Sixteenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

The term globalization brings to mind the conflict of hybridization and homogenization, exclusion and inclusion, global and local. And what should be the concept of nationalism? As a critique of nationalism, post-nationalism rejects the idea of nation as the central organizing principle. It also calls into question the concept of identity by looking beyond the idea of nation as a homogenous collective. In fact post-national as a discourse implies going beyond, transcending and escaping the boundaries of master-discourses such as nationalism that presupposes nation as a monolithic structure that does not allow space for plurality. Indian cinema has responded to globalization in its own way. Instead of telling stories carrying lofty ideas and ideals today’s cinema has shifted its tone and texture in alignment with everyday experience of individuals who are struggling with day-to-day realities. “Newton” (2017) depicts a young man’s struggle to accomplish his responsibilities/duty despite the odds. “Hindi Medium” (2017) too depicts the everyday reality of India where people are busy bettering their life according to the needs of globalization, i.e. attaining fluency in English which is a status symbol not only in India but in the entire third world. “Dangal” shows the struggle of a man against the realities of his ambition, expectations, and traditions. Other examples are “Pad Man,” “Bareilly Ki Barfi,” “Toilet Ek Prem Katha,” etc. This paper critically looks at how globalization and post-nationalism work in the realities of today exploring the concepts through literature and beyond.