University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

"""Mahabharat"" on Doordarshan: The articulation of television and popular culture in India"

Mitra, Ananda

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Description

Title
"""Mahabharat"" on Doordarshan: The articulation of television and popular culture in India"
Author(s)
Mitra, Ananda
Issue Date
1992
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Hay, James
Department of Study
Speech Communication
Discipline
Speech Communication
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • Anthropology, Cultural
  • Speech Communication
  • Mass Communications
Language
eng
Abstract
  • India's state owned television system, also called Doordarshan, began transmitting from its experimental facilities in the late 50s. From then till now, television in India has changed dramatically with the introduction of commercially sponsored serialized programs, to the introduction of powerful microwave links that now bring a majority of the country under the umbrella of the National Network broadcast from New Delhi. This project takes a critical look at some of the significant stages of this development, concentrating on the cultural, political, and ideological aspects of the television system in India. This is done by using the methods of critical cultural analysis concentrating on textual and genre analysis.
  • "Among the various genres on Doordarshan serialized programs, often called ""religious soap operas"" are selected for an in-depth look. Specifically the serialization of the epic Mahabharat is examined for its textual and representational characteristics. This television program consisted of ninety three episodes, many of which are textually analyzed to find underlying ideological significance of the serial."
  • Following this analysis, a series of conclusions are drawn about the role that Doordarshan plays in re-defining and re-producing the national image of India around a Hindi speaking, Hindu male center. This is then connected with the ongoing tensions in India around questions of religion, region and language.
  • Finally, some of the other programs on Doordarshan are examined. These are the ones that contradict the hegemony of the Northern Hindi speaking Hindu leadership. In addition the role of television in the households of India is considered to understand what role the medium is playing in re-forming the popular cultural activities of the people who watch television.
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/23078
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 1992 Mitra, Ananda

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