What excited me about working on Syrian School was the possibility that we could un-pick some of the stereotypes that we in the West hold about the Middle East and the Islamic world in general. For example, on a superficial level, while there is undoubtedly a rise in the number of young girls wearing the hijab, who would have thought that at the same time below their necks and on their iPods, young Syrians are eagerly exploring Western tastes and fashions, without compromising their closely held Arab heritage?
...there’s a strong sense in Syria that the Muslim world is being misunderstood and undermined by the West.
Syria is a Mediterranean country, just over the border from the edge of Europe where you still feel a strong French colonial and Soviet political influence. Syria has a vehemently secular, Ba’athist government whose influence runs deep into the everyday life of these State schools. Few people in the UK would imagine Syria as a socialist and secular state. Syria sees itself as the guardian of pan-Arabian nationalism, but this Arab identity includes large Druze and Christian minorities and there is a powerful tradition of religious tolerance there that is quite at odds with the Western stereotype of austere Islam.
Production team
We made this series at a time when East and West seemed further apart than ever, with the so-called 'Clash of Civilisations' raging across the world. Just as we in the West sometimes feel misunderstood by the Islamic world, there’s a strong sense in Syria that the Muslim world is being misunderstood and undermined by the West.
Even though Syria is an authoritarian one-party-state, there is still a culture that holds that ideas can change the world.
Perhaps, then, it was no surprise that the students and teachers we filmed were both curious about the West whilst simultaneously remaining suspicious of our motives; they really wanted us to redress the imbalance they perceived in the western representation of Islam and the Middle East. Certainly in the Palestinian school we filmed in Al Yarmouk refugee camp this suspicion was bordering on anger, as we began to film shortly after the Gaza war.
However, this anger was never individualised or directed against us personally. Indeed, we had some fascinating debates between the crew and the classrooms as together we tried to find a common ground from which to create our films’ stories. Ultimately, their eagerness to show their lives overcame these barriers. The Arab culture is nothing if not generous.
Syria is a country where, from poetry to politics, you can have an intellectual debate. You can re-imagine the world there in a way that we seem to have lost in the West, where even the credit crunch hasn’t dented the orthodoxy of Liberal Capitalism, where “The X-Factor” seems now to have become the cultural pinnacle.
Even though Syria is an authoritarian one-party-state, there is still a culture that holds that ideas can change the world. Jump into a taxi in Damascus you will end up debating art, politics or even religion with your cabbie. Maybe it’s not surprising that the oldest capital city on Earth raises a wry eyebrow at the notion that we have reached the 'End of History.'
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Comments on: "Behind the scenes"
jualsane has started a thread discussing Behind the scenes.
FATTY please try
BBC HELP US
It seems that Colin Winston-Fletcher did in fact compose the songs because if you have a look under the 'credits' section on his website (http://www.colinwinstonfletcher.com/) then you'll find 'Syrian School' listed under there, maybe we could try e-mailing him to find out what the song is?
Salamo Aleykhum everyone, people have been looking for music, i am also on the search, i have found some that has been played on the show by the Refugees of Rap but nothing else yet...keep up the search!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OdeCVhZK3Q&feature=channel
The music for rap refugees that people talk of was produced by the show's musical director, colin winston-fletcher. He used a choir from one of the schools.
A brilliant series , and so interesting to watch. It showed the beauty of an Arab country that is portrayed so negatively by the West. The people that took part in the series showed that they were intelligent, strong minded, and very much decent people. A huge 'Thank You' to all the children and teenagers who took part, as they reflected a modern Syria that is not normally seen on tv. The West could learn so much from their education system, discipline, morals, and respect for one another .... Amazing programme ...Please BBC keep making shows like this ...
Absolutely wonderful and insightful series! This really showed us here in the West a different side to Syria from that ordinarily portrayed in western media. I love the way Syrians are natural and unaffecting in their behaviour. I wish we still had that here in the West. Thank you, Syria, for opening up your hearts to us! Beautiful people!
