(Re)producing borders and bodies: masculinity and nationalism in Indian cultural texts

Abstract

The cultural production of masculinity has been tied to nationalism throughout mass media history. The male body – and all of its nationalistic inscriptions – has long been a source of popular consumption for audiences and profit for cultural producers. But in an increasingly globalized media structure, where transnational conglomerates dominate – directly or indirectly – in different corners of the world, masculinity – and the nationalistic ideals that are cultivated through the male body – is becoming increasingly borderless and exchangeable. A political economy approach helps to explain systems of media and cultural ownership that have been responsible for creating the images of masculinity, and how these images are inextricably linked with the paradox of nationalism in an era of global capitalism. Using examples from India, this essay sketches out a path for political economy scholars to examine masculinity and nationalism – long considered domains of cultural studies – and tie them with global media ownership.

Keywords:

• political economy
• globalization
• cultural production
• masculinity
• nationalism
• India

Notes on contributors

Murali Balaji, Ph.D., is the director of education and curriculum reform at the Hindu American Foundation. His research focuses on political economy, particularly the cultural production of identity. He is the author of The Professor and the Pupil (2007) and has edited seminal anthologies such as Desi Rap, Global Masculinities and Manhood, and Thinking Dead.

Khadeem Hughson is an alumnus of Lincoln University, the oldest historically black college in the USA. His research focuses on critical race theory.

Notes

1. Kapoor was Khan's romantic partner at the time of the film's release.