The Impacts of Television on the United Arab Emirates Culture - Essay Example

The Impacts of Television on the United Arab Emirates’ Culture Abstract: In the following paper, the importance of television and its purpose is discussed along with the chronology of its production or invention. The impact it has globally and the affects it has on the culture of United Arab Emirates. Introduction: The need of swift communication was in demand since the revolution of human kind. Exchange of knowledge, ideas, information and above of all cultural interchange was made possible after the invention of television. Initially it was considered to deliver updates on political and regional issues but, since the passage of time it became more of the entertainment mode. Lately it has become an active mode of advertising and marketing mean, which has made the world of trade accessible for all. Television has become indispensable lately; life exclusive of it has been an absurd idea for people all around the world. It was meant to educate, aware the audience to the recent occurring all around the world by sitting cozily, mode of entertainment, sharing of cultural norms and customs takes place through it and a hub for advertising and marketing lately (Peter Fincham ,2007).  Invention and Contribution: Media tool and exemplary revolutionary mean; television, was invented in a more unconventional manner. The quest started in 1884 when a German Scientist introduced a Nipkow disk, which could transmit pictures over wire through the rotation of disk. He was the first scientist who was able to discover the scanning law for mechanical television In 1897, another German scientist Karl Braun invented Cathode Ray Tube, which is the picture tube used in contemporary Televisions. In1920, John Logie Baird invented the mechanism of transmitting the image through the technology of array of transparent rods. His display of television was mainly dependent on reflective light rather than back-lit silhouettes. In 1923, Charles Jenkins invented the first moving silhouettes image mechanism called radiovision.In 1927, Philo T.Farnsworth was the first scientist who was able to broadcast a TV illustration which consisted of 60 horizontal lines. It was a picture of dollar sign. He also developed dissector tube which is still used in current technology of television. In 1929, a Russian scientist named Valdimir Zworykin worked on the cathode ray tube technology and redesigned it and afterwards it showed the characteristics of modern picture tube. Later on Louise Parker in 1948 invented receiver of television for scrolling different channels ( Top of Form FISHER, D. E., & FISHER, M. 1996). Bottom of Form Further Development: Later on with the passage of time, this exceptional invention was modified initially only colored television was more than enough to fulfill the purpose of telecommunication. Afterwards VCR, DVD Players, Flat screen televisions, satellite dish antennas, Plasma, Home Theater and other modifications replaced the older version. History and culture of Saudi Arabia and prohibition of television: For decades, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been well known as a hub of Islamic states for. After the birth of Holy Prophet Muhammad ( sallallahu alayhi wasallam) S.A.W, it has followed a austere version of Islam and has an individual sacred self-characteristics. In a strictly followed Sunni Sharia (Islamic law) environment, television was and still is considered the core of sin. Due to the political and economical changes after 1950’s for an independent capitalist economy, the need of trade with the foreigners increased which initiated the introduction of technology in Arabia. The strong opposition in terms of assassination of King Shah Faisal was observed; when he approved the imminent of television in Arabia. The resistance was due to the Quranic injunction against the replicate of living things shown through television. Therefore, a very strict censorship policy was adopted by Saudi government which restricted nudity, vulgarity, inappropriate appearance of women (indecently dressed or being in romance), dancing, music, atheism, immorality and undue violence. (Marwan M. Kraidy 2006,p.5). Preamble of television in Saudi Arabia: In 1991 after the gulf-war, the satellite revolution enabled the access of media throughout Arab. To put a control towards the broadcast of television, MBC (Dubai based channel) and Bahrian based orbit satellite network worked as an exemplary strict media restricted policies. Private channels and radio stations are banned in Saudi Arabia (Research Project 2009, p 1). Impacts of television on Saudi culture: As a most prominent and oldest Islamic state, Saudi Arab has been considered the hierarchy of Islamic history, norms and customs. The surveillance of implication of full Sharia has been enforced in