No Reservations

In No Reservations: Saudi Arabia, Anthony Bourdain uses the exploration of food to also investigate and clarify stereotypes of the religion of Islam and the Saudi people.  He begins the episode by setting the scene in Saudi Arabia and introduces the woman who will be guiding him around the area.  Right away, Bourdain defies a stereotype of Saudi Arabian culture by showing the inside of Danya's home.  By showing her flat screen TV, her selection of DVDs and other modern commodities, Bourdain shows that Saudi Arabians have normal lives like Westerners, reflected through the insides of their homes.  However, his explorations through town do confirm the clothing that many expect women to wear.  The women are mostly covered, if not completely covered, but other than that, the marketplace appears like other markets around the world.   Later, when searching for fish for food, they spend a day in the water.  This excursion defies another stereotype that Saudi Arabia is completely desert.  It is, in fact, a fertile place that does have water.  The food, however, does reflect Arabian culture.  It consists of a lot of rice, a full lamb, and they must wait for the call to prayer before they begin eating dinner.  This meal is the first explicit example of differences between Saudi Arabian culture and typical Western culture, as in Saudi Arabia, their Muslim faith drives their many actions, such as eating a meal.  As Danya proceeds to guide Bourdain around town, she continues to prove just how similar Western and Middle Eastern culture actually are, contrary to popular belief.  Danya states that she wishes people would stop viewing Saudi Arabia as simply a desert land, so she takes Bourdain to the mall.  This being a typical activity, she establishes a connection between the two cultures that are typically viewed as completely different.  Bourdain uses the exploration of the cuisine to bring up cultural conversations and controversies with Danya.  Danya discusses that Islam is not specifically segregating women, but they are also separating men from the rest of culture.  It is not that women are repressed, it is that both of the sexes are segregated from one another.  However, Danya believes that the culture is okay the way it is--as a family centered society that could be improved if the situation permits.  I enjoyed the excursions through the different landscapes and culture to defy the common stereotypes of Islam and Saudi people.  He explains that the Saudi culture cannot be summed up in a few stereotypical phrases, accusations or judgments, but is a much more complex culture that is under-appreciated by Western culture.