Bollywood song and dance draws attention to Indian film studies as one of the most dominant and distinguishing features of the Indian culture (Dudrah, 2006, p. 26). Dancing within movies is becoming among the most common attributes of modern popular culture that generates and reflects diversity in cultures and the traditional values of a society. Consequently, films have become a major part of modern society, through which people are becoming aware of different cultures from all over the world.
My research explores the roles of dancing within Bollywood movies in constructing and maintaining the cultural identity among second-generation Indian Americans. This study will demonstrate how Bollywood dancing among second-generation Indian Americans intersect to create a notion of “Indianness. ” This qualitative research study is based on cultural studies and seeks to explore the role of Bollywood dance in movies in identity construction among second-generation Indian Americans using in-depth interviews, focus groups and participant observations.
Discussions generated showed that the process of cultural identity construction and maintenance among second-generation Indian Americas depended on interpersonal communication. Interestingly, the study found that through social factors—family, friends and social activities—in association with Bollywood dance movies play a dominate role in constructing and maintaining second-generation Indian Americans’ identity.
Bhuyan (2006) believes that Bollywood dance movies not only acts as a bridge between home and diaspora, but helps transmit the culture and traditions that play a crucial role in maintaining “Indianness,” among second-generation Indian Americans. A Brief History of Bollywood Industry According to Basu (2004), preserving and maintaining one’s own culture and identity has become a serious challenge. However, with the increasing popularity of Bollywood dance in movies, Mishra (2002) observed that the Indian diaspora are able to stay connected with their homeland and maintain their self-identity through Bollywood dance movies (p. 23). Dudrah (2006) noted that Bollywood dance movies’ popularity can be attributed to the growing Indian population overseas (p. 27).
“Bollywood” often refers to the style of dance that is used in Indian films (Mishra, 2002, p. 225). Palmer (1999), wrote that musical Bollywood dance films often feature four or more complicated group dance sequences, complete with song and bright costumes (p. 73). Bollywood dance combines traditional Indian dance style with choreography of western styles like modern jazz and hip hop (Palmer, 1999, p. 3-74). The traditional style that is frequently used in Bollywood dance is called Bhangra (Palmer, 1999, p. 76). Bhangra is a lively form of folk music and dance that originates from Punjab and is traditionally preformed when celebrating diverse occasions such as weddings and New Year celebrations (Palmer, 1999, p. 76).
Bhangra has evolved from a dance and music only preformed in the Punjab region, to a popular style of music and dance preformed in many parts of the world (Palmer, 1999, p. 6). Mishra (2002) noted that “Bollywood cinema” is a phenomenon unique to the Indian diaspora to stay connected to their homeland and maintain their cultural identity (p. 224). Considering the popularity of Bollywood movies among the Indian diaspora, particularly in the United States, it is important to study the cultural identity formation among second-generation Indian Americans by examining the roles of Bollywood dance in maintaining their identities.
Before we examine how Bollywood dance movies intersect to create a notion of “Indianness” among second-generation Indian Americans it is important to understand the concepts like “Indianness” and cultural identity. On being Indian According to Cohn (1972), “Indianness” is nothing but a “psycho-social product of colonialism as much as post colonialism,” a notion of an independent nation that brought the people together despite their diversity in many aspects (p. 68).
In his book, The Discovery of India, Colin Bhat (2006) defined quality as “unity in diversity” (p. 243). Bhat (2006) defined “Indianness” or being Indian, as something that is unique, distinctly experienced, described or measured or a quality that makes quintessentially India (p. 243). From Bhat’s definition of “Indianness” it can be concluded that “Indianness” is one’s notion that is considered to be inseparable from all Indians. As Singh (2003) points out religion, language, and region define the identity of Indian diasporic communities (p. 3). Cultural Identity Cultural identity can simply be defined as an individual’s way of identifying himself/herself with a culture. Identifying with a particular culture makes people feel they belong and gives them a sense of security. Jung and Lee (2004) defined cultural identity as a “socially and historically constructed outcome of locating the self in relation to interactions with others as well as to socially and culturally conditioned communicative structures within a given society” (p. 147).
Thus, the cultural identity of second-generation Indian Americans is continually experiencing the dynamics of both Indian and American cultures. Hence, it makes an interesting study to explore the role of Bollywood dance movies and factors influencing identity construction among second-generation Indian Americans. Methodology This research study explored the research question grounded in cultural studies by looking at how second-generation Indian Americans construct their identity, i. e. “Indianness” and how Bollywood dance movies are used to maintain the culture and identity.
Qualitative methods—in-depth interviews, focus groups and participant observations—were conducted to understand the role of family, friends and social activities in general and focus on the role of dancing within Bollywood movies in the identity process. This study used three of the qualitative methods to examine and analyze the identity construction process among second-generation Indian Americans. Specifically, the study examined how second-generation Indian American students use Bollywood dance movies in constructing and maintaining their identity.
After attending a few general body meetings held by Indus, the UCSB Indian club, I explained the purpose of the study to interested participants. Several second-generation Indian American students were interviewed: Beejal Desai (female, 18), a member and competitive dancer of Indus and Sharita Patel (female, 17), a member and choreographer of Indus. As in the case with in-depth interviews, individuals for the focus groups and participant observations were contacted through Indus. Four people agreed to participate in a focus group. I was also given the opportunity to watch and dance with Ishaara, UC Berkeley’s Bollywood dance group.
