Desi Films: Articulating Images of South Asian Identity in a Global Communication Environment
Although India itself has been an important source of information about the Indian identity for Western audiences, a specialized genre of desi media have also garnered more recognition in recent years. Desi films—movies created by and/or for South Asian immigrants—are capable of reaching large numbe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Saint Paul University
2011-01-01
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| Series: | Global Media Journal: Canadian Edition |
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| Online Access: | http://www.gmj.uottawa.ca/1101/v4i1_sharma.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818615591715471360 |
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| author | Rekha Sharma |
| author_facet | Rekha Sharma |
| author_sort | Rekha Sharma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although India itself has been an important source of information about the Indian identity for Western audiences, a specialized genre of desi media have also garnered more recognition in recent years. Desi films—movies created by and/or for South Asian immigrants—are capable of reaching large numbers of people regardless of their educational level, economic status, or linguistic proficiency. Most are produced in English or with English subtitles and are easily accessible in most areas, either in theatres, video rental stores, libraries, or via Internet movie sites. This paper examines Indian diasporic films as a vehicle for cultural articulation and debate. First, it provides a theoretical foundation of hegemony and resistance with regard to notions of ethnicity and immigrants’ articulations of identity in interstitial zones. Second, it discusses sources of hegemony from Indian and Western media. Third, it explores the creation of a hybrid identity as reflected in Indian diasporic films, pointing out some of the themes and conventions of this emerging genre. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T16:36:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1e54d405602e470182a849f77bc65702 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1918-5901 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T16:36:21Z |
| publishDate | 2011-01-01 |
| publisher | Saint Paul University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Media Journal: Canadian Edition |
| spelling | doaj.art-1e54d405602e470182a849f77bc657022022-12-21T22:24:27ZengSaint Paul UniversityGlobal Media Journal: Canadian Edition1918-59012011-01-0141127143Desi Films: Articulating Images of South Asian Identity in a Global Communication EnvironmentRekha SharmaAlthough India itself has been an important source of information about the Indian identity for Western audiences, a specialized genre of desi media have also garnered more recognition in recent years. Desi films—movies created by and/or for South Asian immigrants—are capable of reaching large numbers of people regardless of their educational level, economic status, or linguistic proficiency. Most are produced in English or with English subtitles and are easily accessible in most areas, either in theatres, video rental stores, libraries, or via Internet movie sites. This paper examines Indian diasporic films as a vehicle for cultural articulation and debate. First, it provides a theoretical foundation of hegemony and resistance with regard to notions of ethnicity and immigrants’ articulations of identity in interstitial zones. Second, it discusses sources of hegemony from Indian and Western media. Third, it explores the creation of a hybrid identity as reflected in Indian diasporic films, pointing out some of the themes and conventions of this emerging genre.http://www.gmj.uottawa.ca/1101/v4i1_sharma.pdfDesi FilmsDiasporic CommunitiesEthnic IdentityHybrid IdentityIndian Immigrant FilmsMedia HegemonyResistanceSouth Asian Identity |
| spellingShingle | Rekha Sharma Desi Films: Articulating Images of South Asian Identity in a Global Communication Environment Global Media Journal: Canadian Edition Desi Films Diasporic Communities Ethnic Identity Hybrid Identity Indian Immigrant Films Media Hegemony Resistance South Asian Identity |
| title | Desi Films: Articulating Images of South Asian Identity in a Global Communication Environment |
| title_full | Desi Films: Articulating Images of South Asian Identity in a Global Communication Environment |
| title_fullStr | Desi Films: Articulating Images of South Asian Identity in a Global Communication Environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Desi Films: Articulating Images of South Asian Identity in a Global Communication Environment |
| title_short | Desi Films: Articulating Images of South Asian Identity in a Global Communication Environment |
| title_sort | desi films articulating images of south asian identity in a global communication environment |
| topic | Desi Films Diasporic Communities Ethnic Identity Hybrid Identity Indian Immigrant Films Media Hegemony Resistance South Asian Identity |
| url | http://www.gmj.uottawa.ca/1101/v4i1_sharma.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rekhasharma desifilmsarticulatingimagesofsouthasianidentityinaglobalcommunicationenvironment |