The Dirge of Aleppo

Yesterday, out of the blue, a photo of the Syrian crisis appeared on Reddit that truly struck to the core. For all you Reddit users, it is entitled The Dirge of Aleppo and was uploaded by CosmicDriftwood.

Now, Aleppo is banded around in the media on a daily basis at the moment, but do any of us realise the extent of the catastrophic situation? If you didn’t, this photo will tell you all you need to know. It is a perfect encapsulation of the destruction and ruin that the city has suffered in recent years.

The image focuses on an elderly man sitting candidly on his bed smoking a pipe, simple enough. However, the bedroom in which he sits is a portrait of devastation; what clearly used to be an ornate and beautiful room has been reduced to wreckage: debris scattered all over the floor, smashed windows and demolished shutters hang awkwardly from the walls. It’s an utter mess and provokes a deep sense of sadness and loss for any viewer; this is a photo that will profoundly move you with just a simple glance.

However, there is a silver lining to this photo and it is for this reason that we at Qulture have chosen to share it. Balanced carefully next to his bed, the elderly man’s vintage turntable sits with its lid open and, on top, a vinyl looks to be slowly spinning. What does this represent? Defiance. Sheer defiance. Despite the total disrepair of his bedroom, the elderly man will not be beaten, he makes the decision to stay and listen to his music, perhaps a routine he has had for a number of years. In the face of the imminent collapse of the walls around him, he stays put, undeterred, refusing to let the Syrian war get the better of him.

This photo highlights the defiance with which charities, governments, volunteer groups such as The White Helmets and the Syrian people continue to fight to stop this war. Not all is lost, it may currently be a living disaster, but there is a way out and maybe this elderly man embodies it.

If you're feeling philanthropic, donate to The White Helmets with this link.