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Showing posts from January, 2010

Online Diary

I have been browsing the web for at least 7 years now, yet I had failed to discover this thing called the online diary. My blog for me worked both as a space where I would learn writing, think and also put out intensely personal thoughts. Good for me, I finally did discover the online dairy and have one now. Its a place where one can write out affirmations. And affirmations are what I need to write up my PhD dissertation. An online diary can be made public or kept private: it is entirely up to keeper. I was weary of the version of self-hood found all over the web...very declarative, sure, excessive with self-analysis, and lots of hullabaloo about what I have on my mind, what music and mood I am into and so on. It was all about putting into one smart, cheeky line what you go through from one day to another. With friends and acquaintances all knowing everything about you, vulnerability is the only word I can think of and it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. As if one was not vulner

Stereotype terror indeed!

By: Sushumna Kannan Date: 2010-01-11 Place: Bangalore It's funny how The West looked at The East once upon a time, but things have changed, or have they? Sushumna Kannan questions the stereotypes of India in western media Star Movies, as part of what it called "Diwali Extravaganza" showed the four Indiana Jones movies this Diwali. To put it simply, I was taken aback. One of the four of the Indiana Jones movies Indians Jones and the Temple of Doom is set in India. The film was made in 1984 and effectively shaped much of Americans' beliefs about India throughout the 80s. Young Americans believed that India was indeed a place where monkey brains made dinner and eye-balls were to be found in soup. Tourists hesitated from visiting India. Diaspora Indians all over the world have been traumatized by the representations of India in this movie and are tired of answering anxious questions posed by their closest friends and colleagues. Yes, this is indeed the scene. And