Ramaswami Harindranath
Biographic Data
| ID | 269958 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Ramaswami Harindranath |
| GIVEN NAMES | Ramaswami |
| FAMILY NAME | Harindranath |
| SIGNATURE | HARINDRANATH R |
| AFFILIATIONS | The University of Melbourne |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3781-3948 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 19 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 36 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 18 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2023 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Beyond concepts as tokens
In this article we want to question the adequacy of existing concepts and frameworks for understanding experiences with digital technologies in the Global South. First, we describe how concepts acquire value, positioning them within geographical, epistemic, and political realities. Second, we ask about the pertinence of these concepts in describing subaltern practices in the digital world. Third, we identify an urgent need to go beyond digital-ce…
WhatsApp as 'technology of life'
In this paper, we present a few ethnographic vignettes on the use of WhatsApp from a study in Mexico City. We suggest WhatsApp is a paradigmatic example of how a particular technology becomes an infrastructure to sustain, and therefore shape, a wide range of quotidian activities, from personal to economic, from spiritual to political. WhatsApp exemplifies what we call technologies of life, as such technologies mediate almost all aspects of social…
Malign images, malevolent networks
This chapter outlines the present conjuncture of online radicalisation and the consequences of the efforts to counter that, within the context of present concerns regarding the rise of terrorist violence. Contemporary anxieties regarding social media images, radicalisation, 'home-grown' terror and the ways in which attempts to counter them have, in turn, raised levels of insecurity among minorities of colour. As US and European governments have f…
Unsettling India
The verb to “unsettle” carries several, subtly different, meanings – to discompose or disturb, to perplex or confound, to agitate or unbalance. It could be said that Purnima Mankekar’s latest book
The Indian Public Sphere
This article traces the complexities inherent in the formation of the public sphere in India and how this can be seen as impinging on specific kinds of media discourses. After highlighting a few of the apparent contradictions in the Indian public sphere, the article builds on the insights offered by Partha Chatterjee, Kuan-Hsing Chen and Walter Mignolo to argue the case for the need to reconceptualise the concept of the public sphere in order to …
The view from the Global South
Civil Society Movements and the ‘Twittering Classes’ in the Postcolony
Using Partha Chatterjee's insights on the formation of 'civil society' and how this is distinct from 'political society', this paper theorises the mobilisation of popular support via social media during the so-called 'anti-corruption movement' in India in 2011. It tracks the main themes of the civil society-led movement's Twitter feeds during two crucial phases of fasting by its self-proclaimed Gandhian leader, Anna Hazare. This highlights the mi…
The Cultural Politics of Metropolitan and Vernacular Lifestyles in India
Using English-language and Tamil cookery shows on Indian television as examples, this article examines the complex cultural terrain traversed by contemporary Indian lifestyle TV, and argues that the gastro-politics inherent in such programming is indicative of the ways in which such shows appeal to and develop diverse social imaginaries in a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multicultural society such as India. The article argues that these shows both…
Diasporas in the New Media Age
Performing terror, anti-terror, and public affect
This essay contends that there is a need for a new conceptual framework in order to analyse the interconnections between three different discourses on global and local terrorism: acts of terror; state mobilizations of anti-terror policy and rhetoric; and thirdly, public affect, which manifests expressions among others of insecurity, suspicion of religious and ethnic Others, and national allegiance.Often the interactions between these three domain…
A decade on
Translating Tradition
This essay argues that the recent academic interest in diaspora, the media and the research that it has engendered have provided unique insights into the media’s role in the creation and maintenance of an alternative public sphere. Despite this however, the difficulties in defining ‘diaspora’ as a concept, and the attempts, by both academics and diasporic cultural elites, to propose a degree of homogeneity within diaspora communities undermines t…
Mediated Terrorism and Democracy in India
In a recent essay in The Age newspaper,1 John Roskam accused Judith Brett of denying the existence of the threat of terrorism in Australia, and of erecting an entire edifice of ‘left-leaning’ thoug
Audience—Citizens
Introduction: Media Audiences, Public Knowledge, and Democracy Introduction: Media Audiences, Public Knowledge and Democracy Audiences and Socio-cultural Contexts Understanding 'Understanding': The Hermeneutics of Audience Reception Exploring 'Context' Documentary Meanings and Public Knowledge Methodological Reflections on 'Cross-cultural' Audience Research Non-fiction and Audience Evaluations Ethnicity, Multiculturalism and Interpretive Practice…
Transnational Lives and the Media
This collection offers a comprehensive account of the relation between diaspora and media cultures. It analyses the politics of transnational communication, the consumption of media by diasporic commu
Transnational lives and the media
This collection is a timely and exciting attempt to understand recent changes in the relations between diaspora and media cultures. At its heart is the recognition that contemporary diasporas present us with profound transformation, with a shift from the traditional political formations and identities characterising diasporic communities, to ways in which communities learn to engage with the new 'Other'
Ethnic minorities, cultural difference and the cultural politics of communication
