The above course has Arts and Humanities, Culture Studies A
distribution.

Mandir (temple), masjid (mosque), and for that matter church make
frequent appearances in South Asian cinema, sometimes for surprising
reasons.  In this course we will consider the meaning of religion in
South Asia using film as our lens to explore what John Booth calls
the "ambiguity of the sacred-secular distinction in Indian
culture."  We will begin by reading and discussing two chapters on
how scholars "read" film, with a bit of practice in class before our
first film screening.  The Lyden textbook will provide us with our
theoretical background.

Each week we will watch and discuss, in detail, one film.  Our broad
topics include partition, gender, myth, fundamentalism, and the
diaspora.  We will come to know a range of views on religion and its
role in the lives of South Asians through film produced in India,
Bangladesh and Pakistan, and our reading of critical articles for
each film.  The films include mythologicals, social commentary, and
Bollywood blockbusters, all of which have a great deal to tell us
about religion in South Asia.  No prerequisites, and prior knowledge
of South Asia, while helpful, is not expected.