Review of Ahmed Jadallah’s “Daily Life in Shi’ite Baghdad”
Review of Ahmed Jadallah’s “Daily Life in Shi’ite Baghdad”
Iraq has been overcome by a power struggle between Sunnis and Shi’ites, but life continues. In Baghdad the Shi’ite neighborhoods of Al-Fdhiliya and Sadr City have been targeted by Sunni groups and they struggle with overcrowding and very poor infrastructure. In his photo gallery “Daily Life in Shi’ite Baghdad” Ahmed Jadallah seeks to capture how the inhabitants of these neighborhoods live their lives and find joy in the midst of the struggle and in the poor conditions of the neighborhoods.
Ahmed Jadallah photographs everything from the living arrangements inside the home to the broad overview of the city; from the monuments that reflect the history of their culture to the buildings that have been destroyed by war; from a classroom full of girls in a school to boys swimming in a pool; and from a herdsman’s cattle wading in sewage to men laughing in the city square. Ahmed does an amazing job at capturing what it means to live in these neighborhoods of Iraq. He captures the highlights of life in Al-Fdhiliya and Sadr City, but he also does not shy away from showing the poverty and destruction that is very present in these neighborhoods as well.
One of the photographs that stuck out to me the most is the photograph of the men laughing and joking around in a park. It is striking to me because my usual view of older Arab men is that they are very subdued and act very dignified, especially in front of others. Now I know that that is a large stereotype, but that is probably why it is so striking to me. The men are not just laughing and joking, but they are acting and playing, which is not what I would expect, especially with them living in a slum. This picture of laughter and playfulness goes in contrast with what I would expect from some of the other pictures in the gallery of destroyed buildings, jerry-rigged tools and furniture that show the economic situation, and cattle in the sewage. The picture also shows the role that humor plays in the Arab culture. It shows that in the midst of everything that’s around them humor, laughter, is a way that they can cope with life. Humor lets them disengage from what is happening around them, while at the same time letting them engage with it and discuss it more freely.
Ahmed’s photos show how culture is unexpected. The photos show that we should not be surprised by culture and that a way of life is not something that we should prescribe onto others. His photo gallery breaks down cultural misconceptions. Ahmed shows many aspects of life in Al-Fdhiliya and Sadr City, the good parts and the bad parts. He presents everything as it is, not seeking to hide anything. In this style of photography he is able to properly show the hope that these people have for their lives, and the way that culture influences that hope.