1 A Saudi Representation of America and the Americans An Imagological Study of Ghazi Al-Gosaibi’s Works A thesis submitted by Mohammed Faia Asiri For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Arab and Islamic Studies The University of Exeter The Institute of Arabic and Islamic studies January 2020 This thesis is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. I certify that all content in this thesis, which is not my work, has been identified and that no material has previously been submitted and approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University. ..................................... (Signature) 2 Abstract Distinct images of America and Americans began to emerge in Saudi culture and literature after the discovery of oil in the Arabian Peninsula since 1938. This historical event not only brought American oil companies to the region but also raised substantial cultural questions about the self and the Other. Later on, the continuous American presence has come for economic and political purposes in Saudi Arabia, such as in the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO, which is called now Saudi ARAMCO), and the Gulf War in 1990-1991. This presence has been reflected in Saudi literature, both poetry and narrative prose. This thesis sets out to study the image of America in Saudi novels in order to understand its dimensions, structures and techniques. The study centres its data and analysis on one significant contemporary Saudi author, Ghazi Al-Gosaibi (1940-2010) who engages consistently with the American theme in most of his writings as characters, spaces, speeches and culture for various purposes. In real life, Al-Gosaibi is well immersed in American culture and has a lot of experience of living in America and socialising/working with Americans. Imagology, or what is called image studies, utilizes concepts and methods which focus on “how certain temperamental characteristics are stereotypically imputed to certain nationalities.” (Beller & Leerssen, 2007). Taking into consideration all Al-Gosaibi works, imagology helps to investigate mainly four key elements in the image: dimensions, narrative techniques, themes and lastly discourses. The study also will compare and contrast images of America with Al- Gosaibi’s works and present the similarities and dissimilarities in term of structure and theme. The thesis is structured around four key themes: cities, women, politics and other images of America. The core argument of this thesis is that the richness representations of America in Al-Gosaibi’s narrative are almost consistent and complementary, regardless of being in various genres and from different times. The depictions of America are used metaphorically to display characteristics of America and Americans as well as to represent issues about selfhood and nationhood. Al-Gosaibi is distinctive and different. This thesis contributes to modern Arabic literary scholarship in the following ways. Firstly, it is one of the initial studies of modern Arabic literature adopting an imagological approach. Imagology is useful not only in analysing the themes, but also the aesthetic features and how they correlate to the images represented. Secondly, English language literary studies on Arabic 3 literature focus on Egypt, the Levant and North Africa, this study redresses the balance not only about Saudi literature but also it sustains the representation of America in modern Arabic literature whereas the focus is usually on Europe. This thesis is one of the pioneer in-depth studies of Al-Gosaibi in the English language. It introduces a major Saudi author and his work to English readers, including first-time translated sections from his works. Keywords: Imagology, image studies, Arabic literature, Saudi literature, national character studies, American Studies. 4 Statement of Copyright The candidate confirms that the work, translation and analysis, submitted is his own and that appropriate credit has been given where reference has been made to the work of others. This copy has been supplied on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. © 2020 The University of Exeter and Mohammed Asiri right to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. 5 Acknowledgements This thesis would not be achieved without support and encouragement from several people who made a great company in my journey. First, and for the most, I would like to send huge thanks to my supervisors: Dr Emily Selove and Dr Christina Philips for their unfailingly supportive stance, insightful thoughts and invaluable guidance. They have always inspired me with novel ideas, problematic questions and suggestions that crucially affect both the structure and the contents of my thesis. I had been pleased to work under their supervision during my PhD journey. I am thankful to several respectful scholars whom I contacted at the beginning of my journey consulting for suitable methodology and selective data: Prof Rasheed El-Enany, Prof Najm Kāẓim, Prof Joseph Leerssen, and Prof Husain Al-Manasrah. My thanks also go to an honourable and respectful figure in Arabic studies in the UK Mr Leslie McLoughlin for his helping in translating several texts. I am also thankful to my sponsor King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah via the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia Cultural Bureau in London for their financial and administrative aid throughout my educational journey from English Language level to PhD level. I would also thank the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter for their hospitality, caring, and consideration. I cannot say thanks enough to my small family, my wife and my kids, for sharing their essential part of their lives travelling with me, overcoming all obstacles and problems that I have been through, sharing happy and sorrow moments with me. A special thank must go to my wife for her continuous support, encouragement and assistance. I would also like to thank my big family, my parent and siblings tirelessly, for their patience and yearning to finish my study, especially my brother Adel, who passed away at the beginning of my PhD journey. I cannot close these acknowledgements without expressing my warm thanks to my special friends: Dr Adel Khamis, who made my journey to the UK; Dr Hussain Al-Qarni and Dr Ghayda Al-Juwaiser, who guided my first steps in the UK; and Dr Rania Al-Ardawi, who became voluntarily as my academic supervisor before I started studying at the University of Exeter. Last but not least, I would thank all my friends from all countries for their kind and joy they provided during my stay. 6 Dedication To four Fatimahs: The one who gives me life, my mother, The one who gives me love, my wife, The one who gives me hope, my grandmother, And the one who beautifies the institute every morning, the cleaner. 7 Illumination “You are my other me. If I do harm to you, I do harm to myself; If I love and respect you, I love and respect myself.” Extracted from the Mayan poem “Pensamiento Serpentino” and translated by American writer Luís Valdez. 8 System of transliteration The thesis follows the IJMES (International Journal of Middle East Studies) system of Arabic transliteration. :ḍ Vowels ض ’ ء ṭ ط b ب ā ی or ا ẓ Long ظ t ت ū و ʻ ع th ث ī ي gh غ j ج īy يِ ّ◌ f Doubled ف ḥ ح ūw ُو q ق kh خ aw و ـَ k Diphthongs ك d د ay ي ـَ l ل dh ذ a ـَ m Short م r ر u ُ◌ ـ n ن z ز i ِ◌ـ h ه s س w و sh ش y ي ṣ ص I. Proper Arabic nouns (names, last names) will be diacritically transliterated but not italicised (e.g. Sulṭān) last name (Al-Arfaj). Arabic cities are written in English. II. Arabic resources titles will be transliterated and italicised and Al-Gosaibi’s ones are translated. III. Words which have come into common English usage are not diacritically transliterated (e.g. Allah, Muhammad). I consider the name “Al-Gosaibi” in this category because the author himself and English translators agree on it. IV. Arabic words or expressions that do not have a literal English translation will be put in the transliterated form with a quick explanation in a footnote or will be translated into cultural equivalent expression. System of referencing The thesis adopts APA style (American Psychological Association) for citation, quotation and referencing. 9 Table of content Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... 2 Statement of Copyright .............................................................................................................. 4 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... 5 Dedication .................................................................................................................................. 6 Illumination ............................................................................................................................... 7 System of transliteration ............................................................................................................ 8 System of referencing ................................................................................................................ 8 Table of content ........................................................................................................................