The first paper is “Negotiating Romantic Love in India: Family, Public Space, and Popular Cinema” by Meghna Bohidar (University of Delhi) #IASPR18
Methodology: Interviews with couples aged 20-30yrs on their lived experiences in the city and ideas of romance based on popular cinema. Many considered cinema of the 90s as the ideal romantic movies. #IASPR18
Meghna flashes some of the movie titles from 90s Hindi cinema. Themes of eloping couples, Romeo & Juliet tropes. In the 90s the movies became accessible to the diaspora. Movies set in global locations. #IASPR18
Female participants considered Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge (Braveheart Will Take the Bride) as the ideal romantic movie. Hero was not motivated by lust, respected the role of family and parents. Convincing family "takes courage and shows true love". #IASPR18
For the couples, navigating relationships in public spaces wasn't so much about avoiding parental scrutiny, but the ability to be anonymous when displaying affection in public. #IASPR18
In cinema, unreal spaces and collective fantasies (eg dream sequence) would be used to present transgressive ideas. 90s cinema incorporated new elements: melodrama of song/dance, cutover to foreign landscapes, commodification of traditional family values (palatial homes) #IASPR18
Streets were represented in 90s song and dance sequences, but they were sanitised. PDAs portrayed as fantasy - eg Kisi Disco Mein Jaaye (Let's go to a discotheque) in which the couple searches for places to display love. #IASPR18
"Gaps in reel and real landscapes" - Real life PDAs difficult due to paranoia around public scrutiny and potential ramifications (eg violence). #IASPR18
Couples see the reaction against PDAs as right-wing, anti-modern. But there grey areas. Some see it as lying to parents, driven by lust, not aligned to Indian values. #IASPR18
Interesting to hear quotes from Meghna's interviews and disconnect between what the couples said and the cultural reality. Class-endogamy disguised as "taste". Love remains rooted in habitus even though the couples position these as preferences, practicalities. #IASPR18
Interesting disparities between responses from upper middle class couples vs lower middle class couples. Certain behaviours regarding as "tacky". #IASPR18
I should add: Meghna's public city space focuses on Marine Drive. #IASPR18
Consumption-based romance preference for upper middle class couples. Lower middle class couples less so - they talk about settings that are more natural, eating street food, etc. #IASPR18
We're next! #IASPR18
Here's the thread of our presentation. Thank you @jen_hallock! #IASPR18
And I should probably link to this just to round out the thread. :D #IASPR18
