Gender Studies

The Afterlife of a ‘Sexual Revolution’: Revisiting Responses to Deepa Mehta’s Fire (1996)

Gender Studies/Vol16N32024

72 views

Ashmita Biswas
Research Scholar, Department of English, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, India.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.12g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

Even after so many years, Deepa Mehta’s Indo-Canadian directorial Fire (1996) keeps resurfacing in literary circles with its multifaceted and inexhaustive appeal. The movie, centring around the same-sex desire between two women, Radha and Sita, was at the peak of its controversy during its release in India in 1998, and since then, the reactionary hate of the masses has come to embody the country’s intolerant stance towards homosexuality. Over the years, the public furore against the screening of Fire and criticism of the film’s content as anti-national and that it is a desecration of the very notion of the ‘Indian woman’ has drawn critics, again and again, to comment on the ways in which the film brought about a sexual revolution. Treating the litany of critical commentary on the film as afterlives of a ‘sexual revolution’, the paper will attempt to map some of the central issues addressed by critics over the years so as to re-situate Fire within the evolving discourses on gender, sexuality, and culture in the country. In doing so, the paper will underscore the importance of the role that 20th-century Indian cinema had to play in launching a conversation that sustains itself well into succeeding generations.

Keywords:Deepa Mehta, Fire, gender, sexuality, sexual revolution.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Ethical Consideration: Informed consent was obtained from all the participants of the study.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 11 August 2024. Revised: 28 November 2024. Accepted: 29 November 2024. First published: 30 November 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Biswas, A. (2024). The Afterlife of a ‘Sexual Revolution’: Revisiting Responses to Deepa Mehta’s Fire (1996). Rupkatha Journal 16:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.12g

Female Consciousness and Stereotypes in Chinese Female-Directed Cinema: Insights from the film Send Me to the Clouds

Film & Media Studies/Gender Studies/V16N32024

147 views

Mao Wenyu¹ & Roslina Ismail^2*
¹ Ph.D. Faculty of Creative Arts, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
² Associate Prof, Faculty of Creative Arts, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. *Corresponding author.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.07g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

This paper analyzes Chinese female director Teng Congcong’s film Send Me to the Clouds to reveal the relationship between female consciousness and ideologies of power in the context of the current Chinese era. We examine the narrative strategies, imagery symbols and power ideologies in the film through Foucault’s body theory and feminist film theory. Send Me to the Clouds takes the redemption of life as its narrative strategy and incorporates elements of humor and absurdity. The film changes the initiator of sexual pleasure to the female protagonist, and the male becomes a passive character who is a cheater, a coward which is an attempt to break the “stereotype” of female passivity in the traditional Chinese cultural settings, to create an important role for female consciousness and ideology of power in this life-saving film. However, it is important to critically examine the limitations and subjectivity of the film, especially whether it subverts the traditional mainstream ideology in its artistic expression of “female consciousness”. This study provides insights into Chinese feminist film narratives and further discusses the significance and role of Chinese female consciousness in the global feminist film discourse.

Keywords: Female Directors, Stereotypes, Female consciousness, Feminism.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Ethical Consideration: Informed consent was obtained from all the participants of the study.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 26 August 2024. Revised: 25 October 2024. Accepted: 27 October 2024. First published: 29 October 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Wenyu, M. & Ismail, R. (2024). Female Consciousness and Stereotypes in Chinese Female-Directed Cinema: Insights from the film Send Me to the Clouds. Rupkatha Journal 16:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.07g

“I am that woman Gayatri-Lover of Brahma”: Resistance and Resurrection of the Mythical Divine Feminine in Usha Kishore’s Night Sky Between the Stars

Gender Studies

202 views

Beauty Das
^{Research Scholar, Department of English, Banaras Hindu University.}

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.03g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

This article intends to explore the convergence of feminism and mythology within Indian culture, with a particular emphasis on Usha Kishore’s poetry collection, Night Sky Between the Stars (2015). Employing a feminist literary lens, the paper examines Kishore’s engagement with significant mythological figures—goddesses such as Durga and Kali, alongside mortal women like Sita and Draupadi—to challenge patriarchal conventions. These characters represent various dimensions of womanhood, including strength and resilience, frequently contesting established gender roles. Through her reinterpretation of these myths, Kishore transforms feminist discourse and creates a new identity that elevates the voices of female mythological figures. This analysis highlights how her work contributes to an alternative narrative of Indian womanhood, promoting female agency and redefining the cultural portrayals of women in mythology.

