Article Sidebar

Submitted
January 11, 2023
Accepted
June 21, 2023
Published
June 30, 2023
Download
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 450 Download : 415

Main Article Content

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.

Keywords

Saudi cinema Film regulation Film censorship Saudi vision 2030 labor laws film distribution media freedom

Article Details

License

Copyright (c) 2023 Musab Alamri

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
Author Biography

Musab Alamri, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Assistant Professor at the College of Media and Communication, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University

How to Cite
Alamri, M. . (2023). Film Regulation and Censorship Practices in Saudi Arabia: A Case Study of GCAM. Asian Journal of Media and Communication, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.20885/asjmc.vol7.iss1.art1
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

References

  1. 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.
  2. Alharby, T. 2019. Personal Interview by Musab Alamri.
  3. 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
  4. Bertrand, I. 1978. Film Censorship in Australia. Brisbane, University of Queensland Press.
  5. Caso, F. 2008. Global Issues: Censorship. New York, Infobase Publishing.
  6. Cook, P. and Heilmann, C. 2013. 'Two Types of Self-censorship: Public and Private. Political Studies, 61(1): 178-196.
  7. Flew, T. 1998. 'From Censorship to Policy: Rethinking Media Content Regulation and Classification.' Media International Australia incorporating Culture and Policy, 88(1): 89-98.
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. Jansen, S.C. 1988. Censorship: The Knot That Binds Power and Knowledge. Oxford University Press.
  11. Jowett, G. 1976. Film: The Democratic Art. Boston, Little Brown.
  12. Jowett, G. 1991. 'The "Facts" of the "Censored" Film: Theoretical and History Approaches.' Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism, Fall: 159-166.
  13. Klausen, J. 2009. The Cartoons That Shook the World. Yale University Press.
  14. Kraidy, M.M., 2006. Hypermedia and governance in Saudi Arabia. First Monday.
  15. Moore, N. 2013. 'Censorship Is.' Australian Humanities Review, 54(1): 45-65.
  16. Najmi, H. 2020, 10 July. Available at: https://twitter.com/NajmiHasan/status/1281657240701808640?s=20 [Accessed 12 August12 August 2020]
  17. O’Mahony, P., 2021. Habermas and the public sphere: Rethinking a key theoretical concept. European Journal of Social Theory, 24(4), pp.485-506.
  18. 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]
  19. Saudi Arabia. Ministry of Culture. 2020. The Saudi Cultural Situation 2019. Available at:
  20. https://t.co/2PTYnfqgOp?ssr=true [Accessed 12 August12 August 2020].
  21. SAP. Who we are. [online]. The Association. [Accessed 16 January 2020]. Available at: http://sapda.org.sa/
  22. SAP. Our services. [online]. The Association. [Accessed 16 January 16 January 2020]. Available at: http://sapda.org.sa/
  23. 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]
  24. 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
  25. FM radio, 2020. 11 July. Available at: https://twitter.com/ufmradio/status/1282045426284335106?s=20 [Accessed 12 August12 August 2020]
  26. Peleg, I. and Wozniuk, V. 2019. Patterns of Censorship Around the World. Routledge.
  27. Phillips, R. 2004. The Global Export of Risk: Finance and the Film Business. Competition and Change, 8(2): 105-136.
  28. Post, R., Post, R.C. and Roth, M. eds. 1998. Censorship and Silencing: Practices of Cultural Regulation (Vol. 4). Getty Publications.
  29. Walker, S. 2011. Regulating Film Content in the United States and Australia, 1900–1940. Media International Australia, 140(1): 71-79.
  30. Wood, J. 1997. 'Censorship Lobby Denies Diversity.' The Australian. 12 December 12 December.