Through all qualitative research methods I was able to observe the roles of Bollywood dance movies in constructing and maintaining second-generation Indian Americans identity. Analysis Before conducting ethnographic research, I informed my future participants that the purpose of the research was to shed some light on the role of dancing within Bollywood movies in identity formation and maintenance among second-generation Indian Americans. Interviews from this study indicated that family, friends and social activities play a significant role in cultural identity formation among second-generation Indian Americans.
When asked what it means to be Indian, Beejal responded as follows: “I see myself as Indian/Indian American because though I was born here [U. S. ], I was still brought up as if I was from there [India]. I have all the cultural similarities, same religions views and attitudes. My parents instilled the culture upon me and I intend to keep the tradition alive and pass it on to the next generation. ” Beejal expressed that maintaining the culture and tradition is very important and it is something that she definitely wants to pass on to her children.
One interview participants identified student associations and activities as playing a dominant role in maintaining one’s cultural identity because they facilitate a constant interaction with peer group members. Sharita a member of Indus, said the following: “Me and some of my friends from Indus always hang out together and have fun choreographing dances, watching Bollywood movies and eating Indian food, which constantly reminds me of my ethnic background. ” Having been born and brought up in America, Sharita actively participates in Indian Clubs and activities at UCSB.
It is important to learn how “Indianness” is constructed and maintained by second-generation Indian Americans. The interviews and focus groups suggested that the identity construction process among second-generation Indian Americans is based on three major factors—family, friends and social activities—all associated with Bollywood dance movies. The majority of the focus group participants also mentioned that just being around family members reminds them of Indian culture and traditions. Beejal also said the following: “Being around my family makes me think of the many Indian traditions.
And whenever I gohome me and my family go to my favorite Indian restaurant and then watch Bollywood dance movies. ” Beejal went on to state that family traditions have had a big influence on her identity construction and it helps keep her motivated to participate in the culture and traditions. The participants from this study indicated that religious classes, ethnic clubs, cultural and social activities all associated with Bollywood dance movies play an important role in identity formation of the seconded-generation Indian American.
Beejal emphasized that Indus plays a crucial role in constructing a social network among second-generation Indian-Americans. I was able to observe first hand that going to religious events and participating in traditional Bollywood dances with Beejal and Ishaara really gives Indian Americans a chance to socialize with people from the same background and stay connected within their ethnic roots. It can be assumed that these cultural and social activities push to identify and maintain the culture and traditions in second-generation Indian Americans.
Therefore, cultural and social activities in association with Bollywood dance movies contribute greatly in the identity formation and maintenance among second-generation Indian Americans. The influence of Bollywood dance movies on cultural identity This research focused on the role played by Bollywood dance movies in the identity formation of second-generation Indian Americans. All participants observed that Bollywood dance movies play a crucial role in cultural identity maintenance. Participants stated that on average they watch Bollywood dance movies with family or friends once or twice a week.
According to Beejal, Bollywood dance movies focus on family values, song and dance sequences, religion and moral values. Beejal and Sharita stated that they identify and learn a lot through Bollywood dance movies. They learn a lot about festivities and religion which gives both of them an incentive to get involved with their ethnic roots and join Indus. Sharita also mentioned, “Bollywood dance helps keeps her traditions and values alive by representing the culture in movies and reinforcing the importance of maintaining it. ”
Both Sharita and Beejal expressed that Bollywood dance movies are one of the better ways to learn about Indian culture and how they are being practiced in society. This suggested that among different mediums, Bollywood dance movies in fact have a strong influence on second-generation Indian Americans in learning and maintaining the Indian culture and traditions. Conclusion This research study found that family, friends and students organizations all associated with Bollywood dance movies played a predominate role in the identity construction of second-generation Indian Americans.
Bollywood dance movies are a significant role in informing second-generation Indian Americans about Indian traditions and the value system. The results of this study showed that the cultural identity of second-generation Indian Americans is an ongoing process constructed and maintained through various interpersonal social communicative activities with family and friends associated with Bollywood dance movies. Second-generation Indian Americans seemed to consider Bollywood dance movies as a vehicle for showcasing Indian culture and traditions.
By consuming Bollywood movies, Indian Americans learned about Indian traditions and customs, which help them in maintaining the Indian identity. Through the movies, second-generation Indian Americans identified Indian culture with family togetherness, a strong sense of religion and traditions. Bollywood dance movies, along with other social communicative contexts—family, friends and social activities—enabled second-generation Indian Americans to construct and maintain their “Indianness. Another finding from this ethnographic study was that the Bollywood dance movies appeared to have a major influence on second-generation Indian Americans in maintaining the identity, especially when they lived away from home. This factor explains the popularity of Bollywood dance movies even amongst the Indian diasporic communities. In conclusion, the cultural identity of the second-generation Indian Americans living in diasporic communities is an ongoing process, which is defined and re-defined by social activities, family and friends, through Bollywood dance movies.
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