Moments of Silence in Syria Place and Self in the State of Exception

Abstract

This research discusses “silence” within the concept of “Necro politics” in the Syrian context, aiming to observe the conceptual “space” that silence refers to and create, along with its political and performative meanings, especially when violently imposed on individuals. We will examine the term “officers of silence” in artistic and literary works, as well as in forms of obedience and protest-oriented public performances, in an attempt to understand the “officers of silence” authority and their political impact. Our study adopts an intersectional approach that combines political theory with forms of daily performance, performative theory, and elements of performance art. We also use artistic and literary works from a “factographic” perspective to develop an understanding of methods for documenting reality within literary work. This approach seeks to address the crisis of archival absence in Syria, referred to as the “Kingdom of Silence” in the Middle East, where silence is imposed metaphorically, politically, and literally on individuals, with institutions contributing to its entrenchment and amplification.