Abstract
Research Question:
How can a visual researcher address and respond to the personal impact of the current Syrian conflict and the inherent ideological battles within it without resorting to standard forms of war images?
This piece is a symbolic response to the violence of the Syrian conflict. Starting with belly dancing, which embraces the Arabic and Middle Eastern culture, beauty, history and art, until it is interrupted by the current reality of violence. I represented the current reality of violence that most of Arabic countries suffer from by putting a belt of bullets around the waist in a reference to the violence that entered our culture and became part of our daily lives. The belly dancing tradition functions here as a symbol for the beautiful and cultural Arabic attributes that have been distorted since the chaos started in the Middle East in 2011. Dancing to two contradicted sounds of bombs and music points to the involvement of the current war in people’s lives and to the unfortunate attachment of Arabic identity with violence since 9/11. This sketch is general in focus and responding to a general political situation and observation that relate to the Middle East.
How can a visual researcher address and respond to the personal impact of the current Syrian conflict and the inherent ideological battles within it without resorting to standard forms of war images?
This piece is a symbolic response to the violence of the Syrian conflict. Starting with belly dancing, which embraces the Arabic and Middle Eastern culture, beauty, history and art, until it is interrupted by the current reality of violence. I represented the current reality of violence that most of Arabic countries suffer from by putting a belt of bullets around the waist in a reference to the violence that entered our culture and became part of our daily lives. The belly dancing tradition functions here as a symbol for the beautiful and cultural Arabic attributes that have been distorted since the chaos started in the Middle East in 2011. Dancing to two contradicted sounds of bombs and music points to the involvement of the current war in people’s lives and to the unfortunate attachment of Arabic identity with violence since 9/11. This sketch is general in focus and responding to a general political situation and observation that relate to the Middle East.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2015 |
Bibliographical note
This video was screened in the following events/exhibition2018: Sep. Rhythm of Revolution. Athens Cinema. Ohio. USA
http://athenacinema.com/syrianidentityandhomeland/
2016: Feb-Mar. Rhythm of Revolution. From Rochester with Love. Herbert Read Gallery. Canterbury.
https://research.uca.ac.uk/3340/
