Bollywood Cinema is recognised as the most vibrant form of cultural media in India, one whose influence now extends to many parts of the world. By studying the content and meaning of selected Bollywood films, this module will introduce students to key social, economic, political and cultural issues in India, and explore important concepts in the humanities and social sciences such as nationalism, gender and sexuality, diaspora and globalisation.
Students will be provided with the necessary skills to analyse important social and political developments in India and its diaspora through the study of the historical growth and development of Bollywood Cinema, and the content and meaning of carefully selected films.
The course will facilitate the development of a nuanced understanding of how Bollywood cinema is shaped by the wider social environment, and the effect that these films have on audiences.
Through interpreting Bollywood films, students will gain a general introductory understanding of Indian culture and society, and of key contemporary social scientific concepts.