Wednesday 28 April 2010

Feminism















Saudi feminism, a hotel for women only

The Luthan hotel in the north of Riyadh will try to put an end to the problems of Saudi women who travel and work in the country, and who always need special authorization to reserve a room in 'mixed' hotels. The rhythm of a woman's life in Saudi Arabia is marked by the permits that male figures of reference must approve before she can do anything, from driving a car to reserving a hotel room to working. The Luthan spa is a hotel for women only, the first of its kind in the Gulf and the only one where no special permissions will be necessary. The hotel emerged from the idea of a group of businesswomen who wanted to resolve some of the difficulties that Saudi women face. The chairperson of the board of partners is Princess Madawi Bint Mohammad Bin Abdullah, who says they have obtained approval from Sultan Bin Salman, secretary general of the Saudi tourism commission.

The current laws in Saudi Arabia do not allow 'mixing' among the sexes, and businesswomen who travel for their work often find themselves in unpleasant situations when the moment arrives to check in to a hotel. The hotels of the kingdom will accommodate only women who are accompanied by a male family member, or in possession of a written permit granted by a manager at their workplace, or by the police.

I really like the idea and it’s just a start of women’s problems issues with the special authorization like traveling as a women alone its must have an authorization from a father or brother, life women in Saudi Arabia is changing to the Good with King Abulla applauded a statement that women they will drive cars someday. Women then called for a dialogue to convince opponents of female driving to change their mis-conceptions. that the issue required patience, and he would not impose it against the will of the people. He noted that women drive on the kingdom's deserts and in rural areas. "I believe strongly in the rights of women", he said during his first TV interview adding: "I believe the day will come when women drive. In time, I believe it will be possible. And I believe patience is a virtue.

Women life in Saudi Arabia lives changing for the better in Saudi Arabia but slowly. The Ladies Kingdom has given several women the chance to start their own businesses, including an artist who has a small gallery. Women entrepreneurs will be able to rent office space in a soon toopen business center.


Reference

Modernism/post modernism




Modernism in Saudi Arabia :

The geographical region of the Arab land has frame the cultural background of the country relates to modernism of Arab world. The Arab world includes Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen, and spreads over the Middle East (or the Eastern Mediterranean. Most Arab countries gained their independence from British and French colonial rule between the end of World War II and the mid 1950s.

Modernists focused on innovative forms of expression and rejected realism and creating and shaping the world and Arab world (specifically art/architecture/things that make up culture). Modernism can be a way of thinking that supports the ability of humans to be able to change their environment in ways that make it more practical for their use. Although the political, economic and social environments since the 19th century have caused the decline of traditional arts in the Arab world It also rejects boundaries between high and "low" forms of art. By the middle of the 20th century, modern Arab had developed, based on Western aesthetics and norms; and by the end of the 20th century all Arab countries had extended modern art movements that reflected their cultural and artistic growth.


The Bicycle is a larger-than-life sculpture of a bicycle and is the most famous landmark in Jeddah


Example is The King Fahd Causeway is multiple dikes - bridge combination connecting Khobar, Saudi Arabia, and the island of Kingdom of Bahrain.1982



Example of a modernist building in Saudi Arabia is the Department of defence


Postmodernism: The modern is always historically at war with what comes immediately before it in this same sense, modern is always post-something. Postmodernism deals with the idea that if something is meaningless that it is not important to focus on finding meaning like how some gallerys end up in burnes empty rooms, it’s about having fun with creating it . Edge of Arabia, which opened on October 16th at the Brunei Gallery, school of Oriental and Africa Studies (SOAS) of the University of London, offers a unique opportunity to see the work of 17 contemporary artists from Saudi Arabia.

Installation art is an good example of post modern art.Ayman Yossri Daydban


The Choice photograph by Manal Al Dowayan




The Kingdom Tower in Riyadh is the tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia

Lionel Mill's film has unique access to Prince Saud bin Abdul Mohsen, one of the rulers of the rich, powerful and secretive Saudi royal family. This is a fascinating insight into the conflicts between tradition and modernity in one of the world's most conservative and autocratic countries.



References

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fh52m

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk_mvSp1xmA

http://worldslongestbridges.blogspot.com/2009/12/worlds-longest-bridges.html

http://susieofarabia.wordpress.com/2008/05/11/larger-than-life-bicycle-sculpture/

http://susieofarabia.wordpress.com/2008/11/14/skywatch-jeddah-sculpture/

http://www.saudiarabian.tv/?p=1140

http://www.menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/5101-expressionism-saudi-fine-arts-its-time-document

http://www.thegarretboys.com/news/saudinews.htm

http://universes-in-universe.org/eng/nafas/articles/2003/modern_art_from_the_arab_world

http://www.galenfrysinger.com/saudi_arabia_modern_architecture.htm

http://universes-in-universe.org/eng/nafas/articles/2008/edge_of_arabia

http://universes-in-universe.org/eng/nafas/articles/2008/edge_of_arabia/photos/11_ayman_yossri_daydban

http://universes-in-universe.org/eng/nafas/articles/2008/edge_of_arabia/photos/08_manal_al_dowayan

http://www.djibnet.com/photo/saudi+arabia/kingdom-tower-1145676387.html

Introducing Postmodernism", by Richard Appignanesi (Author), Chris Garratt