This paper examines the question of cultural difference in debates of multiculturalism and the related issue of shared values and rights that transcend cultural difference, both in terms of multicultural citizenship within specific nations as well more universally. We argue that alternative media produced in multi-ethnic public sphericules is potentially productive as a space of cultural expression enabling a dialogue across and within cultures b…
Perspectives on Global Cultures
Introduction Section 1: Exploring the terrain: key themes and debates One global culture or many? The cultural politics of 'difference' Subalternity and representation Section 2. Debating imperialism/nationalism National(ist) media discourse Multicultural media and identities Indigenous politics and representation Tracing the transnational/cosmopolitan 'Third Cinema' and the cross-over film Debates on the diaspora New technologies - transcending …
Theorising narratives of exile and belonging
The article explores the use and importance of taking a biographical approach to conducting participatory action research (PAR) with asylum seekers and refugees in order to: better understand lived experiences of exile and belonging; contribute to the important field of Biographical Sociology; provide a safe space for stories to be told; and in turn for these stories to feed in to policy and praxis. The authors’ combined work on the asylum-migrat…
Theorising narratives of exile and belonging
The article explores the use and importance of taking a biographical approach to conducting participatory action research (PAR) with asylum seekers and refugees in order to: better understand lived experiences of exile and belonging; contribute to the important field of Biographical Sociology; provide a safe space for stories to be told; and in turn for these stories to feed in to policy and praxis. The authors’ combined work on the asylum-migrat…
Civil Society Movements and the ‘Twittering Classes’ in the Postcolony
Using Partha Chatterjee's insights on the formation of 'civil society' and how this is distinct from 'political society', this paper theorises the mobilisation of popular support via social media during the so-called 'anti-corruption movement' in India in 2011. It tracks the main themes of the civil society-led movement's Twitter feeds during two crucial phases of fasting by its self-proclaimed Gandhian leader, Anna Hazare. This highlights the mi…
Audience—Citizens
Introduction: Media Audiences, Public Knowledge, and Democracy Introduction: Media Audiences, Public Knowledge and Democracy Audiences and Socio-cultural Contexts Understanding 'Understanding': The Hermeneutics of Audience Reception Exploring 'Context' Documentary Meanings and Public Knowledge Methodological Reflections on 'Cross-cultural' Audience Research Non-fiction and Audience Evaluations Ethnicity, Multiculturalism and Interpretive Practice…
Ethnic minorities, cultural difference and the cultural politics of communication
This paper examines the question of cultural difference in debates of multiculturalism and the related issue of shared values and rights that transcend cultural difference, both in terms of multicultural citizenship within specific nations as well more universally. We argue that alternative media produced in multi-ethnic public sphericules is potentially productive as a space of cultural expression enabling a dialogue across and within cultures b…
Diasporas in the New Media Age
Performing terror, anti-terror, and public affect
This essay contends that there is a need for a new conceptual framework in order to analyse the interconnections between three different discourses on global and local terrorism: acts of terror; state mobilizations of anti-terror policy and rhetoric; and thirdly, public affect, which manifests expressions among others of insecurity, suspicion of religious and ethnic Others, and national allegiance.Often the interactions between these three domain…
Unsettling India
The verb to “unsettle” carries several, subtly different, meanings – to discompose or disturb, to perplex or confound, to agitate or unbalance. It could be said that Purnima Mankekar’s latest book
Beyond concepts as tokens
In this article we want to question the adequacy of existing concepts and frameworks for understanding experiences with digital technologies in the Global South. First, we describe how concepts acquire value, positioning them within geographical, epistemic, and political realities. Second, we ask about the pertinence of these concepts in describing subaltern practices in the digital world. Third, we identify an urgent need to go beyond digital-ce…
The Cultural Politics of Metropolitan and Vernacular Lifestyles in India
Using English-language and Tamil cookery shows on Indian television as examples, this article examines the complex cultural terrain traversed by contemporary Indian lifestyle TV, and argues that the gastro-politics inherent in such programming is indicative of the ways in which such shows appeal to and develop diverse social imaginaries in a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multicultural society such as India. The article argues that these shows both…
Perspectives on Global Cultures
Introduction Section 1: Exploring the terrain: key themes and debates One global culture or many? The cultural politics of 'difference' Subalternity and representation Section 2. Debating imperialism/nationalism National(ist) media discourse Multicultural media and identities Indigenous politics and representation Tracing the transnational/cosmopolitan 'Third Cinema' and the cross-over film Debates on the diaspora New technologies - transcending …
Theorising narratives of exile and belonging
The article explores the use and importance of taking a biographical approach to conducting participatory action research (PAR) with asylum seekers and refugees in order to: better understand lived experiences of exile and belonging; contribute to the important field of Biographical Sociology; provide a safe space for stories to be told; and in turn for these stories to feed in to policy and praxis. The authors’ combined work on the asylum-migrat…
Transnational Lives and the Media
