Memories of Motherland: Gender, Diaspora and National Identity in 1990s Indian Popular Culture

This thesis examines the role of globalization, an open economy and diasporic experiences on the 1990s popular Indian culture, focusing on discourses of gender, national identity and family. Recent Indian beauty queens and international beauty contests are discussed in the context of gendered nationhood in 1990s India. Several popular films of the 1990s are discussed as narratives expressing longing for an extended family and a homogeneous national identity under the leadership of a traditional father figure. In contrast, independent films interrogate the primacy of ethnic and national identity and raise interesting questions about exilic experience. All of these forms of national and popular culture reflect the conflicting and ever-changing anxieties surrounding national identity and the role of women in India.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2002

Author dc:creator

• Sapre, Manasi

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hoerschelmann, Olaf
• Negra, Diane
• Benshoff, Harry

• Popular culture -- India.
• Motion pictures and women -- India.
• India -- Social conditions -- 1947-
• Gender identity -- India.
• National characteristics, East Indian.
• East Indians -- Foreign countries.
• postcolonialism
• globalization
• gender
• diaspora
• family

Statement dc:rights

• Use restricted to UNT Community
• Copyright
• Sapre, Manasi
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 54857546
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3076/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc3076

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc3076