MDES UN3644 Visual Cultures of Modern South Asia

D. Mukherjee

 This lecture course introduces students to the power and meaning of popular visual culture. Using South Asia as our primary site, we will examine visual culture as a crucial arena for the enactment of social transformations and the creation of collective imaginaries. We will track modern media types such as calendar art, photography, film, architecture, clothing, and religious festivals, loosely following key chronological signposts in the shared histories of the subcontinent. Together, we will practice a new way of understanding history and society – a visual way that will make us aware of the diversity of hopes, fears, and dreams that comprise South Asia. Designed for students with a basic understanding of South Asian history, the course aims to familiarize you with key methodological approaches in visual culture studies and current debates in South Asian art history and media theory.