Foreign Correspondent

Saudi Arabia Uncovered Broadcast 26/04/16

Introduced by Australian correspondent and produced by British broadcaster and
narrated by Tuppence Middleton

Audience

Context
What do you know about Saudi Arabia?

Which countries do you regard as repressive or not adhering to the principles of

democracy?

Purpose
Current Affairs is classified as non-fiction or expository. It is a medium that exposes issues
within society. However, it is not neutral. The texts producer has targeted a specific
audience and uses features of a documentary, language and other visual elements to shape
a response and influence the viewer to accept this version of reality.

What is implied by the title of the program?

The introduction to the society, subject and an establishment of conflict/setting.

Before viewing the program, how has the presenter Sophie McNeill influenced your
attitude to this program? Look specifically at her use of language and tone.

What is the impact of seeing Yasser captured as a darkened silhouette? What other
features or elements add to your understanding of the limitation of freedom that
exists within this society?

What details add to the tension or sense of conflict between the all powerful rulers
and the individual?

Comment on the filming of the palaces and the contrast to that of Jeddah.
What is the impact of the images and how do they combine with the voice over/
written code to shape your understanding of this world?

What specific statistics are provided about this society?
How does this sequence challenge your understanding of this world or country and
its people? (Think about what you hear reported in the news or media about Saudi
or the wealth of this nation.)

Forms of control/exploration of the social structure

What is the role of the religious police? What is the name of the form of Islam
followed within this country?
Who is Hala al Dosari? How does her inclusion in the documentary influence your
response? What comment does she make about the Saudi government?
Why has the producer included the experience of Louijain Hathloul? What do we
discover about her life and her character?
(Remember she is real so you would describe her persona or her character but not
name her as a character within a text)
How long is she imprisoned for and why? How does her life contrast to your own
life?
Development of the conflict between state and individual escalates

Comment on the inclusion of Raif Badawi in the text.

How does his experience support the view of the filmmaker?
Why has the filmmaker provided scenes of the prison? How confronting are they?
 Why do they contrast this with interviews with his family? How does this reinforce
the view and challenge your understanding of people living in Saudi Arabia or the
Arab world?
Challenge to the system
What reveals that the system is corrupt, brutal and punishes any opposition?

Response of other governments to Saudi

Study the montage of shots that depict the British monarchy and others meeting with the
Saudi government.
Why has the filmmaker included these in the film? Why has he placed them at this
point in the structure? How does it shape your response?
How does the inclusion of senior officials add to this understanding?
Study the narrators comment on the Saudi response to Isis what is implied about
their role in Isis?

Conclusion to the film/documentary

How does the film conclude?
What is Saudi Arabias response to the documentary and why has the producer
included this in the conclusion?
What is the impact of the written code and the voice of the narrator? What
emotions do you feel? How does it connect back to the opening or exposition of the
text? Is it effective in reinforcing your understanding of this society?

What questions should you ask your government as a result of this sequence?
https://themuslimissue.wordpress.com/2016/01/17/weeks-after-saudi-arabia-becomes-
twitters-2nd-biggest-shareholder-twitter-cracks-down-on-criticism-of-islam/
Study the two cartoons
How do they connect to the program?

As an individual or in a group identify the key course concepts that have been addressed
in the deconstruction and study of this text.