Bollywood's Lens on Indian Society
INTL 407/507, Summer 2009
June 15-19 (‘zero’ week), 1-8 p.m.
Lewis Lounge, 4th Floor, Knight Law School
Professor Anita Weiss (office hours, email, etc.)
Course Syllabus
Film has the ability to project powerful images of a society in ways conventional academic medium cannot. This is particularly true in learning about India, which is home to the largest film industries in the world. This course explores images of Indian society that emerge through the medium of film. Our attention will be focused on the ways in which Indian society and history is depicted in film, critical social issues being explored through film; the depicted reality vs. the historical reality; and the powerful role of the Indian film industry in affecting social orientations and values.
Class format:
Professor Weiss will open each class with a short lecture on the issues which are raised in the film to be screened for that day. We will then view the selected film, followed by a short break, and then extensive in-class discussion. Depending on the length of the film being screened, we may view a second film on that day.
There will be assigned readings for each day which can be found either in the following required texts (available at the UO bookstore) or through hot-links from the class website. Given the compact nature of this course, try to complete (or at least skim) all readings before the day in which they will be discussed. Most recommended films are available at Vishnu India Imports (135 E. 29th Ave., Ph: 343-6932) or through Netflix. The required books are:
Edward Luce In Spite of the Gods: the Rise of Modern India Anchor
Books, 2006
Jyotika Virdi The Cinematic ImagiNation: Indian Popular Films as Social History Rutgers University Press, 2003
Requirements: (Link to grading guidelines) (percentage of final grade)
*class participation 10%
*a typed, 2-3 page double-spaced essay exploring cultural issues presented in any 20%
film viewed. The essay should draw upon readings and class discussion as relevant and is due at
the beginning of the class after the film is screened (the essay from the Friday film is due
on Monday, 6/22, by 2 p.m.).
* take-home examination, to be handed out in class on Friday, June 19th and 35%
is to be submitted to Professor Weiss by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 6/23 (307 PLC)
* 8-10 page paper (approx.) due in 175 PLC no later than Friday July 17th at noon. 35%
The term paper is to explore any social issue which was raised in a segment of this course. You are to look at its social origin, and then focus on the way in which this issue is in flux in India today. You need to confirm the topic of your term paper by the time your final examination is submitted (if not sooner). There are a number of books recommended throughout the syllabus “for further reading.” These are good places to start researching your paper.Aditi Sinha (asinha@uoregon.edu), an International Studies graduate student who is the ‘teaching support assistant’ for this class, is available to meet with you regarding ideas and potential sources for your term papers, as I will be gone much of the time after you submit your final exams. Please email her to set up a time to meet.
Course Outline
Monday, June 15 Introduction to the Course; Historical Depiction of Indian Society and Rewriting History through Film
handout here link to notes on Hinduism, caste and hierarchy here
Films: Lagaan (Once Upon a Time in India), directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, produced by Aamir Khan Productions, 2001
Recommended films: Devdas, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, 2002
Garam Hava (Hot Winds), directed by M.S. Sathyu, 1973
Shakespeare Wallah, directed by James Ivory (U of O alumni!), 1965Readings:
Luce, pp. 1-22
Virdi, "Preface," pp. ix-xiv
Milton Singer "Passage to More than India: A Sketch of Changing European and American Images" When a Great Tradition Modernizes: an Anthropological Approach to Indian Civilization Praeger Publishers, 1972, pp. 11-37
Tuesday, June 16 Historical Depiction of Indian Society: rewriting history and Views of the 'Other'; Relevance of History Today
Films: A Passage to India, directed by David Lean, 1984
Jodhaa Akbar, directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, 2008
Recommended films: Gandhi, directed by Richard Attenborough, 1982
Ghare Baire (The Home and the World), directed by Satyajit Ray,
1984
Henna, directed by Randhir Kapoor, 1991
The Rising: the Ballad of Mangal Pandey directed by Ketan
Mehta, 2005 (also here)
Readings:
Luce, pp. 23-62, 63-104
