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Barriers to Diversity in Film – A Research Review – Aug 07

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about homophobic constructions of male sexuality. Women are<br />

represented as be<strong>in</strong>g re-domesticated. The USA, it is argued, br<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

<strong>to</strong>gether these qualities of difference <strong>to</strong> legitimate global primacy and<br />

re<strong>in</strong>forces a particular discourse around nationhood, re-creat<strong>in</strong>g a<br />

united nation of ‘imag<strong>in</strong>ed communities’ (Anderson 1983).<br />

Although Three K<strong>in</strong>gs is highly critical of US multi-lateral adventures<br />

<strong>in</strong> the Persian Gulf <strong>in</strong> 1991, the author argues that even this film<br />

depicts the USA as a privileged place for the <strong>in</strong>tegration of ethnic<br />

differences. Students <strong>in</strong> a discussion group on the film bemoaned<br />

particularly the oppressed Iraqi women aga<strong>in</strong>st the image of the<br />

liberated assertive American women (Davies op.cit.).<br />

The second biggest market for Bollywood films is <strong>in</strong> Brita<strong>in</strong>, with ticket<br />

sales of £30 million last year and multiplexes <strong>in</strong> specific areas show<strong>in</strong>g<br />

them alongside Hollywood films. Certa<strong>in</strong>ly white Bri<strong>to</strong>ns are happy <strong>to</strong><br />

watch certa<strong>in</strong> spoken English films, as the success of Monsoon<br />

Wedd<strong>in</strong>g (2001) or Bend it like Beckham (2002) showed, whereas<br />

South Asian British audiences cont<strong>in</strong>ue <strong>to</strong> watch films made <strong>in</strong> H<strong>in</strong>di<br />

and set <strong>in</strong> far off places. The Indians who left India many years ago<br />

have also helped <strong>to</strong> revitalise the Bollywood <strong>in</strong>dustry, so that films now<br />

<strong>in</strong>clude dance numbers, m<strong>in</strong>i skirts, and the cosmetic surgery <strong>in</strong>dustry.<br />

These films, on the other hand, still serve <strong>to</strong> legitimate the sanctity of<br />

the family. They are also more popular with the non-resident Indian<br />

audience than with native Indians, perhaps because Indian-orig<strong>in</strong><br />

C:\Documents and Sett<strong>in</strong>gs\mcorless\Desk<strong>to</strong>p\Intranet\<strong>Barriers</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Diversity</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Film</strong>_DS_RB 20 <strong>Aug</strong><br />

<strong>07</strong>.doc<br />

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