This collection offers a comprehensive account of the relation between diaspora and media cultures. It analyses the politics of transnational communication, the consumption of media by diasporic commu
Transnational lives and the media
This collection is a timely and exciting attempt to understand recent changes in the relations between diaspora and media cultures. At its heart is the recognition that contemporary diasporas present us with profound transformation, with a shift from the traditional political formations and identities characterising diasporic communities, to ways in which communities learn to engage with the new 'Other'
Ethnic minorities, cultural difference and the cultural politics of communication
This paper examines the question of cultural difference in debates of multiculturalism and the related issue of shared values and rights that transcend cultural difference, both in terms of multicultural citizenship within specific nations as well more universally. We argue that alternative media produced in multi-ethnic public sphericules is potentially productive as a space of cultural expression enabling a dialogue across and within cultures b…
Translating Tradition
This essay argues that the recent academic interest in diaspora, the media and the research that it has engendered have provided unique insights into the media’s role in the creation and maintenance of an alternative public sphere. Despite this however, the difficulties in defining ‘diaspora’ as a concept, and the attempts, by both academics and diasporic cultural elites, to propose a degree of homogeneity within diaspora communities undermines t…
Mediated Terrorism and Democracy in India
In a recent essay in The Age newspaper,1 John Roskam accused Judith Brett of denying the existence of the threat of terrorism in Australia, and of erecting an entire edifice of ‘left-leaning’ thoug
Audience—Citizens
Introduction: Media Audiences, Public Knowledge, and Democracy Introduction: Media Audiences, Public Knowledge and Democracy Audiences and Socio-cultural Contexts Understanding 'Understanding': The Hermeneutics of Audience Reception Exploring 'Context' Documentary Meanings and Public Knowledge Methodological Reflections on 'Cross-cultural' Audience Research Non-fiction and Audience Evaluations Ethnicity, Multiculturalism and Interpretive Practice…
Performing terror, anti-terror, and public affect
This essay contends that there is a need for a new conceptual framework in order to analyse the interconnections between three different discourses on global and local terrorism: acts of terror; state mobilizations of anti-terror policy and rhetoric; and thirdly, public affect, which manifests expressions among others of insecurity, suspicion of religious and ethnic Others, and national allegiance.Often the interactions between these three domain…
A decade on
Diasporas in the New Media Age
Civil Society Movements and the ‘Twittering Classes’ in the Postcolony
Using Partha Chatterjee's insights on the formation of 'civil society' and how this is distinct from 'political society', this paper theorises the mobilisation of popular support via social media during the so-called 'anti-corruption movement' in India in 2011. It tracks the main themes of the civil society-led movement's Twitter feeds during two crucial phases of fasting by its self-proclaimed Gandhian leader, Anna Hazare. This highlights the mi…
The Cultural Politics of Metropolitan and Vernacular Lifestyles in India
Using English-language and Tamil cookery shows on Indian television as examples, this article examines the complex cultural terrain traversed by contemporary Indian lifestyle TV, and argues that the gastro-politics inherent in such programming is indicative of the ways in which such shows appeal to and develop diverse social imaginaries in a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multicultural society such as India. The article argues that these shows both…
The Indian Public Sphere
This article traces the complexities inherent in the formation of the public sphere in India and how this can be seen as impinging on specific kinds of media discourses. After highlighting a few of the apparent contradictions in the Indian public sphere, the article builds on the insights offered by Partha Chatterjee, Kuan-Hsing Chen and Walter Mignolo to argue the case for the need to reconceptualise the concept of the public sphere in order to …
The view from the Global South
Unsettling India
The verb to “unsettle” carries several, subtly different, meanings – to discompose or disturb, to perplex or confound, to agitate or unbalance. It could be said that Purnima Mankekar’s latest book
Malign images, malevolent networks
This chapter outlines the present conjuncture of online radicalisation and the consequences of the efforts to counter that, within the context of present concerns regarding the rise of terrorist violence. Contemporary anxieties regarding social media images, radicalisation, 'home-grown' terror and the ways in which attempts to counter them have, in turn, raised levels of insecurity among minorities of colour. As US and European governments have f…
WhatsApp as 'technology of life'
In this paper, we present a few ethnographic vignettes on the use of WhatsApp from a study in Mexico City. We suggest WhatsApp is a paradigmatic example of how a particular technology becomes an infrastructure to sustain, and therefore shape, a wide range of quotidian activities, from personal to economic, from spiritual to political. WhatsApp exemplifies what we call technologies of life, as such technologies mediate almost all aspects of social…
Beyond concepts as tokens
In this article we want to question the adequacy of existing concepts and frameworks for understanding experiences with digital technologies in the Global South. First, we describe how concepts acquire value, positioning them within geographical, epistemic, and political realities. Second, we ask about the pertinence of these concepts in describing subaltern practices in the digital world. Third, we identify an urgent need to go beyond digital-ce…
Political science (17 works) · Sociology (17 works) · Politics (15 works) · Law (13 works) · Gender Studies (12 works) · Media studies (12 works) · Gender Studies (7 works) · Law (7 works) · Anthropology (5 works) · Computer Science (5 works)