VISUALIZING THE SYRIAN CRISIS: FIRST-PERSON DOCUMENTARIES AS TOOLS OF VISUAL GLOBAL POLITICS

Abstract

This article aims to explore the influence of images in international politics. Images from films, television, and photographs shape how we perceive and respond to events such as wars, disasters and protests. These images have become a political force, significantly impacting international politics. Powerful war visuals serve as stark reminders of their horrors and brutalities. To understand this, the study has taken two documentaries made on Syria’s civil war and refugee crisis. This study examines how documentaries, particularly "Escape from Syria: Rania’s Odyssey" (2017) and "For Sama" (2019), produced by Syrian women filmmakers, shape global perceptions of the conflict and its associated refugee crisis. Using a feminist perspective, these personal narratives offer intimate, gendered insights that contrast with the Western media’s often stereotypical portrayals. Drawing on visual politics theories, the article underlines how images act as political instruments, shaping public opinion and mobilising humanitarian action. The research employed the case study and content analysis methods to understand the impact of the documentaries. The study demonstrates that, by democratising storytelling, these documentaries amplify the voices of marginalised individuals, providing verifiable accounts that deepen our understanding of international politics and refugee policies. They prompt global audiences to question their assumptions, advocating for justice and reform in regions affected by crisis, thereby reshaping narratives around the human toll of the Syrian conflict.