This article tries to explore theories in International relations through the lens of popular culture. The article shows how popular culture becomes a test-ground for these theories and helps in understanding the real world better through Netflix’s House of Cards.
Craft communities in India usually exist in close knit clusters by virtue of which they have strong traditional knowledge systems. The older craftsmen have relied on these knowledge systems to pass down their knowledge and expertise in the craft to the younger generations. One such craft pocket is the hand block printed textiles in the towns of Jaipur district, namely Bagru and Sanganer.
In this commentary, we are underlining the sustenance of handicrafts as a traditional art form in Jaipur, and how it has evolved with global dynamics. We also explore the significance of this artform to preserve identity—at the individual and community levels. We conclude by highlighting the scope of the Jaipur bloc as a pioneering entity to spearhead collectivization practices, which women, in several capacities, have used to maneuver social, political, and economic agency.
On the resilience of CHWs during COVID response and the recent strategy of GOI to combat the 2nd wave of COVID-19 in rural areas.
This article aims to explore the idea of aesthetics in International Relations. It seeks to find an answer to explain the dominance of Western aesthetics in contemporary discourses through colonialism and highlights the all-pervasiveness of this aesthetic even in non-western contexts.
Frances McDormand’s acceptance speech at the 2018 Academy Awards left the world puzzled about her closing lines –“I have two words to leave you with ladies and gentlemen, Inclusion Rider.” On the further understanding of what an inclusion rider is, the discourse around how the film industry could be modelled into a fair and safe space to include those sections of the demography that were previously ignored or discriminated against. Inclusion rider presented as a solution to Hollywood’s diversity problem, and the effect of a legal or contractual agreement to consciously induce a set level of diversity among the cast and crew members on production.
Religion as we used to know has ceased to exist. Today, temples have gained enough power to influence key economic decisions in our country. The rise of the temple economy has thrown a dark shadow over the rest of our economy- why and how has this happened? And what are the consequences of this intermingling?
In this article, Vanshika Mittal talks about how nationalism determines (anti)consumption patterns in India. She shows how consumers inherently believe that they are being environmentally conscious when their consumption is motivated by nationalist ideologies. Ironically, not only is that not always the case but such (anti)consumption also results in other disputes.
This article explores the following questions with respect to the ongoing discourse around cancel culture especially the JK Rowling incident– how do you reconcile the tension that ethical consumption has with censorship? Perhaps even more urgently, what do we mean by ethical consumption and what does it exactly do to us?
Much of the history of Jammu and Kashmir has been written from the lens of ongoing territorial conflict between the nations of India and Pakistan. Within such a narrative a complex story of the Princely past of the state gets lost and we tend to forget the territorial limits of Indian nationalism as it existed. The book titled ‘Hindu Rulers, Muslim Subjects’ by Dr. Mridu Rai sheds light on this important aspect of Jammu and Kashmir’s history.
This article analyses the need for ‘irretrievable breakdown of marriage’ as a no-fault principle to grant divorce by deviating from the age-old fault-theory. It also discusses the jurisprudence of this principle laid down by the Supreme Court.
TW: This article talks about graphic caste and gender based violence and has mentions of rape.
Disclaimer: This piece is written in the aftermath of the harrowing Hathras incident, details of which remain etched in our memories. Rest in Peace, Manisha. The fight for justice will go on.
NICKELED AND DIMED 