Is a short documentary that tells the story of a student-organized event on “Apartheid, Racism and Intersectionality” being canceled by Leiden University on accusations of bias and unsafety, and the subsequent fight by student activists against the cancellation as an assault on academic freedom. With this project, my goal was to shed light on the several silencing dynamics that led to the breach of such fundamental pillars in Western higher education, while drawing attention to a pattern of institutionalized discrimination attributable to a rise in the privatization and neo-liberalization of Dutch academia.
Trailer
Director’s statement
I have always had a soft spot for the unknown, and pursuing a degree in visual anthropology taught me a lot about how much curiosity shapes who I am. Even more prominent is my desire for social justice. I want my work to be a tool through which my core values can be fulfilled. I refuse to be part of a broken system that does not practice what it preaches. I believe ethnographic research can be a perfect tool to expose those systematic flaws in our society. My desire is to use my work to raise awareness, decolonize neoliberal narratives and mobilize social change.
Bio
My name is Giulia Sole (1998) and I am an anthropology graduate with a background in media and communication. My growing interest in human behavior and social justice led me to pursue a master’s degree in Visual Ethnography, allowing me to cultivate my passion for visual arts and engaged activist research.