CCR Q1: VIDEO REFLECTION
CCR Q1
How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?
Method Used:
This question was answered through a video reflection where I directly addressed the camera while discussing my film, Shaam. Relevant clips from the film were inserted onto the screen whenever they were mentioned, providing a visual demonstration of the conventions, representations, and themes explored in my film.
Script:
INTRODUCTION
Hi, my name is Hiba Rashid, and this is my Creative Critical Reflection for my film opening, Shaam. In this video, I’ll discuss how my film follows or challenges conventions and how it represents social groups and issues.
I’ll start by analyzing how Shaam uses conventions of psychological drama and surrealism, including its narrative, cinematography, editing, and sound. Then, I’ll explore how it represents social issues, particularly morality, societal hypocrisy, and honor culture.
PART 1: CONVENTIONS IN SHAAM
Narrative Conventions
Shaam is a psychological drama that follows a protagonist consumed by guilt and paranoia after defying an oppressive tradition. Psychological dramas often focus on a character’s internal struggle, and Shaam follows this convention by centering Ali’s deteriorating mental state.
However, my film also challenges conventions by intertwining personal guilt with societal judgment. Instead of Ali’s paranoia being purely psychological, it is fueled by the fear of real-world consequences his exile, the unseen threat of retribution, and the weight of a system that punishes defiance rather than wrongdoing.
Cinematography Conventions
Cinematically, Shaam follows the conventions of psychological films by using unsettling framing, dim lighting, and symbolic imagery. For instance, in Scene 1, the farmhouse is bathed in an eerie dusk light, a liminal moment between day and night, mirroring Ali’s existence between past and present, morality and survival.
A crucial shot is the cracked mirror scene in Scene 2. Instead of the typical mirror reflection representing self-exploration, I subvert this by having Ali’s reflection look away from him. This visually reinforces his fractured psyche, symbolizing his detachment from himself.
In the final scene, the shadowy figure at the farmhouse entrance is another example of unconventional cinematography. Unlike traditional psychological thrillers that reveal the antagonist, I kept the figure barely visible in the darkness, leaving its presence ambiguous. This forces the audience to question: Is this a real pursuer, or is it Ali’s paranoia manifesting?
Editing Conventions
Editing plays a crucial role in surreal psychological films, often using non-linear storytelling, abrupt transitions, and fragmented imagery. Shaam employs these techniques in Scene 3, the flashback sequence. Instead of showing a clear, chronological memory, I used quick flashes—a woman running, Ali grabbing her arm, an unseen threat approaching, a flame consuming something, and most disturbingly, a goat’s head.
The goat’s head, which I sourced from a butcher’s shop, is an important symbol. It represents sacrifice foreshadowing the woman’s fate. In many cultures, goats are sacrificed for religious or social rituals, and in Shaam, it parallels how victims of honor culture are treated as disposable sacrifices to uphold tradition.
The final transition in Shaam is also unconventional. After Ali’s moment of realization, the screen cuts to black before revealing the title, Shaam, followed by the song Aik Alif. The sudden silence before the music enhances the impact of the final moment, letting the audience sit with the weight of the story before introducing the song’s thought-provoking lyrics.
Sound Conventions
Sound is a crucial element in psychological films, and in Shaam, I used a combination of ambient sound, silence, and music to heighten tension. The rhythmic, distorted heartbeat that plays faintly in the background mirrors Ali’s anxiety, while occasional whispers blend into the silence, making the audience question whether they are real or imagined.
Dialogue is kept to an absolute minimum—Ali only speaks once, in Scene 2, when his reflection looks away. His words, 'What could I have even done? I couldn’t have just let it happen either... shit,' encapsulate his internal conflict. This moment is crucial because it’s the only time Ali verbalizes his thoughts, making it more impactful.
The final use of music in Shaam is also unconventional. Instead of an original score or dramatic instrumental music, I chose Aik Alif, a song that deeply resonates with the film’s themes. The lyrics critique blind adherence to societal norms, reflecting Ali’s struggle. When the shadowy figure appears at the lyric: 'Larna ay roz shaitaan de naal, Te kadi nafs apnay naal larya ee na' ('Every day you fight the outer demons, but you never confront your ego'), it reinforces the idea that the real battle isn’t just external but internal.
PART 2: REPRESENTATION OF SOCIAL GROUPS & ISSUES
Representation of Social Issues
At its core, Shaam is about the hypocrisy of honor culture. Ali did what was morally right saving a woman from violence but in doing so, he defied a societal decree, making him the villain in the eyes of tradition. This reflects real-world issues where individuals who challenge oppressive customs face exile, punishment, or even death.
Through Ali’s exile, Shaam critiques how society isolates those who stand against injustice. The farmhouse, his place of refuge, becomes a prison of his own guilt and paranoia. The newspaper clippings in Scene 2 reinforce this contradiction, showing how the media sensationalizes these events without addressing the deeper issues.
Character Representation
Ali is a complex protagonist he’s not a traditional hero, nor is he a victim. He acted out of moral duty, yet he suffers for it. His paranoia isn’t just psychological but rooted in genuine fear, making him a more realistic character than the typical 'guilt-ridden hero' trope.
The woman in the flashback is intentionally never named or fully shown. This represents how, in reality, victims of honor culture are often erased from history known only through whispers or newspaper headlines. The fragmented way she appears in Shaam reflects this silencing.
The shadowy figure at the end embodies multiple interpretations. Is it a real pursuer? A hallucination? Or is it Ali’s own guilt materializing? By never fully revealing it, I wanted to leave its meaning open-ended, allowing the audience to engage with the film on a psychological level.
Symbolism & Cultural Themes
Throughout Shaam, I used visual metaphors to reinforce its themes. The abandoned dhaba represents a place that was once full of life but is now covered in dust, mirroring how those who challenge societal norms are left behind. The cracked mirror symbolizes Ali’s fractured identity, and the goat’s head serves as a chilling reminder of sacrifice both literal and figurative.
Finally, Aik Alif provides a poetic conclusion. The song’s message about self-reflection ties into Ali’s journey. Society fights outward battles but rarely confronts its own flaws. Shaam ends with this question lingering—who is the real enemy? The unseen pursuers, or Ali’s own guilt?
In conclusion, Shaam follows conventions of psychological drama through its fragmented storytelling, immersive sound design, and surreal imagery while also challenging norms by tying its psychological depth to a real social issue.
The film represents the hypocrisy of honor culture, portraying how those who stand against injustice are often punished rather than protected. Through symbolism, cinematography, and music, Shaam presents a story that is both intimate and universal, encouraging the audience to reflect on the weight of tradition and morality.
Thank you for watching my Creative Critical Reflection. In the next video, I’ll discuss how Shaam engages with audiences and how it would be distributed as a real media text.
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