The Reality of Digital Literature Phenomena in Saudi Arabia: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

With globalization, digitalization is increasing all over the world across academic and educational specialties, digital literature is no exception. Yet, perceptions concerning digital literature have been little explored, especially with respect to challenges encountered and solutions adopted. The present study used a questionnaire to investigate those issues with randomly selected 71 specialists in literature and criticism, poets, writers, and officials in literary and cultural bodies. Findings show that the level of knowledge of digital literature, its influence, and preferences is high. It was also found that in terms of dissemination level, it was average from the point of view of the respondents. The results also indicated that the reasons for preferring an event of digital literature, and the level of reasons for reluctance to attend an event of digital literature was high. The study recommended chiefly providing modern and accessible digital programs as well as training creators and writers on how to use these programs to publish their digital creations. In addition,  it is also suggested that  moving  digital literature from the theoretical stage, which relied on holding seminars and events by which it is known to the applied creative stage, through which writers can use digital programs and technologies to write their literary works.