Keywords: Feminism, Patriarchy, Mythology, Gendered Identity, Resistance, Resurrection.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Ethical Consideration: Informed consent was obtained from all the participants of the study.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 24 August 2024. Revised: 24 October 2024. Accepted: 25 October 2024. First published: 26 October 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Das, B. (2024). “I am that woman Gayatri-Lover of Brahma”: Resistance and Resurrection of the Mythical Divine Feminine in Usha Kishore’s Night Sky Between the Stars. Rupkatha Journal 16:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.03g

“The Humble Mahar Women Fall at Your Feet, Master.” Portrayal of the Psyche and Suffering of Mahar Women in Baby Kamble’s The Prisons We Broke

Dalit Studies/Gender Studies/V16N22024

833 views

Priya Verma^1* , Surbhi Saraswat² & Antara Datta³
^1,2Amity Institute of English Studies and Research, Amity University, Noida.
³Janki Devi Memorial College, Delhi University, Delhi.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.27g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

This article delves into the nature of suffering as experienced by Mahar women struggling with the implemented difficulties by the prevailing patriarchal ideology rooted in Brahminism. Baby Kamble dislikes the humanitarian aversion to agony and disparity. She is sensitive to the predicament of Dalit women and conscious of their sufferings. She has managed to dredge into the psyche of Mahar women, prioritizing sisterhood and Dalit femininity over individual suffering. As a woman writer, Kamble concedes that her primary task is to promote women’s emancipation and eradicate untouchability. She propitiously manages to portray Mahar women and their wounded selves. Utilizing Paik’s theory of Incremental Intersecting Technologies about caste, class, gender, sexuality, and agency as the framework, the paper seeks to answer the questions: How much consideration is given to the caste system, and what intersectional aspects have been integrated into discussions about Dalit women in the last twenty years.

Keywords: Untouchability, caste, class, gender, intersectionality.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 29 February 2024. Revised: 21 June 2024. Accepted: 21 June 2024. First published: 23 June 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Verma, P. & Saraswat, S. & Datta, A. (2024). “The Humble Mahar Women Fall at Your Feet, Master.” Portrayal of the Psyche and Suffering of Mahar Women in Baby Kamble’s The Prisons We Broke. Rupkatha Journal 16:2. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.27g

Book Review: Queersapien by Sharif D. Rangnekar

Book Review/Gender Studies/V16N22024

693 views

Publisher: Rupa Publications India; First Edition (1 December 2022); Rupa Publications India
Language: English. Hardcover: 208 pages
ISBN-10: 9355208103. ISBN-13: 978-9355208101

Reviewed by
Aditi Gupta
CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.23g. First published 23 June 2024.}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Queersapien by Sharif D. Rangnekar is an intimate exploration into the multifaceted journey of a queer person, encapsulating the myriad instances of “coming out” that extend beyond the conventional narrative. In this poignant narrative, Rangnekar delves into the complexities of self-discovery, family disclosure, and the broader societal acceptance that marks the queer experience. The book skillfully navigates through the non-linear nature of the coming-out process, shedding light on the constant evaluation of risks and the perpetual quest for safe spaces in a world that does not always embrace queerness. Keep Reading

Loving and Terrible Mother: An Archetypal Redefinition of African Motherhood in Beloved

Gender Studies/Postmodern/V16N22024

883 views

Aviti Latha^1* & Bhavani S²
¹Research Scholar, Department of English, Christ University, Bangalore, India.
²Assistant Professor and Associate Dean, The Department of English, Christ University, Bangalore, India.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.22g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

The memories of past experiences have an unconscious influence on the present. In her novel Beloved, Toni Morrison vividly portrays the atrocities of slavery, shedding light on the enduring psychic wounds inflicted upon subjugated Black women and their motherhood. This study explores the embedded memories, trauma, and dehumanization that control and distort the ability of Black individuals to respond to the human experiences of maternal bonds. While existing literature has extensively explored motherhood, a gap remains in understanding the archetypal development within the fragmented psyche of tormented mothers. Drawing from Carl Jung and Eric Neumann’s collective unconscious and mother archetype concept, this interdisciplinary research aims to identify and examine the dual nature of motherhood – the loving and the terrible. By analyzing the reasons behind this duality, we seek to redefine motherhood, considering the exhibition of two contradictory natures among oppressed mothers.

Keywords: Psyche, Collective Unconscious, archetypes, loving and terrible mother.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 29 February 2024. Revised: 19 June 2024. Accepted: 19 June 2024. First published: 20 June 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Latha, A. & Bhavani, S. (2024). Loving and Terrible Mother: An Archetypal Redefinition of African Motherhood in Beloved. Rupkatha Journal 16:2. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.22g

Acceptance of Sexual and Gender Minorities through Romance TV Drama Series with LGBT Characters: The Voices of College Students in Thailand

Gender Studies/V16N22024

1.3K views

Yuki Amaki
Faculty of Literature, Taisho University, Tokyo, Japan.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.20g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

This study focused on the views of 77 current college students in Thailand on gay-related romantic TV dramas and their social impact. The survey aims to determine how gay-related romantic dramas affect the understanding of and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in Thai society and to propose solutions based on the results. The survey results suggest that gay-related romantic dramas may have an impact on social perceptions and tolerance toward LGBTQ+ people. Positive opinions emphasized that the dramas promote understanding between different generations and cultures and provide opportunities to accept LGBTQ+ identities. On the other hand, negative opinions expressed concern that the dramas are removed from reality and do not adequately reflect the real situations and issues of LGBTQ+ people. Based on these findings, this study provides valuable suggestions for improving LGBTQ+ public awareness and understanding. These recommendations aim to enhance public awareness and comprehension of LGBTQ+ matters, with the understanding that the students’ voices are crucial in this process.