Virdi: "Introduction," pp. 1-25, "Nation and its Embodiments," pp. 34-43
Nicholas Dirks “The Home and the World: the Invention of Modernity in Colonial India” in Robert A. Rosenstone (ed.) Revisioning History: Film and the Construction of a New Past Princeton University Press, 1995, pp. 44-63
Arthur Lindley “Raj as Romance/Raj as Parody: Lean’s and Foster’s Passage to India” Literature/Film Quarterly, 20, No. 1, 1992, pp. 61-66
For further reading:
Bhowmik, Someswar Indian Cinema, Colonial Contours Calcutta: Papyrus Press, 1995
Prasad, M. Madhava “The State in/of Cinema” in Partha Chatterjee (ed.) Wages of Freedom: Fifty Years of the Indian Nation-State Oxford University Press, 1998, pp. 123-146
Metcalf, Barbara D. and Thomas R. Metcalf A Concise History of India
Cambridge University Press, 2001
Mishra, Vijay Bollywood Cinema: Temples of Desire Routledge, 2002
Vohra, Ranbir The Making of India: a Historical Survey M.E. Sharpe, 2nd edition, 2001
Wednesday, June 17 Introspective Depictions of Indian Society and Changing Gender Roles handout link here
Films: Lajja (Propriety), directed by Raj Kumar Santoshi, 2002
and
Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (Journey of a Woman, or There Seems to
be a Stain on her Shirt), directed by Pradeep Sarkar, 2007
Recommended film: Mirch Masala (Hot Spices), directed by Ketan Mehta,
Readings:
Luce, pp. 295-327
Virdi: “The Idealized Woman” pp. 60-86, "Heroines, Romance and Social History, " pp. 121-144
For further reading:
Carr, Marilyn, Martha Chen and Renana Jhabvala (eds.) Speaking Out: Women's Economic Empowerment in South Asia IT Publications, 1996
Derne, Steve Movies, Masculinity, and Modernity: An Ethnography of Men's Filmgoing in India Greenwood Press, 2000
Jeffery, Patricia and Amrita Basu (eds.) Appropriating Gender: Women’s Activism and Politicized Religion in South Asia Routledge, 1998
Mankekar, Purnima Screening Culture, Viewing Politics: an Ethnography of Television, Womanhood, and Nation in Postcolonial India Duke University Press, 1999
Mendelsohn, Oliver and Marika Vicziany The Untouchables: Subordination, Poverty, andthe State in Modern India Cambridge University Press, 1998
Rao, Maithili “To Be a Woman” in Aruna Vasudev (ed.) Frames of Mind: Reflections on Indian Cinema UBSPD, 1995, pp. 241-256
Thursday June 18 The Bombay Film Studies and Escapism handout link here
Films: Larger than Life: India's Bollywood Film Culture 2005
and
TBA [we’ll decide together on which masala film to show, from the
list below]
Recommended films: Billu Barber directed by Priyadarshan, 2009
Bunty aur Babli directed by Shaad Ali, 2005
Hum Tum (You and I), directed by Kunal Khohli 2004
Jab We Met (When We Met), directed by Imtiaz Ali (2007)
Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (Sometimes There's Happiness, Sometimes Sadness), directed by Yash Johar, 2001
Lage Raho Munna Bhai, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, 2006
Om Shanti Om, directed by Farah Khan, 2007
Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, directed by Kunal Kohli, 2008
Amar, Akbar, Anthony, directed by Manmohan Desai,1977
Readings:
Luce, pp. 105-142, 180-217
Virdi: "Heroes and Villains," pp. 87-92
Pico Iyer "India: Hollywood in the Fifties" Video Night in Kathmandu New York: Vintage Books, 1989, pp. 241-285 (pp. 241-268 pp. 269-285 )
Derné, Steve “The (limited) effect of Cultural Globalization in India: Implications for Culture Theory" Poetics Vol. 33, 2005, pp. 33-47
New films being released in 2009
Friday, June 19 Social Change, Poverty and the Fear of Terrorism Today
Instead of a handout, please read: Wall Street Journal "Chronology of major terrorist attacks in India since 2003" November 27, 2008
Films: * Baghban (The Caretaker), directed by Ravi Chopra, 2003
A Wednesday, directed by Neeraj Pandey, 2008
* As students requested, we will instead screen a film from Pakistan, Khuda Kay Liye, which addresses the rise of militant Islam in that country, which has distinct implications for the other film, A Wednesday, we'll be seeing today.
Recommended films: Bombay, directed by Mani Ratnam, 1995
Fanaa, directed by Kunal Kohli, 2006
Guru, directed by Mani Ratnam, 2007 (a few clips)
Salaam Bombay!, directed by Mira Nair, 1988
Salaam Namaste, directed by Siddharth Anand, 2005
Veer Zaara, directed by Yash Chopra, Yashraj Studios, 2004
Readings:
Luce, pp. 143-179, 218-256, 328-354
Virdi, "Re-reading Romance," pp. 178-204, "Conclusion," pp. 205-214
Ashis Nandy “Introduction: Indian Popular Cinema as a Slum’s Eye View of Politics” in Ashis Nandy (ed.) The Secret Politics of our Desires: Innocence, Culpability and Indian Popular Cinema Zed Books, 1998: 1-17