Overview

T. E. Lawrence once observed that Saudi Arabia had ""so little art"" that it could ""be said to have no art at all"".  Whether that was once the case is arguable. But that it is not the case now is clear in Sean Foley's Changing Saudi Arabia. Exploring the contemporary arts movement in Saudi Arabia in the context of the kingdom's changing political realities, Foley finds that artists are expressing thoughts and feelings that the Saudi public typically has not felt safe to articulate. These artists are promoting discussions about the need for peaceful and progressive social reform—and they are doing it in ways that escape the wrath of the absolute monarchy. Without confronting the state or the political system, Foley argues, Saudi society is exercising significant agency through its cultural production.

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9781626379862

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Reviews

A fascinating and multi-layered exploration of art and culture in the kingdom.... Changing Saudi Arabia is an important book. Foley's book, by systematically detailing and analysing the Saudi arts and culture scene, critically informs our discussion about Saudi Arabia today and the ways in which it is or is not changing. i Helps illustrate that the Kingdom has a vibrant cultural scene and cannot be reduced, nor properly understood, by simply focusing on the hoary themes of royals, oil and Islam. Outstanding and original…. Foley provides a fascinating portrait of a side of Saudi society that is rarely considered: its creative class. Refreshing and engaging.... Pushing back against stereotypes, Foley explores the creative production of Saudis, whom we learn are vibrantly engaged in reshaping the social and cultural dynamics of their country.... A must read for anyone interested in the future of Saudi Arabia.

A fascinating and multi-layered exploration of art and culture in the kingdom.... Changing Saudi Arabia is an important book. Foley's book, by systematically detailing and analysing the Saudi arts and culture scene, critically informs our discussion about Saudi Arabia today and the ways in which it is or is not changing. i Helps illustrate that the Kingdom has a vibrant cultural scene and cannot be reduced, nor properly understood, by simply focusing on the hoary themes of royals, oil and Islam. Outstanding and original.... Foley provides a fascinating portrait of a side of Saudi society that is rarely considered: its creative class. Refreshing and engaging.... Pushing back against stereotypes, Foley explores the creative production of Saudis, whom we learn are vibrantly engaged in reshaping the social and cultural dynamics of their country.... A must read for anyone interested in the future of Saudi Arabia.

Author Information

Sean Foley is professor of history at Middle Tennessee State University. He is author of The Arab Gulf States: Beyond Oil and Islam.

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