Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ShakespeareIndia (Shakespeare and Indian Cinematic Traditions)
Période du rapport: 2018-09-01 au 2020-08-31
The fellowship makes an original and timely contribution to critical debate in global Shakespeare studies, mainly regarding the particular utility of Shakespeare for addressing gendered preoccupations on the Indian screen. All these films make us think anew about Shakespeare.
Formal objectives of this Marie Skłodowska Curie Action (MSCA) have been to (a) To establish a database of the hundreds of Shakespeare films in India, including films that adapt major Shakespearean plays or substantially cite Shakespearean plays. The objective was to assemble a comprehensive and representative list of examples that reflects the depth and diversity of the place of Shakespeare in Indian cinematic traditions.; (b) To devise new methodologies and terminologies for the study of Shakespeare and Indian cinematic traditions which would encourage discussion of a fuller range of examples and explicit reflection on the place of region, diversity, locality and gender inside national engagements; (c) To identify the chief characteristics of Indian cinematic Shakespeares, not simply in ‘Bollywood’ but across the spectrum of Indian film industries; d) To produce academic outputs jointly reflective of shared research priorities: a journal article and a co-edited volume; e) To support involvement in film and intercultural theatre production practice that sits alongside the acquisition and demonstration of academic knowledge; f) To publically disseminate the fellowship findings: these would take the form of a public-facing workshop/film festival, three public- facing lectures and an exhibition at Belfast’s oldest public library, the Linen Hall; g) To launch a project website allowing for optimum accessibility and traffic.
Results of this MSCA are reported in: (1) published and forthcoming papers on the role of Shakespeare in Indian cinemas 2) chapters of books and an co-edited collection on the centrality of women not only as subjects of representation but also as filmmakers and creative practitioners on the Indian screen, which highlights the particular utility of Shakespeare for addressing gendered preoccupations in Indian cinemas. The fellowship, then, has produced original research while generating local and international impact and supporting the career development and mobility of the experienced researcher.
The data sets collected during this MSCA will inform and enhance a great number of publications in the coming years, in addition to the ones produced and published during the fellowship itself.
Impacts anticipated from the MSCA are increased and improved: This fellowship has a) significantly enriched, expanded and complicated RGP’s understanding of the range and diversity of Shakespeare and Indian cinematic traditions b) situated her as the leading researcher in Europe in the field c) has deepened and developed her knowledge in relation to global Shakespeare studies and adaptation studies d) granted her previously unavailable practical and practice-based experience via the two secondments e) substantially raised her research international profile and her research networks f) created collaborative opportunities for RGP in non-academic sectors – the arts, archives, libraries and film and theatre organizations. Consequently, RGP has become an embedded and rounded researcher. This MSCA is intended to broaden career prospects, and it definitely has. The Fellow chose to return to her home university, where, thanks to MSCA, has become a Senior Lecturer.