Reading 'Bollywood'

This book explores representations of gender, sexuality and ethnicity in Hindi films, in the socio-political context and in terms of how young audiences in India and the UK construct them. In-depth interviews, observations and photographs provide insights into spectatorship and comparison with theories about Hindi film and popular culture.

'Her [Banaji's] book is theoretically well grounded, both in debates concerning Hindi films and in audience studies more generally.' - Par Ståhlberg, Young (Nordic Journal of Youth Research)

'Banaji's insightful account in Reading 'Bollywood' enables a substantially finer appreciation of the practices of film-viewing among youth audiences in India and the UK. The refreshing approach and analysis set out in this book compel a serious reconsideration of theories around spectatorship, ideology, identity, and agency. An important contribution to film and cultural studies.'

• Rashmi Sawhney, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland

'This is a really brave book: brave in its exploration of responses to Bollywood films among Indians in Bombay and London; brave in its range exploring both personal and political aspects in them; and brave in its honest admission when findings challenge her expectations. Banaji's book is a major contribution to empirical audience research.'

• Martin Barker, Emeritus Professor, Aberystwyth University, UK

  Autorentext
  SHAKUNTALA BANAJI Lecturer in Media and Communication, London School of Economics, UK. She taught English and Media Studies before researching Hindi films and audiences. She has lectured and published on Hindi film, news audiences, methodology and media, cultural studies and society.

  Inhalt
  Preface List of Illustrations Hindi Films: Theoretical Debates and Textual Studies Audiences and Hindi Films: Contemporary Studies Hindi Film-Going and the Viewing Context in Two Countries 'A Man Who Smokes Should Never Marry A Village Girl' : Comments on Courtship and Marriage Bollywood-Style Short Skirts, Long Veils and Dancing Men: Responses to Dress and the Body More or Less Spicy Kisses: Responses to Sex, Love and Sexuality Politics and Spectatorship 1: Viewing Love, Religion and Ethnic Violence Politics and Spectatorship 2: Young Men Viewing Terrorism and State Violence Conclusion: The Tricky Politics of Viewing Pleasure Notes Bibliography Filmography Index