Saudi literature — Beyond the gap
The conflict between modern Saudi literary work and society is getting bigger.
The society of Saudi Arabia is mainly conservative and has challenging issues, usually taken as priorities. On the other hand, the literary work produced by Saudi writers, especially youth, is busy exposing issues that do not reflect most of the social reality. “Are we all involved in sex issues, betrayal and harassment?” a regular reader asks.
Being involved in journalism for as long as 20 years, if I’m here to answer, I would say: The publishers are guiding the subject. Saudi fiction writers are driven by the policies of ‘best seller’ and the topic that it should elaborate and expose. Business standards did not give many good writers the chance to be publicized and supported. Therefore, the publishers are after those who can gain a crowd no matter what the quality of the work is.
Many parts of the world are faced with the same facts, but with a difference. Similar support is granted to literary works that do not take physical scandals as a main theme.
The writer is Chairman, — Saudi Cartoon & Animation Society Twitter: @abdullahsayel
