Mediated Cultures, Political Discourses, and the Celebrity

‘This timely and theoretically ambitious volume makes a compelling case for celebrity culture as fertile ground for understanding contemporary Indian politics. Bringing together scholars with expertise in varied linguistic and cultural regions, it moves deftly across media forms and technologies to show how stardom mediates caste, gender, nationalism, and digital publics in ways few other cultural forms can match.’ * Aswin Punathambekar, University of Pennsylvania, USA *
‘A timely and theoretically sophisticated collection, this volume offers a compelling account of celebrity, nationalism, and digital media in contemporary India. Rich in conceptual insight and regional case studies, it makes an important contribution to celebrity studies and will be indispensable for scholars of media, politics, and South Asia.’ * Ishita Tiwari, Concordia University, Canada *
'Indian politics is witnessing the politicization of the screen celebrities and celebritization of politicians on a hitherto unprecedented scale. The evidence presented here suggests that the evolving story is no longer limited to specific individuals, entertainment industries or forms. This collection is a reminder that Film and Media Studies have much to say about politics in our time.' * SV Srinivas, Azim Premji University, India *