The Department of English officially launched the Website of Protean Frames: International Conference on Discourses of Gender scheduled for 12 & 13 Jan 2016.

 

Ms. Anita Nair, renowned author and Chief Guest of the event, officially launched the website and read from her work, drawing connections between gender and writing. She underlined the need to address the fluidity of gender as experience rather than fixed identity. Reading from Cut Like Wound and Idris, she mediated the interstices between masculinity and femininity. Talking about the increasing relevance and contexts of gender, she motivated the audience to further dynamic discussions on topics of immediate relevance.

 

Prof. John Joseph Kennedy, Dean, Humanities and Social Sciences, called upon the academic community to contextualize gender debates rather than discuss gender theories as mere arm-chair philosophers. He emphasized upon the immense responsibility of connecting a conference on gender with contemporary realities and questions of caste and class. Dr. Abhaya. N.B. (HOD) graced the occasion.

 

Mr. Anand Varadaraj, Secretary, Suchitra Film Society, Bengaluru was the Guest of Honour. Mr. Varadaraj pointed out the need for greater intervention of women in Cinema. He raised questions of viewership and the male gaze, objectification and patriarchal content in popular cinema. Further, Mr. Varadaraj discussed possibilities of collaboration with students and faculty of the department, including a pre-conference workshop on Gender and Cinema.

 

A meaningful performance on Reading Ahalya by an English Studies performance troupe ‘Tell Tale’ (Manognya and Team) opened up multiple interpretations of gender identity and belonging , a fitting finale for a launch of new beginnings in the context of gender.