Paper short abstract:

This paper explores the engagements of a filmmaker with conservative Shia community in Kuwait

Paper long abstract:

I went to fieldwork to explore the Kuwaiti Shia religious music production which is mainly men's sphere. As an Arab female student, with a camera, I have anticipated the kind of limitations I may have due to the conservative nature of this religious group so I went ready to tackle it with many tactics on mind. It is only when I was there that new avenues opened up in front of me giving me a glance to powerful female religious activities in art, theater and singing. The last two categories are made by women for only women audience so no recording or photography was allowed in any form. The professionalism of such performances and their impactful voices and acts were too good not to be documented.

In this paper I will explore how entering a very conservative community can be easy in the beginning but become challenging by time due to layers and layers of limitations an outsider with a camera can face. Also, I will present some of the negotiations I had to make in order to keep the camera involved and how this piece of equipment deemed wanted and changed power dynamics between me and those who gave me access which eventually put me in a position to help push the boundaries of their conservativeness. Being trusted is great but it becomes a burden as you develop relationships and people in the field start to see you more than just a researcher.