Keywords: LGBTQ+, Romantic TV Series, Diversity Representation, Media, College Students, Thailand.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 28 February 2024. Revised: 13 June 2024. Accepted: 15 June 2024. First published: 18 June 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Amaki, Y. (2024). Acceptance of Sexual and Gender Minorities through Romance TV Drama Series with LGBT Characters: The Voices of College Students in Thailand. Rupkatha Journal 16:2. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.20g

Navigating Multiple Burdens among Women in Government Service

Gender Studies/V16N22024

653 views

Cherry Ann B. Chagyowen
Instructor III, School of Healthcare Education, Mountain Province State Polytechnic College, Philippines.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.17g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

This study investigates the lived experiences of government-employed mothers in Sabangan, Mountain Province, Philippines, who juggle work, family, and community roles without domestic help. Employing descriptive phenomenology and thematic analysis, the research examines the effects of these multiple burdens on nine participants from various government institutions. Findings highlight both positive outcomes, like happiness and fulfillment, and negative impacts, such as exhaustion and stress. The study reveals strategies these women use to mitigate adverse effects and suggests policy changes for better government support. Recommendations include extended parental leave, more holidays, reduced work hours, and accessible childcare. The study underscores the need for shared familial responsibilities and legislative backing to aid working mothers in managing their multifaceted roles.

Keywords:Multiple Burdens; Working Mothers; Roles; Effects; Management

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 22 February 2024. Revised: 14 June 2024. Accepted: 15 June 2024. First published: 17 June 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Chagyowen, C. A. B. (2024). Navigating Multiple Burdens among Women in Government Service. Rupkatha Journal 16:2. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.17g

Re-gendering Art: A Study of Ravi Varma’s Shakuntala Writing a Love Letter on a Lotus Leaf

Gender Studies/V16N22024

772 views

I. Vinitha Chandra
Mount Carmel College, Autonomous, Bengaluru.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.05g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract:

As a reflection of social patterns, culture is bound to change and the representations from the past distorted in the present need to be decoded to remove the staleness and fixation on various notions passed as absolute truths. This dichotomy inspires an investigation into an iconic representation of womanhood from the stature of an episode from mythological epic Mahabharata and the paintings of Shakuntala by the painter Prince Ravi Varma of erstwhile Travancore in the state of Kerala in colonial India to unravel the stories that characterized popular imagination of women in history. The theoretical framework of aesthetics in the depiction of human forms that define perceptions of gender directs this study to avail a close reading to evaluate the growth of empowerment of women within the dialectics of history and culture. ‘Ekphrasis’ studies mainly how visual arts are represented in literature and here interestingly visual art becomes the ekphrasis of the written text. A proposal of the theory of ‘elimination’, the study intends to debunk the societal gaze of the feminine form as fragile hindering the strength of character by analyzing the hidden details in art. The relevance becomes manifold in the twenty-first century as the new generation is ardently trying to break stereotypes. The limitations of binary ideas of masculine and feminine are interwoven mainly with physical characteristics. The pressure to mimic these attributes leads to the exclusion of anything beyond that idea which disturbs the balance of gender equality and justice.

Keywords: Aura, Autonomy, Apotheosis, Aesthetics, Impression.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 02 February 2024. Revised: 20 May 2024. Accepted: 21 May 2024. First published: 22 May 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Chandra, I. V. (2024). Re-gendering Art: A Study of Ravi Varma’s Shakuntala Writing a Love Letter on a Lotus Leaf. Rupkatha Journal 16:2. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.05g

Women, Markers, and Representation in Early Telugu Cinema

Gender Studies/Media Studies

547 views

K. Suneetha Rani
Professor and Head, Centre for Women’s Studies, School of Social Sciences, University of Hyderabad.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.04g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract:

The early Telugu cinema echoed the contemporary concerns and movements in the country. Most films made in Telugu in the first two decades, the 1930s and 1940s, were mythologies, historicals and devotionals. However, regardless of genre, most movies focus on the woman question. Many had women at the centre, while many movies had titles after women characters. This paper focuses on select Telugu movies from the early decades to argue that the films might have focused on the woman question and might have argued for the reform of the condition of women. Still, they remained orthodox and sometimes regressive in their idea of womanhood. Markers of a married woman whose husband is alive become more valuable than women. A respected and celebrated womanhood is almost reduced to the markers she carries. This new woman combines tradition and modernity, influenced by the reform movement but strongly pulled by tradition to evolve into a better wife. The present paper proposes to examine the portrayal of a new family woman by the Telugu Cinema of the 1930s, reiterating the traditional markers with additional interpretations. It employs feminist historiography to understand the significance of the portrayal of new women in early Telugu cinema.

Keywords: Telugu Cinema, Women Markers, Representation.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 02 February 2024. Revised: 07 May 2024. Accepted: 07 May 2024. First published: 09 May 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Rani, K. S. (2024). Women, Markers, and Representation in Early Telugu Cinema. Rupkatha Journal 16:2. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.04g

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