I Can't Speak With a Weapon Original

From the historical invention of newsprint to virtual reality today, journalists have been adopting different ways to engage audience. I Can’t Speak With a Weapon explores how the Syrian Refugee Crisis could be broadcasted through virtual reality journalism. By challenging the predictable stylish approaches through the development of radical visual language, the audience is invited to examine the relationship between graphics and political issues. In opposition to the fact reporting methods applied by major news media companies, a critical, audio-visual, poetic narrative is generated in virtual reality. The application of virtual reality with poetic narrative aims to invite investigation, critical discussion and debate on the issue of Syrian refugee crisis. The narrative is based on an innovation of a Syrian activist. With continuous oppression by the Syrian government, the Syrian activist, Ahmed Zaino, adopts creative and non-violent ways to protest. Ping pong balls with “freedom” and other words written on them were being thrown on the street, near the house of the Syrian president. Refunctionalization of ping pong becomes an anesthetization in Syria’s revolution. The object now bears the responsibility to carry messages for Syrian people to the authority across the country. Despite the shifting function of the object, it retains its pure form which carries the essence of peace. The narrative provokes deeper thought from the audience on the issue of Syrian Refugee Crisis. The visual is an expression of relationship between graphic design and Syrian politics.