This series was simply amazing! It was so eye-opening to see a culture that I'd always been interested in but never had the chance to explore because it had always been suppressed by western depictions of what the Arab world is like.
Just wondering though, the song in the second episode that starts at 10:27, I know it's a traditional syrian song called "عالصالØ-ية ياصالØ-Ø©" (A'salihiya ya saliha) and it says at the end of the episode in the credits that the library music was from Audio network but I can't find that particular version featured in the episode anywhere! I would be extremely grateful if you could perhaps post a link to it. THANK YOU!!
Thank you for providing a fascinating insight into life as it is lived by ordinary people in Syria. It seems to be a far more tolerant culture than we have been led to believe. It is hard to imagine how the UK would react if a million refugees suddenly entered the country all requiring free education and health care. I'm sure some of the events were staged for the cameras, but overall the impression was very positive. The dedication and commitment of the teachers, together with the respect and diligence of the pupils, was evident throughout - if only we could transplant that to the UK.
BBC can you PLEASE tell US the name of the song and singer that plays in the background in Syrian School - Episode 2. Rap Refugees at 10min:36sec
AGreenup: I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you're wrong. I just came back from 6 months living in the camp where this documentary was filmed - I lived across the road from Yarmouk Girls' School, actually - and there is no "whitewashing" here. Contrary to what you might think, not all Palestinians are fundamentalists or terrorists. I'm not quite sure what aspects of Palestinian life you felt were "whitewashed" - could you explain?
My seventh sense tells me that the "Palestinians" in their outpouring of their legitimate grievings of the historic injustice inflicted on them - us - is the cause of AGreenup's embarrassment!!!
As for whitewashing, I know enough of the Bible - being a non-believing Christian Palestinian myself - and the plethora of genocidal,xenophobic,misogynistic ravings their in to make anyone shudder...they don't read those passages anymore, more collective amnesia than whitewash really.
Hi - I agree -wonderful series. Vis a vis the questions about the music; I believe that I have heard strains here and there of Nitin Sawnhey ( Homelands/Moonrise ) several songs from Buddha Bar series* ( you can get them on itunes or Amazon) and I think the singer in question on the second programme is Souad Massi, from her CD called "Deb". Hope this helps.
Re: Comments on: "Behind the scenes"
could you please give us more info
I am not sure about the correct spelling, but if you try TAROOB on youtube you will find few of her other songs.
Congratulations on an engaging programme. A most refreshing look at one aspect of everyday life in a Middle Eastern country. Very impressive, the headmistress is doing a wonderful job with the pupils. The opportunity to see something of the lives of some of the many young Iraqi refugees is welcome too.
More of this please!
hgkafa can you tell me the name of the singer
To any one who is asking about the song in the second episode, this is a very old classic song inspired by the culture in Damascus. The version in the film is a modern remake of that song which I couldn't find. However, I did find the original one which goes back into the pages of history,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyP4hl5SpFo
you can find the part that is featured in the movie at 1:40. Hope I could help!
I am a Grandmother living in England and would like to say how much I have enjoyed this series. I am so impressed by the respect the children pay to their country,school and teachers. I am also very envious, it is so like the system that we used to have in this country, sadly it does not seem to be the case now.
The children seem so happy and proud of themselves and their schools.
Many thanks to the creators of this fine series.
I am intrigued by AGreenup's comments claiming that the programme is unpleasant propaganda whitewashing Islam and Syria. Would be interesting to hear why the author thinks this is the case? The programme contained very little reference to Islam and focused on the secular nature of its schools. It is hard to see why this is treating British audiences like idiots. Just curious.
This programme is an embarassment. It is endless unpleasant propaganda which whitewashes both Islam and Syria. 'Around the World in 80 Faiths' portrays Syria in exactly the same way. The BBC is treating it's British audience like idiots.
I really enjoy watching the programme.
