Representing Identity In Cinema: The Case Of Selected Independent Films Of Bangladesh
In the contemporary post-colonial, globalised and post-9/11 era, the question of national identity has emerged as a significant one. This explorative study tends to examine how the Bengali Muslim identity i.e. the national identity of Bangladesh, is represented in selected independent films....
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2010
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.usm.my/43013/1/Md._Fahmidul_Hoque24.pdf |
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| Summary: | In the contemporary post-colonial, globalised and post-9/11 era, the question of national
identity has emerged as a significant one. This explorative study tends to examine how the
Bengali Muslim identity i.e. the national identity of Bangladesh, is represented in selected
independent films. The key objective of the study is to examine how national identity is
represented in selected independent films made by four leading independent filmmakers –
Abu Sayeed, Tanvir Mokammel, Morshedul Islam and Tareque Masud. Theoretical
applications of national identity by Earnest Gellner, Benedict Anderson, Arjun Appadurai,
Homi K Bhabha and Stuart Hall and the notion of representation by Stuart Hall are
instructive here in guiding this study. For textual analysis of selected films, film narratology
derived from the theory of Narrative Discourse by Gerard Gennette has been applied. Also
the idea of cultural institution is used to relate to the topic to the larger cultural, historical
and societal aspects. The method of the study is qualitative and the measures of the study are
in-depth interviews and analyses of film texts. The analyses find the independent filmmakers
of Bangladesh try to depict Bengaliness, the ethno-linguistic identity approach, as the
preferred identity approach of Bengali Muslims and portray Muslimness, the religious
identity and popular religion identity approach, as the ‘other’ identity. The findings also
suggest that to sustain the ethnic and cultural elements of Bengaliness on the screen,
directors do not hesitate to orientalise themselves to the interests of the global audience. The
study finds independent cinema of Bangladesh as an influential cultural institution in
portraying national identity. This study contributes to the understanding of the identity
debate and diversity prevailing in the society. This, in turn, it helps resolving discussion on
contesting of identity approaches and contributes to the development of society, polity and
nationhood as well as generate new knowledge in Asian cinema and national cinema within
the global discipline of cinema studies. |
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