Thesis (MDram (Drama))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this thesis is to study the themes of identity and belonging in the films of
Mira Nair. Three films form the basis of this study namely Salaam Bombay!,
Mississippi Masala and Monsoon Wedding. The approach is thematic, i.e using the
film to explore different socio-political themes of identity rather than looking at the
methodology she uses as a filmmaker.
The analysis of each of the three films looks at a particular form of identity namely
national, cultural or personal identity, and makes reference to Nair’s own comments
on the films as well as academic articles on the films, her work and issues such as
identity, nostalgia, home, belonging, marginalization, immigrants, street children and
the like, in order to interrogate Nair’s exploration of the particular ideas within these
films.
It examines the films as if it were a work of literature, and looks at how it deals with
these issues within a filmic context. What symbols does she use to show us we are
dealing with cultural identity? Which character is symbolic of the modernist
movement? Finally it examines the potential effect of these films on the society from
which they derive, and comes to some conclusions about the effect these films may
have in challenging, shaping and/or influencing ideas about nostalgia, home, identity,
and so on. The discussions of the films show that she has been superbly able to
exploit all the advantages of her chosen medium to bring her remarkable visual
inventiveness and artistry into play in order to communicate this to an international
audience and to make them think about the issues at hand. The filmmaker is finally
established not only as simply a creator of film, but ultimately as a thinker and poet. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie tesis is om die temas van identiteit en ‘n gevoel van behoort in
die films van Mira Nair te bestudeer. Drie films vorm die basis van die studie
naamlik Salaam Bombay!, Mississippi Masala en Monsoon Wedding. Die aanslag is
tematies van aard, m.a.w. dit gebruik die films om die verskillende sosio-ekonomise
temas van identiteit te identifiseer en ontleed, eerder as om die metodologie van haar
as filmmaker te bestudeer.
Die analise van elke van die drie films kyk na ‘n spesifieke vorm van identiteit,
naamlik nasionale, kulturele of persoonlike identiteit en maak verwysing na
kommentaar deur Nair haarself, sowel as akademiese artikels oor die films, haar werk
en kwessies van identiteit, nostalgie, die konsep van ‘n tuiste, ‘n gevoel van behoort,
marginalisasie, immigrante, straat kinders en dies meer. Die doel is om sodoende
Nair se idees oor identiteit binne hierdie films te bevraagteken en ontleed.
Die tesis ondersoek die films asof dit ‘n literere werk is, en neem in ag die maniere
waarop dit na hierdie kwessies kyk binne ‘n filmiese konteks. Daar word byvoorbeeld
gekyk na watter simbole sy gebruik wanneer sy verwys na kulturele identiteit. Watter
karakter is die simbool vir die modernistiese beweging, ens. Uitendelik bevraagteken
die tesis the potensiële effek van hierdie films op die omgewing en omstandighede
waaruit dit ontstaan het, en kom tot sekere gevolgtrekkings met betrekking tot die
mate waarin hierdie films kwessies van tuiste, nostalgie, identiteit ens beinvloed en/of
vorm en bevraagteken. Die besprekings dui daarop dat sy baie bevoeg is om al die
voordele van haar verkose medium tesame met haar indrukwekkende visuele
verbeelding te gebruik om aan ‘n internasionale gehoor die kwessies te kommunikeer
en hul te dwing om aktief te dink oor die kwessies aan hand. Uiteindelik word die
filmmaker Nair nie slegs as ‘n skepper van film beskryf nie, maar ook as ‘n denker en
digter.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4316 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Van Lill, Hilda |
| Contributors | Hauptfleisch, Temple, University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Drama. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 142 p. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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