P.S could you please let me know the song that plays in the background in Syrian School -
Episode 2. Rap Refugees at 10m:36s
Wonderful show! PLEASE tell us the song at 10m30s on Rap Refugees - magical.
Does any one know any of the Music used in the Syrian Schools episodes?
Cant seem to find it anywhere.
Thanks
Re: Comments on: "Behind the scenes"
hi all,
new member trying to locate that same song as everyone else (episode 1 around 36 mins & episode 2 around 10 mins 30 secs). one person mentioned Souad Massi but could not find that track on the following albums of hers:
'Deb', 'Raoui' & her 'Best of' album (acoustic)
so at least that kinda narrows it down. the more i hear this snippet of the song from the episodes the more i want it so hopefully someone can lead us to the right answer. i don't believe that the 'Colin Winston-Fletcher' answer previously mentioned is to do with this song judging by his website etc (but i could be wrong).
Any other thoughts out there?
Hi, does anyone know the name of the background song being played around 10.30 in the second episode of Syrian School - Rap Refugees? Its sounds beautiful!
As a 12 year old Palestinian girl living in the UK, I found this programe very interesting and inspiring to me. I admired the spirit and strength of these girls in achieving their goals and ambitions. I would love to see more programmes like this.
It would be very good to have a school exchange with this school and I would love to travel to Syria one day. It looks like a lovely country and full of culture.
I have heard so many positive comments about the programme from friends and relatives living in the UK. Unfortunately I am unable to see the programme as viewing on the internet by people living outside the UK is prohibited by the BBC. I was a teacher and later principal for more than 25 years in an international school in Aleppo, Syria. For the last 5 years I have been working in a private school,in Aleppo, training teachers and supervising the English curriculum. I would love to see the programme. Any suggestions as to how I could do this?
Speaking as a girl with Syrian roots born and bred in England, I was really intruiged upon hearning such a programme was being aired.
The attitude of the programme pleased me greatly; it addresses many issues, namely negative ones, which the West concieve of the Middle East. Personally, I am really proud of my Syrian ethnicity and I thoroughly hope that this documentary has changed the views of some people.
What I liked most about this programme was that it showed the intergration of the community, regardless on gender, nationality or religion. I hope to continue viewing the rest of this programme with such an attitude.
I just came across this programme, and as a young Syrian woman bred in the UK, I want to thank the makers of this programme immensely. I feel have been waiting for a programme like this for an age, one that dispels the typical stereotype of oppressive sexist Muslim soceity. I visit Syria anually, and although there are many problems and negatives within the Syrian community and certainly the politics, the misconceived perceptions that the West generally holds against Muslims has long been a source of dismay to me. Of course, when a person is only exposd to certain elements of the Arab world, they are not to blame for having these ideas, and I hope that programmes like this can help bridge the divide, and invite tolerance from either side. I disagree with some aspects of life in Syria, and some customs, and attitudes, but no soceity is perfect, and I can easily see the flaws in our own soceity here too.
The programme made me positively glow with pride, and I have so much hope for the Middle East to move forward and develop further, the people really do deserve it after all the upheavel and suffering of the last century or so. I have a great admiration for the First Lady also, and hope she keeps up the good work there and continues to inspire the new generation of youth. I would love to be a part of it.
And also, I commend the suggestion about exchange programmes, it would promote understanding between two worlds who, at present, really do seem alien to one another.
Again thankyou for an excellent documentary.
I have just watched the Syrian school first programme and was moved by and deeply interested in so many aspects of the programme and the lives of all the people in it. I am fascinated in the religious tolerance which is obviously an intrinsic part of Syrian society.
The children, particularly the girls in this case, were so full of life.
I would love to be part of creating a project like this documentary.
I also think it could be a huge opportunity to set up a school exchange project between schools here in the UK and in Syria. with the intention of developing open mindedness more than anything else.
This was a very informative enjoyable programme. I am very impressed with the high standard!
I hope the programme will help to dispel the myth of 'them & us' so prevalent in society, & enable viewers to be educated themselves!