The Weekly Muse: Exploring the Tumultuous History of Foreign Occupation ✊🏽 🇵🇸

Amita Kala
Narrative Muse
Published in
3 min readOct 19, 2023

In these turbulent times, there is an urgent need for open and candid dialogues about global politics, human rights, and ongoing societal issues. It’s crucial to recognise that our world’s history is marked by instances of foreign occupation, discrimination, and systemic injustices.

Our preconceptions and biases often arise from limited exposure and representation. Throughout history, colonial powers employed divisive tactics, comparisons, and scapegoating to maintain control. However, by embracing diverse narratives, we widen our perspectives and cultivate a deeper understanding of each other.

Representation is not just a matter of choice; it’s a responsibility. We must actively confront our unconscious biases to build connections and genuine empathy with every individual sharing this planet.

We appreciate your presence in our community and your active participation in these vital conversations.

Farha (Movie)

A gripping film, Farha delves into the struggles and resilience of a Palestinian family living under foreign occupation.

In 1948, Palestinian teen Farha is fighting her family over her desire to enrol in an all-girls school. Priorities shift, however, after shooting rains down on her village. Stuck in a storage room, Farha witnesses the terrible events of the Nakba, when Zionist soldiers began to violently displace Palestinians.

This emotionally charged narrative provides a lens into the daily life challenges faced by those living in conflict zones, urging us to confront the human side of political turmoil.

CW: murder, infant death, war.

Three Minutes: A Lengthening, a documentary about life in a community affected by the Holocaust.

Bianca Stigter analyzes a three-minute homemade film from 1938, which depicts the Jewish population of Nasielsk, Poland. Experimenting with the footage, Stigter carefully investigates the video to find clues about the people in the pictures before tracking down and interviewing the unwitting actors and their descendants to deepen our understanding of their lives.

Through the lens of survivors, this film explores the impact of historical injustices and the enduring fight for justice and healing.

CW: Anti-semitism, genocide

“I do not want to die with my hands up or my legs open” — Koleka Putuma.

Collective Amnesia is a poetic masterpiece by Koleka Putuma that takes readers on a journey through South Africa’s complex history, touching on themes of identity, apartheid, and liberation.

Putuma’s words are a potent reminder of the importance of storytelling in confronting societal injustices and shaping a more inclusive world.

Want more recommendations like these? Explore Narrative Muse and discover new stories by (and about) intersectional underrepresented folks.

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P.P.S. Share this article with someone you think might enjoy these recommendations.

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