War Poetry: Aesthetics and Odds of the Syrian Crisis – A Research Paper by Raghad Shujaa

The research paper, written by Raghad Shujaa and supported by the third edition of the Research: to strengthen a culture of knowledge programme, tries to explore the details of poetry in the daily lives of Syrians who still live in Syria, and the reflection of this on artworks, especially those created inside Syria, under the direct pressure of ‘the war.’

The paper’s problem is about the contradictions embodied in the following questions: How can war produce jokes or artworks? How does poetry, with its nostalgia and aesthetics, surface in cities full of blood, especially Damascus? How can Syrians mock their pain and turn it into funny stories of the war they are experiencing? How much pain does it take for people to do that? More importantly, does all of this affect the city and its artists?

The paper tries to answer these questions by observing, thinking over, and analysing current social events in the Syrian arena at this time. It also studies some intellectual and art productions made during this period as applied examples of this paper’s issue, and cites interviews with Syrian artists and intellectuals on the issues discussed, especially those pertaining to psychosocial analysis, and art-cultural production.

About the research paper’s findings, Raghad Shujaa says: “The paper concludes that the premises (war poetry) is incomplete, or that it approaches the poetry of war in a superficial manner. If we think about how this period will be seen after it is over, it would seem that the assumption of the existence of poetry is not convincing enough. Pain is renewed every day, despite brief instances of hope. Pain dominates even as it is mocked or turned into art. Perhaps the poetry of war will be more obvious when we tell stories about it to our children and grandchildren decades later, despite the violence, pain of loss, and destruction of houses and places, which will fill those stories. Maybe when all this is history, it can be told more poetically.”

With the current situation in Syria, all theories and notions of linking pain to creativity are questioned. On the difficulties which she faced, Raghad says: “Inside Syria, all attempts to achieve anything creative or intellectual fail. Creating a cultural work would require, in my opinion, an individual who is able to think in an organised and active manner and this does not eliminate bravery, originality, and unorthodox conclusions.”

Raghad says difficulties do not stop at that. Fulfilling basic daily needs, struggling with bans on many websites, constant internet connection cuts, and the necessity of moving from Damascus to a safer place which prevented her from following all artworks created in the city, are among difficulties Raghad faced. At the same time, she says her commitment to the Research programme allowed her to write this research paper for a flexible deadline, and that she benefited greatly from the guidance of Marie Elias, her supervisor.

Raghad Shujaa

After graduating from the Department of Dramatic Studies, Higher Institute of Dramatic Studies, Damascus, Syria in 2008; Raghad Shujaa worked as a journalist, focusing on theatre and culture. She also worked as a trainer in the interactive theatre in public schools project, supported by the Syrian Trust for Development. She trained children with special needs for the International Medical Corps, and children displaced inside Syria for the Department of Children Theatre, Ministry of Culture. She has also written for theatre, film, and TV.