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Abstract
This article investigates the role of the General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM) in the policymaking, regulation, and legislation related to the licensing and oversight of the Saudi film industry. It analyzes the regulatory history that led to the establishment of the GCAM and then examines how GCAM has managed the industry. It also explores GCAM’s two most significant activities: supporting the development of the film industry and censorship. Additionally, it seeks to determine whether GCAM is an overall contributor to or constraint on the industry in light of film censorship. The article examines the significant challenge GCAM faces in balancing openness and freedom of expression with its obligation to consider and respect Saudi society’s culture and traditions. This examination of GCAM reveals its role in film distribution and exhibition, censorship practices, and labor laws. As an oversight body, GCAM is responsible for media freedom. The findings reveal strict censorship, the high cost of film accessibility, and an absence of employment laws to protect film crews.
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References
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- Caso, F. 2008. Global Issues: Censorship. New York, Infobase Publishing.
- Cook, P. and Heilmann, C. 2013. 'Two Types of Self-censorship: Public and Private. Political Studies, 61(1): 178-196.
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References
Al Arabiya. 2016. بطلا "بركة يقابل بركة" هشام فقيه وفاطمة البنوي في ضيافة تفاعلكم [online]. YouTube. [Accessed 27 Jan 2020]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3R4-N8npqE.
Alharby, T. 2019. Personal Interview by Musab Alamri.
BBC News, 2020. Saudi rapper faces arrest for Mecca Girl music video. 22 February 2020 [Accessed 20 May. 2020]. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-51597561
Bertrand, I. 1978. Film Censorship in Australia. Brisbane, University of Queensland Press.
Caso, F. 2008. Global Issues: Censorship. New York, Infobase Publishing.
Cook, P. and Heilmann, C. 2013. 'Two Types of Self-censorship: Public and Private. Political Studies, 61(1): 178-196.
Flew, T. 1998. 'From Censorship to Policy: Rethinking Media Content Regulation and Classification.' Media International Australia incorporating Culture and Policy, 88(1): 89-98.
GCAM. 2022. About the authority [online]. GCAM. [Accessed 16 January 16 January 2020]. Available at: http://www.gcam.gov.sa/ar/AboutGcam/AboutGcam/Pages/default.aspx
General Union of Arab producers. وثيقة تأسيس جمعية المنتجين والموزعين السعوديين. [online]. The Union. [Accessed 16 January 16 January 2020]. Available at: http://www.mondialeg.tv/وثيقة_تأسيس_جمعية_المنتجين_والموزعين_السعوديين
Jansen, S.C. 1988. Censorship: The Knot That Binds Power and Knowledge. Oxford University Press.
Jowett, G. 1976. Film: The Democratic Art. Boston, Little Brown.
Jowett, G. 1991. 'The "Facts" of the "Censored" Film: Theoretical and History Approaches.' Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism, Fall: 159-166.
Klausen, J. 2009. The Cartoons That Shook the World. Yale University Press.
Kraidy, M.M., 2006. Hypermedia and governance in Saudi Arabia. First Monday.
Moore, N. 2013. 'Censorship Is.' Australian Humanities Review, 54(1): 45-65.
Najmi, H. 2020, 10 July. Available at: https://twitter.com/NajmiHasan/status/1281657240701808640?s=20 [Accessed 12 August12 August 2020]
O’Mahony, P., 2021. Habermas and the public sphere: Rethinking a key theoretical concept. European Journal of Social Theory, 24(4), pp.485-506.
Radwan, R. 2022. How reopening of cinemas in Saudi Arabia has proved a film-industry game-changer. Arab News. Available at: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2041361/saudi-arabia. [Accessed 30 November 2022]
Saudi Arabia. Ministry of Culture. 2020. The Saudi Cultural Situation 2019. Available at:
https://t.co/2PTYnfqgOp?ssr=true [Accessed 12 August12 August 2020].
SAP. Who we are. [online]. The Association. [Accessed 16 January 2020]. Available at: http://sapda.org.sa/
SAP. Our services. [online]. The Association. [Accessed 16 January 16 January 2020]. Available at: http://sapda.org.sa/
Sharman, J. 2017 ‘Saudi Arabia religious chief says legalizing cinemas risks 'mixing of sexes' and 'rotten' influence,' The Independent, 15 January. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-vision-2030-cinema-concerts-rotten-influence-mixing-sexes-religion-islam-a7528001.html [Accessed 12 August12 August 2020]
Thmanyah Radio, 2020. مالك نجر خارج صندوق مسامير | بودكاست فنجان 8 July 2020 [Accessed 20 May. 2020]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxX4wDULET8
FM radio, 2020. 11 July. Available at: https://twitter.com/ufmradio/status/1282045426284335106?s=20 [Accessed 12 August12 August 2020]
Peleg, I. and Wozniuk, V. 2019. Patterns of Censorship Around the World. Routledge.
Phillips, R. 2004. The Global Export of Risk: Finance and the Film Business. Competition and Change, 8(2): 105-136.
Post, R., Post, R.C. and Roth, M. eds. 1998. Censorship and Silencing: Practices of Cultural Regulation (Vol. 4). Getty Publications.
Walker, S. 2011. Regulating Film Content in the United States and Australia, 1900–1940. Media International Australia, 140(1): 71-79.
Wood, J. 1997. 'Censorship Lobby Denies Diversity.' The Australian. 12 December 12 December.