2025 - Beyond Recreation: Shadow Puppets as Visual and Material Culture in 19th-Century Damascus, by Hala Qasqas
B2 Postdoctoral Fellowship at Oxford
Beyond Recreation: Shadow Puppets as Visual and Material Culture in 19th-Century Damascus
The focus of Hala’s fellowship investigates how shadow theatre served as a medium of humor, social commentary, and political critique during a period of urban change. By combining the study of shadow play scripts, rare puppet collections, and historical sources, she explores how performance and visual design engaged local audiences and reflected shifting social hierarchies. Comparative analysis with puppetry in Istanbul and Cairo situates Damascus within the wider Ottoman cultural sphere. This research will culminate in a monograph reframing shadow theatre as a key dimension of Islamic art, urban sociability, and intangible heritage.
Like other Ottoman cities, Damascus underwent significant urban expansion in the 19th century, which led to shifting social hierarchies and new modes of public participation. Shadow theatre transitioned from elite circles and private venues to accessible public spaces like coffeehouses, becoming a key form of popular entertainment and social commentary. A crucial component of this study is the material culture of shadow puppetry, which provides valuable insight into the artistic and social diversity of Syrian society.
Hala received her PhD in Art History and Visual Studies at the University of Victoria, Canada. Her research interests lie at the intersections of art, architecture, and everyday life in Ottoman Damascus and the ways material and performative traditions shape urban belonging and cultural memory.
