slow and subtle awakening....
i hope i'm not being too optimistic here but i think we may be seeing the seeds of a cultural awakening in kuwait. a number of encouraging signs:
- i was just on the gulf road and saw the beautifully renovated colonial style structure that is the old "medical employees residence" (or so it says on the gorgeous restored sign). looks like a lot of care was taken with this - not the usual shoddy job. if you're looking for it, it's adjacent to the new and starkly contrasting diabetes centre.
- art galleries abound! regardless of the motives (profit or pleasure) behind them this is definitely a positive omen. from what i've seen so far the main instigators are usually art and design lovers under 30. they've been organizing regular events and trying to develop original local talent (however little it may be).
- the publishing industry is mushrooming it seems albeit with questionable quality. what i find lacking in this area is the lack of journalistic standards (as well as half-decent spellcheckers!). most of the them though are society focused rags but we have to start somewhere i guess. and of course the inevitable crime and intrigue mags have to pop up although i never thought i'd see enquirer style articles in kuwait! (we have to pay the price somehow i guess)
the main problem remains that we are too xenophobic in the areas that matter - knowledge, social introspection and culture. when we finally decide to let the rest of the world visit this country maybe eventually we can get a bit of diversity and new ideas!
- i was just on the gulf road and saw the beautifully renovated colonial style structure that is the old "medical employees residence" (or so it says on the gorgeous restored sign). looks like a lot of care was taken with this - not the usual shoddy job. if you're looking for it, it's adjacent to the new and starkly contrasting diabetes centre.
- art galleries abound! regardless of the motives (profit or pleasure) behind them this is definitely a positive omen. from what i've seen so far the main instigators are usually art and design lovers under 30. they've been organizing regular events and trying to develop original local talent (however little it may be).
- the publishing industry is mushrooming it seems albeit with questionable quality. what i find lacking in this area is the lack of journalistic standards (as well as half-decent spellcheckers!). most of the them though are society focused rags but we have to start somewhere i guess. and of course the inevitable crime and intrigue mags have to pop up although i never thought i'd see enquirer style articles in kuwait! (we have to pay the price somehow i guess)
the main problem remains that we are too xenophobic in the areas that matter - knowledge, social introspection and culture. when we finally decide to let the rest of the world visit this country maybe eventually we can get a bit of diversity and new ideas!
posted by frigg at
10:36 PM
3 Comments:
Well done and welcome to Blogland!
By
Zaydoun, at Saturday, August 07, 2004 12:50:00 PM
Its nice to know that some movement is happening regarding arts and culture. I think it has always been there but hidden.
There are many people with enough diverse and innovative ideas and knowledge in Kuwait but they are not being encouraged because of "the man".
"The man" is a symbol of all the corrupt and backward institutions and individuals that prevent progress. I am not talking here about the favorite target of many, the islamists, but the whole system. We need to defeat "the man" first psychologically and then physically to move.
As for creative writing and valuable knowledge sharing, that is still miles behind. We will never cross that barrier, its too big. Much of what is written is not constructive and only based on sensation and personal attacks.
By
Purgatory, at Saturday, August 07, 2004 1:47:00 PM
unfortunetly, people have come to realize the handicap of xenophobia and its impact on their lives. To diversify and take part in multicultural experiences is to go way beyond popular American or European culture.
By
Mama Fusla, at Tuesday, August 10, 2004 1:03:00 PM
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