Benjamin Siegel

Mr. Siegel plans to research how public institutions and different forms of media in India help construct distinctly Indian ideas of nationality, community and self. By identifying some of the key historical moments when identify politics were constructed in India through mass public representation, Mr. Siegel hopes to acquire a foundation upon which to explore the role of public spheres in the construction of contemporary notions of identity and modernity. From the change in the traditional understanding of family life and structure brought about by Bollywood's culturally hegemonic films, to the demonization of Muslims that have resulted in widespread communal violence, Mr. Siegel will explore the ways by which Indian media and institutions have reshaped ideas of class, religion, and political identity. His research will also investigate the extent to which these same projects, deliberately or otherwise, have stemmed from historical interaction with the West.