Sarcasm is a potent weapon for Syrians in the face of the hindered massacre, and world’s farcical response. The irony of a world that congratulated Assad for its chemical weapons massacre with an international agreement, begs sarcasm. For Syrians, sarcasm goes hand in hand with every form of resistance. Campaigns, activities, drawings, graffiti, films and demonstrations convey their message through their dark comedy.
From Kafranbel
The sarcastic banners of Kafranbel have already played a great role in shaping the revolution’s discourse towards the outside world both in style and substance. Their latest production, a short three minute film on the Syrian uprising, poses simple but poignant questions to the world. The Syrian Revolution in Three Minutes, questions the individual’s ability to sit still while children are gassed to death. It questions the emphasis on the killer’s weapon, while the body count racks up. And as always, irony has its place: Is it okay for us to die by other means than chemical weapons?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGlgUU3E14Y
The film starts in the stone age, and develops a vicious circle where Syrians rise up against their tyrant and are massacred by a different lethal weapon every time, while the world watches. Until the tyrant dares to use chemical weapons, to the consternation of the global audience. The tyrant is scolded and chemical weapons are withheld from his hands, leaving him only with all the rest of his lethal arsenal to continue to massacre his people.
To Chicago
In Chicago, in the United States, the Syrian tragedy takes yet another different complexion. A group of Syrians concerned with the lack of awareness about the plight of Syrians took to the streets to ask Americans their opinions on what seemed like an imminent US strike on the country following the chemical weapons massacre. The film presents a painful image of a disinterested populace who couldn’t locate Syria on a map, and poses a salient question: How can we leave the fate of Syria in the hands of people who can’t locate it on the map?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx9c5ABs1i8
The film was produced by a team of Syrians studying in the US: Muhannad Rashid, Amro Qawikjy and Yaman Kawamila. The idea came out of their attempts to raise donations, and awareness about the Syrians tragedy in American society. But beyond its ironic premise, the film’s subtle message is plainly aimed at Syrians, rather than Americans: “We are on our own. And we can not afford to count on anyone but ourselves.”
Between the two films are Syrians who find solace in sarcasm as an answer to a world turning its back to their pain. Syrians who are adamant to resisting all attempts to tarnish their revolution. They persist in rebuilding, just as the regime persists in destroying: from schools and cities, to societies.
