Recalibrating Lives and Futures
The seminar opened with a presentation by Bandak, who explored how the fall of the Syrian regime in late 2024 marked a dramatic turning point for Syrians. Bandak argued that the current moment is best understood not as a simple rupture, but as an ongoing process of “recalibration”— a continual adjustment to new circumstances, shifting social hierarchies, and evolving expectations.
He emphasised that change in Syria is not straightforward, but rather a looping and uneven process, where individuals and communities must repeatedly reset their bearings in response to new challenges.
Art, Memory and the Question of Belonging
The discussion highlighted the role of art and cultural production in expressing and negotiating these changes. Syrian artists, both in exile and inside the country, grapple with questions of identity, audience, and the tension between those who left and those who stayed.
Documentaries and theatre plays, such as “All Roads Lead to More” and “Damascus 2045,” were cited as examples of how creative work can serve as both a form of testimony and a space for processing trauma, loss, and hope.
The seminar also addressed the complexities of representing Syrian experiences to international audiences, and the challenges faced by artists in navigating new cultural and linguistic contexts.
Everyday Struggles and New Possibilities
Drawing on interviews and ethnographic research with Syrian youth in Jordan, the speakers described the persistent sense of uncertainty and the daily questions faced by Syrians about their future.
As one young participant wrote:
“Syrians are still facing an unknown future and every day there is a question that needs to be answered. All of this and every day there is a new public opinion about Syrians to occupy their minds in the country where they now reside.”
Despite these challenges, the seminar underscored the resilience and creativity of Syrians in finding ways to support each other, build solidarity, and imagine new possibilities for life in exile and at home.
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