India's Middle Class

New Forms of Urban Leisure, Consumption and Prosperity

AvChristiane Brosius

Inbunden, Engelska, 2010

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Beskrivning

This book examines the complexities of lifestyles of the upwardly mobile middle classes in India in the context of economic liberalisation in the new millennium, by analysing new social formations and aspirations, modes of consumption and ways of being in contemporary urban India. Rich in ethnographic material, the work is based on empirical case-studies, research material, and illustrations. Offering a model of how urban cosmopolitan India might be studied and understood in a transnational and transcultural context, the book takes the reader through three panoramic landscapes: new ‘world-class’ real estate advertising, a unique religious leisure site — the Akshardham Cultural Complex, and the world of themed weddings and beauty/wellness, all responses to India’s new middle classes’ tryst with cosmopolitanism. The work will be of particular interest to scholars and researchers in sociology, South Asian studies, media studies, anthropology and urban studies as also those interested in religion, performance and rituals, diaspora, globalisation and transnational migration.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2010-02-23
Mått:138 x 216 x 26 mm
Vikt:900 g
Format:Inbunden
Språk:Engelska
Serie:Cities and the Urban Imperative
Antal sidor:400
Förlag:Taylor & Francis Ltd
ISBN:9780415544535

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Mer om författaren

Christiane Brosius is Professor of Visual and Media Anthropology at the Cluster of Excellence ‘Asia and Europe in a Global Context: Shifting Asymmetries in Cultural Flows’, Heidelberg University.

Recensioner i media

‘Offering a wealth of data on visual, cultural and spatial practices in urban India . . . [this] is a valuable addition to works on globalisation in India.’ — Economic and Political Weekly‘[A] book of extraordinary depth and range.’ — Biblio‘[Brosius] takes us beyond the frequently-discussed role of electronic mass media and Bollywood and analyses quotidian encounters in urban spaces, billboards and popular performances as sites for the production of the "new India".’ — South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies‘An insightful and well-written account of an under-researched topic.’ — International Quarterly for Asian Studies‘[T]he book is an enriching and enjoyable ethnographic reading, especially due to the lucid and ﬂuid quality of writing.’ — Ethnos: Journal of Anthropology

Innehållsförteckning

List of Plates List of Abbreviations Preface Introduction : India Shining Part I. Belonging to the World-Class City 1. The City Fantastic 2. The Enclaved Gaze: Living Abroad in India 3. ‘Insulate!’ The Celebration of New Gated Habitats 4. Taming the Public City and other Colonial Hangovers 5. Ordering the City and its Citizens Part II. A Spiritual Mega-Experience: The Akshardham Cultural Complex 6. Who is Who at ACC? 7. A Question of Authenticity 8. A Hierarchy of Ritual Performances 9. Theme Park Antecedents and Indigenous Concepts of Leisure Religion 10. Code-Switching and Code-Clashing 11. Critics and Sceptics Part III. ‘Masti! Masti!’ Managing Love, Romance and Beauty 12. ‘For Whom the Bell Rings’: Arranging Marriage 13. ‘All You Need is Wellness’ and a Good Body Conclusion: ‘Indianising’ Modernity Glossary Bibliography About the Author Index