This free event will include the premiere of an exciting new film on superheroism and young people in India, Dishoom India. The film is made by Tarun Jasani and Raminder Kaur and will be followed by a discussion with panellists and audience at The Steps in the RSA. You can view the trailer here.

Superheroes bring to mind caped crusaders such as Superman, Batman, or Captain America. The more gender attuned foreground Wonderwoman among other avatars. Those looking eastwards might highlight Japanese characters from Manga. But what about other cultural repertoires of intergalactic superhero/ines? How do other young people engage with illustrations, storytelling and imaginaries of superheroism?

India hosts the world's largest youth population (aged 15-25) yet little is known about their social and imaginative worlds.Too often cultural examples from the global south are seen through a western or Eurocentric lens. This event will enable an appreciation of Indian comic books and youth cultures on their own terms in conversation with other cultural trends on an equal footing as part of connected yet culturally distinctive communities. It will provide a fascinating lens to consider the cultural outputs of an emerging Asian power.

The event draws upon anthropological and comic studies research that informs the book, Adventure Comics and Youth Cultures in India (Raminder Kaur and Saif Eqbal, Routledge). It is linked to a new play, Terror, the real-life tale of Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain’s heroic stand against violent militants in a Bangladeshi café in July 2016. The play is written by Raminder Kaur, produced by Sohaya Visions and Mukul and Ghetto Tigers and funded by Arts Council England as part of A Season of Bangla Drama. It is to be performed at 7pm on November 7th and 8th at Pinter Studio, QMUL

The film and panel is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council Festival of Social Science; and supported by Raj Comics, Diamond Comics, University of Sussex Asia Centre, Sohaya Visions, Inward Arts, Mukul and Ghetto Tigers, Tamarind Theatre, A Season of Bangla Drama, Megan McMichael at University of Sussex, and Christopher Pinney at University College London.

The RSA Rawthmells Coffee House will be open to serve drinks and snacks.

Details and tickets here.

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By: James McMurray
Last updated: Friday, 25 October 2019