Voices and visions of Syrian video activists in Aleppo and Raqqa

TY - ABST

T1 - Voices and visions of Syrian video activists in Aleppo and Raqqa

AU - Wessels, Josepha Ivanka

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - Thousands of Syrian protesters took mobile phones to record the events taking place in front of their eyes, many recorded the bombings and other atrocities as well as countless videos that were uploaded on YouTube by various groups in the conflict, to be exposed to a worldwide audience. This paper investigates the identities and interests of Syrian video activists in Aleppo and Raqqa province, who were involved in street protests from the beginning. What are their motivations, their visions for the future and how do they see their own role in a future solution? It is estimated that over 300.000 videoclips have been uploaded since the beginning of the Syrian war. This audiovisual archive contains amateur footage as well as semi-professional and professional material. Amateur mobile phone footage is based on unedited and uninterrupted one-shot sequences, whilst the other material is edited and exhibits some sequentiality. With sequentiality comes a certain subjectivity which allows the video maker to take a political space and position. Part of an ongoing postdoctoral research, during which a general typography of You Tube clips from Syria is developed, this paper provides a focus on young Syrian video activists and their grassroot video work in Aleppo and Raqqa province. The research methodology is based on on-line visual observation of You Tube clips, original semi-structured interviews with video activists and field visits to Gaziantep in Turkey and Aleppo province in Syria, during Summer 2014. The paper provides an audiovisual ethnography and describes the background and life-stories of Syrian video activists and documentary filmmakers, considering their motivations behind on-line video work and looks at the complex relationships between them and the international media covering the Syrian war. The paper places the group of non-violent Syrian video activists within the spectrum of many different actor groups currently operating inside Syria. The paper highlights their identities, interests and how the Syrian video activists perceive their own role on the ground. By describing their visions on Syria’s future and their voices, this paper aims to contribute to a nuanced overall image of the Syrian war and its many actors.

AB - Thousands of Syrian protesters took mobile phones to record the events taking place in front of their eyes, many recorded the bombings and other atrocities as well as countless videos that were uploaded on YouTube by various groups in the conflict, to be exposed to a worldwide audience. This paper investigates the identities and interests of Syrian video activists in Aleppo and Raqqa province, who were involved in street protests from the beginning. What are their motivations, their visions for the future and how do they see their own role in a future solution? It is estimated that over 300.000 videoclips have been uploaded since the beginning of the Syrian war. This audiovisual archive contains amateur footage as well as semi-professional and professional material. Amateur mobile phone footage is based on unedited and uninterrupted one-shot sequences, whilst the other material is edited and exhibits some sequentiality. With sequentiality comes a certain subjectivity which allows the video maker to take a political space and position. Part of an ongoing postdoctoral research, during which a general typography of You Tube clips from Syria is developed, this paper provides a focus on young Syrian video activists and their grassroot video work in Aleppo and Raqqa province. The research methodology is based on on-line visual observation of You Tube clips, original semi-structured interviews with video activists and field visits to Gaziantep in Turkey and Aleppo province in Syria, during Summer 2014. The paper provides an audiovisual ethnography and describes the background and life-stories of Syrian video activists and documentary filmmakers, considering their motivations behind on-line video work and looks at the complex relationships between them and the international media covering the Syrian war. The paper places the group of non-violent Syrian video activists within the spectrum of many different actor groups currently operating inside Syria. The paper highlights their identities, interests and how the Syrian video activists perceive their own role on the ground. By describing their visions on Syria’s future and their voices, this paper aims to contribute to a nuanced overall image of the Syrian war and its many actors.

M3 - Conference abstract for conference

ER -