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21G.011

Topics in Indian Popular Culture

3-0-9 units. HASS-H; CI-H · Undergraduate

Overview of Indian popular culture over the last two decades, through a variety of material such as popular fiction, music, television and Bombay cinema. Explores major themes and their representations in relation to current social and political issues, elements of the formulaic masala movie, music and melodrama, ideas of nostalgia and incumbent change in youth culture, and questions of gender and sexuality in popular fiction. Taught in English. Enrollment limited.

Fall 2006 · Topics in Indian Popular Culture: Spectacle, Masala, and Genre

This course aims to provide an overview of Indian popular culture over the last two decades, through a variety of material such as popular fiction, music, television and Bombay cinema. The class will explore major themes and their representations in relation to current social and political issues. In particular, students will examine the elements of the formulaic "masala movie", music and melodrama, the ideas of nostalgia and incumbent change in youth culture, as well as shifting questions of gender and sexuality in popular fiction. During the course, students will look at some journalistic writing, advertising clips and political cartoons to understand the relation between the popular culture and the social imagery of a nation. This course is taught in English.

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Prerequisites & course information

Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-H; CI-H Can be repeated for credit.

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