I selected my topic due to my keen interest in examining Hollywood’s influence on global issues. Over the years, numerous movies, television shows, and events have wielded significant influence on matters such as misrepresentation and racism. These factors have played a pivotal role in shaping my choice of topics.
Since childhood, I’ve observed Hollywood’s inaccurate portrayal of Indians—an exaggerated depiction that fails to capture the essence of Indian culture and identity. My aim is to highlight the perpetuation of stereotypes regarding India, intending to explore these representations through various lenses including clothing, cultural depictions, and city landscapes.
I want to show Indian culture through my eyes, influenced by the glaze of Hollywood’s impact on me. Therefore, my 18 pictures depict how India has been altered by the effects of Hollywood and Westernized society.
Moreover, my objective was to try to link this exploration to the principles of social justice and equity, emphasizing the importance of providing accurate and inclusive representation for all cultures.
I mainly researched using the readings provided I also had used online sources such as articles and websites to help build my understanding on the misrepresentation of Indians in Hollywood for example I had used the websites such as the “The Medium”, “The Blaze”, “Filmmaker fans”, “Hindudvesha” and “opinion juris” to build my understanding on what has changed in Indian cinema, what are the misrepresentation we regularly see and why India is seen as “Poor” country.
I had also used academic sources such as Stuart Hall’s encoding and decoding theory inspired my choice of photos and pitch. He emphasizes that the lack of clarity in media messages is not always determined by the sender. There’s a gap between what’s meant (encoding) and understood (decoding), causing interpretation differences rooted in semiotics and potential misrepresentation. I can therefore demonstrate how different perspectives about Indians result in Hollywood’s misrepresentation of them.
Traditionally, mainstream media has dictated cultural and political narratives which has influenced public opinions. However, the rise of new media introduced concepts like encoding and decoding, empowering individuals to become producers of information. I use this as a reference to help me understand how western media uses the media to push stereotypes, misrepresentation, and inequalities on the Indian culture.
Lastly, to get a personalized view I had used blogs from Kav Lakshmi, and an article from Diyva Kumar to help guide me in explain how women are protaryed in cinema along with the affects of rasicm towards Indians
My images comprise a mix of photos I’ve taken myself, and some sourced from the internet. I’ve incorporated pictures from my own experiences in India, aiming to portray my perspective while also reflecting on the influence of Hollywood’s perception on individuals like me—an Indian.
Alongside my personal photos, I’ve included images from articles detailing changes in Indian clothing styles, cultural greetings, the appropriation of the Taj Mahal in cultural discourse, portrayals of women as oppressed, and the normalization of early marriages.
Through this blend of images, I hope to convey the complexity of India’s cultural representation and the impact of Hollywood’s lens on shaping perceptions.
Most of my pictures aim to illustrate the inaccuracies of misrepresentation. For instance, I’ve highlighted the transition of women from equals to the oppressed, emphasizing that prior to colonization, women were not discriminated against based on gender. They enjoyed rights such as access to education and property. However, the effects of colonization have drastically altered this dynamic.
Reflection:
Through my exploration of creating a visual essay, I’ve come to understand the importance of aesthetic appeal in effectively conveying a message. I’ve learned that presenting information in a visually pleasing manner can significantly enhance its impact.
With this in mind, simplicity has been key in my approach. By keeping the design elements straightforward and uncluttered, I’ve aimed to facilitate ease of understanding for the viewer. This simplicity enhances visual appeal and ensures that the message is clear and easily digestible.
I’ve paid particular attention to the arrangement of images and text. Each component has been carefully placed to create a seamless flow of information, allowing viewers to absorb the content at a glance. By striking a balance between imagery and text, I’ve sought to maintain engagement while providing context and depth to the narrative.
The essay mirrors my values, aiming to spotlight the inaccurate portrayal of Indians in Hollywood. I strongly believe that the repercussions of colonization have significantly shaped global perceptions. Through my research, I’ve gained a newfound understanding that regardless of a person of color’s achievements, they are often perceived as oppressed due to the effects of colonization. This realization drove me to curate a series of images highlighting the misrepresentation of India.
By showcasing these images, I seek to challenge and dismantle stereotypes perpetuated by mainstream media. It’s essential to foster a more nuanced and authentic understanding of Indian culture and identity.
Studying how Hollywood portrays Indians has been eye-opening. I’ve realized how much images can affect how people view social justice issues. It’s been really interesting to see how stereotypes are formed and how they can be challenged. I’m looking forward to continuing to learn and speak up for accurate representation in media.
Visual Essay
Reference For Reflection and Research Essay:
Moody, N.M. (2022). The Hollywood Reporter’s Sustainability Issue: Creating Hollywood’s Greener Future. The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/thr-sustainability-issue-2022-1235157885/ (Accessed 24 March 2024).
