Religion 280 - SOUTH ASIAN VISUAL CULTURE

How does one make sense of what one sees in South Asia? What is the visual logic behind the production and consumption of images, advertising, and film? This course considers the visual world of South Asia, focusing in particular on the religious dimensions of visuality. Topics include the divine gaze in Hindu and Buddhist contexts, the role of god-posters in religious ritual and political struggle, the printed image as contested site for visualizing the nation, and the social significance of clothing as well as commercial films.