The Portrayal of the Gulf Crisis in Saudi Pop Culture

The speed with which two satirical TV programs produced material about the Qatar crisis highlights the pressure to display loyalty to the regime and the state’s control over media in Saudi Arabia.

by Hebah Bukhari

In a country like Saudi Arabia, where direct engagement in politics is reserved for wealthy elites, it is rare to see politics overtly reflected in pop culture. In fact, the relationship between the two spheres is almost nonexistent, especially when it comes to television.

Out of the mix of apolitical Saudi TV programming, however, two sa…