HR Alchemy. (2018). Simplicity is key, https://ralchemy.co.uk/simplicity-is-key/ (Accessed 24 Mar. 2024).
Cohn, B. (2013a) Old-media values in new-media venues, The Atlantic. Available at: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/10/old-media-values-in-new-media-venues/280367/ (Accessed: 24 March 2024).
dinosossi (2018). Translating Media Messages–Stuart Hall’s Encoding/Decoding. Dino sossi. https://dinosossi.wordpress.com/2018/04/01/translating-media-messages-stuart-halls-encoding-decoding/ (Accessed 24 March 2024).
Hall, S. (1980). “Encoding/Decoding in Television Discourse”
Mahlouly, D. (2013). Rethinking the Public Sphere in a Digital Environment: Similarities between the Eighteenth and the Twenty-First Centuries. eSharp, 20, 1. [6]
Shareef, F. (2016) Western influence on Bollywood, Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/@fshareef345/western-influence-on-bollywood-b293580045ba#:~:text=Western%20trends%20such%20as%20%E2%80%9CRock,sex%20and%20glamour%20of%20Hollywood. (Accessed: 19 March 2024).
Roy, B. (2022). Women’s Empowerment in India, from Ancient Period to Modern Time period. Times of India Blog. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/scatteredthoughts/womens-empowerment-in-india-from-ancient-period-to-modern-time-period-46689/. (Accessed : 19 March 2024)
Kumar, D. (n.d.). Dear Brown Girl: Proximity-To-Whiteness Does Not Make You White. [online] EmbraceRace. Available at: https://www.embracerace.org/resources/dear-brown-girl-proximity-to-whiteness-does-not-make-you-white (Accessed 19 March 2024).
Lakshmi, K. (2019b). Colorism in Bollywood and Hollywood. Brown Girl Magazine. https://browngirlmagazine.com/colorism-bollywood-hollywood/ (Accessed 19 March 2024).
Tirumala, L.N. (n.d.). Bollywood Movies and Identity Construction Amongst Second Generation Indian Americans. Bollywood Movies and Identity Construction Amongst Second Generation Indian Americans, p.27. https://www.academia.edu/8048411/Bollywood_Movies_and_Identity_Construction_Amongst_Second_Generation_Indian_Americans (Accessed 19 March 2024).
Iyer, R. (2023). Stuck in Stereotypes: Indian Misrepresentation in Media. THE BLAZE. https://theblazerrhs.com/6740/showcase/stuck-in-stereotypes-indian-misrepresentation-in-media/ (Accessed 19 March 2024).
Anashwara (2015b). Why the Hollywood directors portray India as India as a low, rural country? Filmmakers Fans. http://filmmakersfans.com/why-the-hollywood-directors-portray-india-as-india-as-a-low-rural-country/ (Accessed 19 March 2024)
Balda, P. (2023). Deconstructing Hollywood’s Misrepresentation of Hindus – Hindu Dvesha. hindudvesha.org. https://hindudvesha.org/deconstructing-hollywoods-misrepresentation-of-hindus/ (Accessed 19 March 2024).
Imran, M. (2022). Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India – The Portrayal of British Colonialism in India Cinema. Opinio Juris, https://opiniojuris.org/2022/10/29/lagaan-once-upon-a-time-in-india-the-portrayal-of-british-colonialism-in-india-cinema/ (Accessed 19 March 2024).
Reference list for Visual Essay:
Anwar, Y. (2015) Stereotypes persist that class and privilege determine intellect and success, Berkeley. https://news.berkeley.edu/2015/03/31/caste-stereotypes (Accessed: 19 March 2024).
Arora, M. and Suri, M. (2017) Why the taj mahal is at the center of India’s cultural wars, CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/18/asia/taj-mahal-india-cultural-wars/index.html (Accessed: 19 March 2024).
Barajas, J. (2020) Joined Palms, hands on hearts, Vulcan salutes: Saying hello in a no-handshake era, Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-13/coronavirus-namaste-greetings-handshakes-noncontact (Accessed: 19 March 2024).
Shah, D. (no date) Tailoring the blouse: The history and the evolution of Blouse in India, AIMS Exhibition, https://aims.vmis.in/exhibition/exhibition/a-garment-of-history-the-blouse-and-its-evolution-in-india-2/ (Accessed: 19 March 2024).
Barajas, J. (2020) Joined Palms, hands on hearts, Vulcan salutes: Saying hello in a no-handshake era, Los Angeles Times, https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-13/coronavirus-namaste-greetings-handshakes-noncontact (Accessed: 19 March 2024).
Sia Bhalla Blogs 