851-0101-18L "Bollywood and Beyond" - A Cultural History of Indian Cinema in the 20th Century

Abstract	The Indian film industry has been around for 100 years and is one of the richest and miost variegated of the world. The lecture reconstructs the historical development of Indian cinema and uses it as a lens through which cultural, social and political change in the subcontinent can be explored.
Objective	The objectives of this course are three-fold. For one, the participants shall learn to question aesthetic cetainties and received modes of perception of cinematographic art. Secondly they will be acquainted with the huge potential of films as a historical source to grasp processes of social and cultural change. Besides, the reconstruction of the international career of a specific variety of art and entertainment will also raise important questions of cultural globalisation and consumerism. As a side-effect, a sit were, the students will will also be provided with important insights into the chequered history of the Indian subcontinent in during the course of the 20th century.
Literature	Zur Einführung: DWYER, Rachel, 'Bollywood's India: Hindi Cinema as a Guide to Modern India', Asian Affairs, 41 (3), 2010, pp. 381-98. VIRDIK, Jyotika, The Cinematic Imagination: Indian Popular Film as Social History, New Brunswick, NJ and London: Rutgers University Press, 2003.
Prerequisites / Notice	A detailed course description and session plan will be available from 15 Sept 2013 onwards at http://www.gmw.ethz.ch/education