural movement is still threatened,and to revive it, the following conditions must be fulfilled: i. be - There should be a clear vision towards a cultural strategy, e., there should a national cultural policy made up by domestic and official institutions. dominate, be - Intellectual freedom and tolerance should while extremism should avoided. frustration for - The intellectuals should give up and work a mature cultural environment. 3. The Cultural Reality in the UAE There is urgency for further writings and discussions about the relationship of culture and focusing intellectual, educatedpeople in the UAE. There is also a similar need for a new study on the literary, and artistic life in the UAE society, which is describedas a fast-changing society, giving up all conventional and outdated attitudes and adopting modern life. It is to be noted that the cultural issues and concerns remain neglected and not documented,unlike those issuesrelated to economy and social life. The impact of the latter issueson the cultural life is not addressed,either. The cultural life needs further anthropological, sociological, and analytical studies. Other issues,like cultural changes,cultural environment, and cultural institutions, have also to be addressed.Cultural changesinclude those issues 1 Ibid., p. 15. Salem Humaid 196 that affect the society's conventions, traditions, and concepts.Thus, the most important topic is to make a comparison between the current cultural life and the past one. The main question is whether the domestic culture remained intact despite the changesobserved by the UAE society.' Cultural activities are the facade of the society's cultural life, and include publishing and translation within the literary, artistic, and intellectual fields. They also include seminars,lectures, and fairs. The common impression about UAE cultural activities is that they are seasonaland unpublicized, and perhapsineffective in social life. Such an impression should be addressedin order to know what is wrong and what is right. The questions now are about the reasonsbehind staggering cultural activities, such as why are they termed seasonal?;why do they not attract audiences,?;does the mistake lie in the nature of these activities or in the audienceand arrangements?;how can such activities be made more effective and more public in the 2 UAE society?; and, how can they play a leading role in positive social changes?