Thursday, June 08, 2006

Dubai a cultural desert? Get real!

An article in 7(-1)Days, here, raised a regularly-heard complaint. And to its credit went on to basically debunk the complaints.

We’ve all heard the whinges many times haven’t we. As is so often the case, the whingers don’t think before they spout off.

Of course, first you have to define ‘culture’ – most people think it means importing shows from their own country – and you need to compare apples with apples.

In my opinion, for the size of the population we’re well-served.

A follow-up letter in 7(-1)Days identified the problem without realising it.

Alexander Kent from Dubai wrote that: “I’m one of those people who lament that ‘culture is lacking’ in Dubai but I would never go so far as to say it’s ‘soulless’. I feel I am ‘looking hard enough’ and that’s precisely the problem – it’s the looking hard that’s so tiresome here!”

He goes on to say:

“There’s no opportunity to pick and choose cultural events, merely that you have to be grateful for all cultural goings on in Dubai because events are so few and far between. Yes, ‘Chicago’ was recently a huge hit in Dubai but sorry to say, I may like musicals but I don’t like that particular one and I wasn’t going to see Chicago just for the sake of seeing a musical! Dubai needs variety, we need to be able to choose how we enjoy our culture and we should be able to enjoy more of this culture for free!”

Think about the population for a moment. I would have thought it’s stating the obvious to say that by-and-large people from different parts of the world will be attracted to different types of events. How many westerners would go to an Indian concert, for example? So first take away from our total 1.3-ish million population all the people who don’t find the type of event attractive. You actually have a very small number, like a small provincial western town. And how much choice of cultural activities do those towns have? That’s the apples to apples comparison.

But it goes further. Remember that a huge percentage of us can’t afford to go to shows - and not only the labourers, maids, waiters and all the other badly-paid people we rely on, many people struggle to find several hundred spare dirhams.

So take a show such as Chicago – how many people do we have who would find this type of entertainment attractive? And then as Alexander says “I may like musicals but I don’t like that particular one.” That would be true of many others, so they have to be deducted from the total available audience too. Then how many of those left can afford to pay for the night out? Now how many of the few who are left have time on the particular evenings it’s showing?

You end up with just about enough to pay for the show to be staged.

Echoing what so many others say, Alexander says:

“…you have to be grateful for all cultural goings on in Dubai because events are so few and far between. Dubai needs variety, we need to be able to choose how we enjoy our culture and we should be able to enjoy more of this culture for free!”

Would they expect variety & choice all the time in a small provincial town in Europe or America? Would they expect artists & promoters to stage events for nothing?

No?

Then why expect it of Dubai?

By the way, a thumbs-up to Alexander for actually signing his letter with a full name - most unusual on the letters pages.

2 comments:

Herlock Sholmes said...

It would be the same in any country. In england if a foreigner (and therefore a flight risk) killed someone on the street, He would be held, without bail, until the case is examined.

Difference is: it would be examined within 48 hours

Cosmic girl said...

ok, Dubai might not have anything that's completely dedicated to culture... And the variety is definitely needed... I think we're trying to get there though... u have to remember one thing though... The entertainment industry only started in the early nineties with the huge release of 'The bodyguard'... it is only now that many are starting to realize that Dubai needs this if they want people to come here and stay here... don't forget we've got tons and tons of concrete to house people.. we need to get the people from somewhere.. God knows, us locals are the minority here. I'm trying to be hopeful here and tell you that 15 years ago, there was nothing... so it's still in its infance... Let's hope for some more 'cultural' events to take place...'and at reasonable prices too'...
You might want to check out the Dubai film fest which happens at the end of the year.. the tickets are cheaper than your normal cinema ticks (unless you want to go Gala) but you might just be able to get something that it not always available in Dubai..
it's not equivalent to 'culture' but again... it's an attempt...