Corruption, like many ethnic traditions and histories, can also have a history, base and a ‘culture’ surrounding it, evolving and mutating over long periods of time. This video is an attempt to illustrate the historical and cultural tradition of corruption and excessive affluence in Kuwait, through the use of rumors as the main subject matter. Because people responsible for corruption are rarely persecuted or held accountable by law, the only effective indicators of this sinister activity are the various rumors circulating the country. The rumors highlighted in this video describe events from the stock market speculation bubble and subsequent crash in the early 1980s, to more recent scandals involving parliament bribes and embezzlement of public funds.
Commissioned for Creative Time Artist's Report program (2012)
Concept, videography and editing: Monira Al Qadiri; Narration: Monira Al Qadiri; Music: Traditional Kuwaiti percussion; Script: Inspired in part by ‘Souk Al Manakh’ documentary, and in part by current events.
Corruption, like many ethnic traditions and histories, can also have a history, base and a ‘culture’ surrounding it, evolving and mutating over long periods of time. This video is an attempt to illustrate the historical and cultural tradition of corruption and excessive affluence in Kuwait, through the use of rumors as the main subject matter. Because people responsible for corruption are rarely persecuted or held accountable by law, the only effective indicators of this sinister activity are the various rumors circulating the country. The rumors highlighted in this video describe events from the stock market speculation bubble and subsequent crash in the early 1980s, to more recent scandals involving parliament bribes and embezzlement of public funds.
Commissioned for Creative Time Artist's Report program (2012)
Concept, videography and editing: Monira Al Qadiri; Narration: Monira Al Qadiri; Music: Traditional Kuwaiti percussion; Script: Inspired in part by ‘Souk Al Manakh’ documentary, and in part by current events.