Saudi Arabia builds a culture hub
Conflicts and crises have battered Arab artistic capitals like Cairo, Beirut, Damascus and Baghdad. The Middle East’s cultural mantle is up for grabs, and Saudi Arabia is spending lavishly to seize it.
- mantle 1. (특히 남에게 물려주게 되는 중요한) ~의 역할[책임]
2. (표면을 덮고 있는) 꺼풀
3. (표면을) 덮다
- up for grabs : (관심 있는 사람) 누구나 구할[차지할] 수 있는
The kingdom announced that it would support the production of 100 films by 2030. Stars like Hilary Swank and Naomi Campbell showed up for the recent Red Sea International Film Festival, held on a former execution ground. The government is financing initiatives to foster Saudi filmmakers, visual artists, musicians and chefs.
- execution ground : 처형장
The movies are touching on themes that would have been taboo in the kingdom before — romance, nudity, pregnancy out of wedlock. It represents a swift change: After a 35-year ban on cinemas ended in 2018, the country now has 430 screens with a target of 2,600 by 2030.
- wedlock : 결혼[혼인](한 상태)
Context: The change is driven by the de facto Saudi ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who wants to shake off the kingdom’s staid image by building an entertainment industry. Right now, it’s largely funded by oil money. But in the wealthy nation, where movie tickets are about $18 each, many are hoping it will pay off.
- de facto : 라틴어에서 격식 (법적으로는 받아들여지지 않더라도) 사실상의[실질적인] (→de jure)
- staid : 재미없는, 고루한
Roadblocks: Creators around the Middle East are hesitant to move their careers to the conservative monarchy, where alcohol is banned and dissenters are jailed for mild criticisms. Many point to lackluster results for a similar push in the United Arab Emirates as evidence that it won’t pan out.
- dissenter : (공식적·일반적으로 받아들여지는 것들에 대한) 반대자
- mild criticism : 가벼운 비평
- lackluster : 형용사 [두운: lack + luster] = lacking in luster = 광택이 없는, 흐리멍텅한 (=dull)
- pan out : (특정 방식으로) 전개[진행]되다