the kingdom since the era of Khilafat. The contradiction of faith and religious believes with cultural diversities shown on the television has perplexed the integration of values in Arab society. The distinct disparities between food, clothing, way of life, in trade and family life has effected and confused the youth in a more adverse manner. The law of the country prohibits any act which arouses sexual excitement and display of love, Illict sex, crime, revenge and betrayal have been mandatory elements of it. (Muhammad L. Ayish 2002, p4) Introduction of telecommunication brought many aspects which weren’t considered before it’s imminent. The matter of haya which specifically forbids seeing Na mehram (only allowed blood relations to be seen and mingled with) couldn’t be control. Thus, the confusion of mixed gatherings or parties confused the native Arab. However, there are severe penalties and fines if a person breaches law ( News wire, 2011).  The Parda (covering of body excessively) form men, couldn’t be reinforced while the presence of television which showed inappropriate dressing in a Saudi culture. Thus, the law of the state collided with the law of presentation on television. Saudi people dislike the presence of women alone on the street without a Mehram (legal close family member), in such a culture, how a presence of a lady with lack of sufficient dress can be acceptable? Hijab (Abaya ) the obligatory covering for women has been mandatory from several years. Thus, men are not allowed to dress indecently at all. Segregation of men and women is obligatory even in weddings, therefore the parties, proms and bachelor parties have been shameful ideas in that culture (Anonymous 2009). Salah (Namaz) is obligatory for Muslims, thus, men have been strictly commanded to offer it in Masjid. Due to increase in the television viewers most of the prayers were haphazardly prayed by men and they lay lazily at home to watch television. The fact that Saudi people have sufficient amount of oil and other resources which reduces manual work load from them has made them a bit lazy and ease lover. Therefore, the culture has developed a new norm to buy latest technology from any part of the world without knowing its merits and demerits. The glorious looks and colorful gleaming clothing has subsequently replaced the virtue of simplicity, which has been considered a very strong essence of faith. Thus, the run for materialism is the passion seen all around in Emeriti culture as well. Sex before marriage comes into the category of adultery, which is a serious crime in Saudi Arabia. The man and woman involved in it, both have to bear 100 lashes and are stoned to death according to Sharia (Islamic law), therefore there’s no space for relationships before marriage in Islam. The prospect of dating, romance and illicit sex arouse sexual excitements and can have dreadful results for Saudi citizens. The temptation and alluring caused by media and mainly television ignites the youth especially ( Khaled Abou El Fadl 1999). The youth of Arabia is more confused in their identities, they speak fluent English due to television programs, but have become doubtful about their Islamic heritage (values) and hence they have confused their uniqueness. Conclusion: To put it simply the culture of United Arab Emirates does not coincide with international culture. The separate identity as a upholding religious state, requires maximum restriction according to Sharia and therefore, seek observance and implementation in the following manner from the citizens. References: News wire. (2011). Saudi king intensifies media censorship. Available: http://www.france24.com/en/20110430-saudi-king-intensifies-media-censorship-abdullah. Last accessed 27th May 2012. Khaled Abou El Fadl. (1999). "Islamic Sex Laws Are Easy to Break, Impossible to Enforce" . Available: http://www.scholarofthehouse.org/islamicsexlaws.html. Last accessed 27th May 2012. Muhammad L. Ayish. (2002). The Impact of Arab Satellite Television on Culture and Value Systems in Arab Countries: Perspectives and Issues.Available: http://www.tbsjournal.com/Archives/Fall02/Ayish.html. Last accessed 25th May 2012. Research Project. (2009). Saudi Arabia. Available: http://opennet.net/research/profiles/saudi-arabia. Last accessed 27th May 2012. Marwan M. Kraidy. (2006). Hyper Media and governance in Saudi Arabia.First Monday. Special Issue # 7 (7), p1-27. Peter Fincham. ( 2007). What is television for?. Available: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/nov/26/mondaymediasection.television. Last accessed 27th May Anonymous. (2009). A Short Overview of Sharia Law. Available: http://www.politicalislam.com/blog/a-short-overview-of-sharia-law/. Last accessed 27th May 2012.2012. Top of Form FISHER, D. E., & FISHER, M. (1996). Tube: the invention of television. Washington, D.C., Counterpoint. Read More