Yogyakarta – September 25th 2024, Culture and Media Studies Master and Doctoral Program (KBM) Gadjah Mada University Postgraduate School (SPs UGM) in collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia held a discussion in the form of dissemination of research findings. This activity was actively participated in by all KBM Program students online via zoom meetings.
Mr. Budiawan, S.S., M.A., Ph.D., Head of the Cultural and Media Studies Doctoral Study Program gave an introduction to this session. “We are very proud to hold this activity as a form of collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia, especially in the field of education. “The topics that will be discussed in this discussion session are very important to increase insight regarding cultural and media studies in Indonesia,” said Mr. Budiawan.
With the theme “Analyzing the Meaning of Sexual Violence in Contemporary Tamil Movies and History to Herstory in Tamil Cinema”, this activity presented competent speakers, namely Dr. Premalatha Karupiah, Associate Professor School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia and Dr. Sivakumar Iyyanar, Independent Scholar, Puducherry, India. Both speakers provided interesting material related to the discussion theme.
In this discussion session, Dr. Premalatha Karupiah conveyed the results of an analysis of the meaning of sexual violence in Contemporary Tamil films. The research results show that the depiction of sexual violence in Tamil films is based on a patriarchal understanding of this act. Not much attention is paid to the victims’ experiences, the depictions are trivial and far from the reality and complexity of sexual violence.
The second session was a presentation from Dr. Sivakumar Iyyanar who discussed “History to Herstory in Tamil Cinema”. Dr. Sivakumar provides an understanding that Tamil films provide a gateway to understanding Tamil culture and have the power to bridge all gaps in socio-economic, political and cultural life.
Tamil films depict a world where masculinity dominates and reflects a patriarchal societal structure where women are submissive and subordinate. Tamil films fight against the normalization of gender inequality.
“The shift from history to women’s history in Tamil cinema is not only about changing the way women are portrayed on screen, but also about changing the gender narrative in society,” said Dr. Sivakumar when closing his presentation session. The event continued with a question and answer discussion and group photos. Students actively asked critical questions in this discussion session.
Author: Siti Muyasaroh