{"id":30805,"date":"2024-03-25T15:20:16","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T22:20:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/ias\/?p=30805"},"modified":"2024-04-17T14:00:44","modified_gmt":"2024-04-17T21:00:44","slug":"purpose-history-justice-and-the-paranormal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/ias\/news\/2024\/03\/25\/purpose-history-justice-and-the-paranormal","title":{"rendered":"Purpose, History, Justice, and the Paranormal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

IAS alum Anthony Safai finds his passion in an unconventional place through his web series Existence in Silence<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust go out there and you’ll find something. You won’t expect it, but you’ll definitely find it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are the words of Anthony Safai (’24), a recent graduate of UW Bothell who majored in Media & Communication Studies and Culture, Literature, & the Arts. Safai is the creator of Existence in Silenc<\/em>e, a captivating YouTube series that delves into the haunted, paranormal, and controversial histories of some of the most infamous locations in the United States and abroad.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exploring Our Histories<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each episode features Safai and his collaborators exploring a new location. The premise is simple: stay the night in a location that is known for being haunted, and document what happens. As simple as the premise seems, explaining what is uncovered on the show is much more challenging.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This challenge is much of what draws Safai to this work. In exploring each location, he isn\u2019t simply looking to terrify viewers with a spooky gimmick. Instead, the goal is to reconnect the past with the present and unearth the sometimes long-forgotten histories of the land we all walk on each day.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you do these episodes,\u201d Safai explains, \u201cyou remind people of the land, you remind people of all the things that have happened there\u201d. Each location holds a story, some dating back centuries. With his exploration, Safai hopes to discover evidence that helps draw conclusions to historical mysteries and advance our understanding of the paranormal along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n\n <\/path>\n<\/svg>

“I’ve noticed that as I’ve continued to explore [these locations] more and more, I can’t help but feel this sense of unjust abandonment from modern day society. So that said, the historical remembrance is what brings me so much pride and satisfaction to my work.”\n <\/path>\n<\/svg><\/p>\nAnthony Safai, Media & Communications Studies; Culture, Literature & the Arts ’24<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\"Anthony<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

An Unexpected Passion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When speaking to Safai about his work, he describes it as purpose-filled. Although, it didn\u2019t start out that way. \u201cIf you ever ask a paranormal investigator \u2018did you ever think you’d do this when you grew up?\u2019 I guarantee you they will say no\u201d Safai says with a laugh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safai first stumbled upon this work when visiting California with a friend. They had intentions to go to Disneyland and the beach, and as a joke, decided to stay at a haunted hotel. \u201cWe also said, \u2018what if we like recorded everything, too, just like as a fun little memory\u2019\u201d Safai recalls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That night changed his life. \u201cA lot of very strange things started happening that we couldn’t explain\u201d says Safai. \u201cObjects were like moving on their own. We were hearing like really, really strange noises that were caught on camera… [that was] the first time in our lives when we truly experienced something that was completely unexplainable.\u201d From that moment, Existence in Silence<\/em> was born. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safai launched the series in October of 2022, and in just over a year the show has managed to attract the attention of multiple media outlets, including Fox 13 News and UW Bothell\u2019s own UWave Radio. With hundreds of subscribers and over a thousand views on some episodes, the show is just getting started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked about what\u2019s next, Safai eagerly speaks of his intentions to take the show abroad. Japan is at the top of his list, with some other places in the works as well. In the meantime, viewers can get excited about season two, which is currently in post-production.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While season one visited locations throughout the West Coast, primarily in California, Safai brings the focus of season two to the Pacific Northwest. The season, titled \u201cWhispers in the Winds\u201d will highlight the paranormal mysteries of Washington and Oregon. \u201cIt’s a completely untapped market,\u201d explains Safai, \u201cbecause a lot of my competitors haven’t been to the Washington and Oregon area, and so I thought it was a perfect chance for me to be able to see what’s going on in my own backyard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Anthony<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A Respected Community<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For students with similar interests in video production, Safai encourages them to use their class projects as opportunities to build and explore their passions. Once you get started, don\u2019t forget to lean into your connections as a student for support. \u201cAs an IAS student, you\u2019re never alone\u201d explains Safai, \u201cyou will always have teachers being interested in giving you their input as well as peers.\u201d He also notes that his credentials as a student have given him a boost when finding new places to investigate, and has earned him discounts on filming equipment and software. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most importantly, Safai urges anyone who ventures into the world of paranormal investigation to do so with respect. \u201cAlways be respectful of the property owners that let you investigate there, and I cannot stress that enough\u201d says Safai. This work explores topics that can be sensitive for some viewers, so it is important to do so with good intentions, and a little thick skin. You can connect with Anthony Safai\u2019s work by subscribing to his YouTube channel, Safaii<\/em><\/a> <\/em>(soon to be renamed Existence in Silence), or by visiting his website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Media & Communications Studies<\/a> and Culture, Literature & the Arts<\/a> majors are a part of the Arts & Media focus in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences. You can learn more about these programs on their respective pages on the IAS undergraduate website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

IAS alum Anthony Safai finds his passion in an unconventional place through his web series Existence in Silence \u201cJust go out there and you’ll find something. You won’t expect it, but you’ll definitely find it.\u201d  These are the words of Anthony Safai (’24), a recent graduate of UW Bothell who majored in Media & Communication…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":119,"featured_media":30806,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_is_archived":false,"_archived_contact_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,68,4],"tags":[282,281,278,279,280],"school":[],"class_list":["post-30805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-ias","category-students","tag-cla","tag-mcs","tag-safai","tag-students","tag-video-production"],"acf":{"related_links":{"toggle_visibility":false,"link_1":"","link_2":"","link_3":"","link_4":"","link_5":""},"highlight_box":{"toggle_visibility":false,"title":"","content":"","button":"","button_style":"angled-purple-button","button_screen_reader_text":""},"contact_type_1":{"toggle_visibility":true,"contact_title":"","email":"iasinfo@uw.edu","phone":"","box":"Box 358500","address_line_1":"18115 Campus Way NE","address_line_2":"Bothell, WA 98011-8246","location":""},"contact_type_2":{"toggle_visibility":false,"contact_title":"","email":"","phone":"","box":"","address_line_1":"","address_line_2":"","location":""},"social_media":{"toggle_visibility":false,"facebook_url":"","instagram_url":"","linkedin_url":"","twitter_url":"","youtube_url":""},"blog_archive_sidebar_visibility":false},"yoast_head":"\nPurpose, History, Justice, and the Paranormal - School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/ias\/news\/2024\/03\/25\/purpose-history-justice-and-the-paranormal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Purpose, History, Justice, and the Paranormal - School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"IAS alum Anthony Safai finds his passion in an unconventional place through his web series Existence in Silence \u201cJust go out there and you’ll find something. 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