Hashiya Frames of Resistance: Animated film screenings and discussion (Birmingham)

Hashiya shares creative historical content to address topics often absent in mainstream curricula and cultural discourse in Pakistan specifically and South Asia more widely, including within the diaspora. These topics and themes are centred around colonialism, state violence, the treatment of religious minorities, and broadly speaking, critical approaches to history and politics. Hashiya’s work is premised on the notion that storytelling and visual language can trigger a sympathetic or critical response, accessing emotive, affective and critical thinking capacities. As such, their work confronts and illuminates violent pasts by using creative means to initiate critical conversations around contentious ideas and events, allowing viewers to critically evaluate historical events and connect them to lived realities – especially experiences of silencing and violence.

This event showcases Shehri Pakistan’s animated shorts on the dangerous legacies of British colonialism in South Asia, the potential for dystopian horror in Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy laws, and the seldom acknowledged post-colonial violences the Pakistani state has wrought upon religious and ethnic minorities in the country. Through these films, the event intends to initiate dialogue about the teaching and learning of violent pasts, and to inspire a wider adoption of humanising creative approaches to both advocacy and history education. The event will begin with an introduction by Arafat Mazhar, Director of Shehri Pakistan , and Saadullah Khan, Project Curator for Hashiya, about the research and creative processes underpinning Shehri’s work, and the pedagogical potential of creative animation. There will be an opportunity for questions and discussion following the screening of the animated shorts.

Who should attend?

This event is for anyone interested in South Asian history and politics, and the use of creative storytelling and animation as educational tools for learning about violent pasts while working toward more just futures.

Please note: The animated shorts include themes and images of violence, including sexual violence, and discuss contentious events and issues in South Asian history. Some viewers might find these shorts disturbing. We advise that the viewer exercise their discretion in registering for this event.

Hashiya on Tour is funded by the AHRC Impact Accelerator Account at the University of Birmingham.