Worksheet on Cultural Studies

 Worksheet on Cultural Studies

Bhumi Mahida

PG Registration no. 51082240017

27 October 2025

This blog forms part of the Cultural Studies worksheet assigned by Dilip Sir. It aims to explore and deepen the understanding of Cultural Studies concepts through the use of AI chatbots. The main goal is to critically engage with important ideas in contemporary Cultural Studies by using AI as an interactive learning resource.

(Background reference: Teacher’s Blog)

Slow Movement :

The Slow Movement is a cultural initiative that promotes living with awareness and purpose, focusing on quality, sustainability, and thoughtful action rather than constant haste. Emerging in the late 20th century as a reaction to the pressure of a fast-paced, productivity-obsessed society, it encourages individuals to value time as a means for deeper connections and more meaningful experiences.

The article “In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed” highlights this perspective by asserting that “Slowing down is about reclaiming control over our lives.” This idea suggests that adopting a slower rhythm allows people to make choices based on their own values and priorities instead of conforming to societal expectations.

Dromology : 

Dromology, a term introduced by French philosopher Paul Virilio, examines the relationship between speed and its influence on society, culture, and politics. It focuses on how advancements in technology and transportation have accelerated life, reshaping our perceptions of space, time, and reality.

E-commerce Boom:

E-commerce has revolutionized shopping habits in India by increasing brand awareness and encouraging impulsive purchases. Although it offers greater convenience and access, it also deepens the divide between digitally skilled users and those without such access. Exposure to global markets has influenced Indian consumers’ tastes and choices. The article *“Impulse Buying Behaviour Picks up Online”* notes that “Impulse buying online has been fuelled by the convenience and promise of fulfillment by e-commerce and q-commerce players” (Pinto).

Fintech Innovations:

Financial technology has expanded banking access to millions, particularly empowering women in rural regions. It promotes a move toward a cashless economy and enhances financial literacy. Yet, it simultaneously brings challenges related to data privacy, security, and public trust in digital financial systems.

Risk Society : 

Risk Society is a sociological theory developed by Ulrich Beck that describes a society increasingly preoccupied with future risks, especially those of a technological or scientific nature. Risk management is dominated by practices that rely on scientific assessment to measure and assess the dangers produced by industrial society. 

Nuclear Power:

India’s nuclear power programme is largely self-reliant, with the government strongly committed to expanding its capacity as part of the nation’s broader infrastructure growth plans. According to the World Nuclear Association article “Nuclear Power in India,” the country has set ambitious goals to increase its nuclear energy production.

However, the use of nuclear power carries significant risks. Despite stringent safety protocols, accidents such as those at Chernobyl and Fukushima highlight the potential dangers. Long-term storage of nuclear waste remains a major challenge, and nuclear facilities can become targets for terrorism or misuse of materials. Additionally, public anxiety over safety issues and the environmental harm caused by uranium mining continue to pose serious concerns.

Postfeminism:

Postfeminism focuses on personal freedom and self-determination, highlighting individual satisfaction rather than collective feminist activism. It suggests that women can find empowerment through consumption, style, and self-expression. In this view, choosing domestic roles or motherhood is often portrayed as an intentional and empowering decision. However, postfeminist culture also tends to commercialize feminist values, turning them into marketable trends and lifestyle commodities rather than tools for social change.

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The article “Gender Role Portrayal in Indian Advertisement: A Review” (Konversations by InsideIIM) points out that Indian advertising still reinforces traditional and often limiting gender stereotypes. Although there has been some improvement, advertisements frequently continue to depict women in domestic or secondary roles, while men are shown as powerful, independent, and authoritative figures (Das and Majhi).

Hyperreal:

The concept of hyperreality, popularized by French philosopher Jean Baudrillard, refers to a state in which the distinction between reality and simulation becomes blurred. It describes a world where representations and images seem more real than reality itself. Disneyland serves as a prime example—its themed worlds like the Frontier, Pirates, and Future World are constructed illusions that feel authentic, blending fantasy and reality seamlessly.

Hyperreality and Popular Indian Films:

In 'Koi Mil Gaya', the alien character Jadoo possesses extraordinary powers that enable the protagonist, Rohit, to overcome his limitations and gain superhuman strength. This blending of the real and the fantastical creates a 'hyperreal' space, where impossible events symbolize deeper human desires for transformation and empowerment.

Similarly, Rajkumar Hirani’s 'PK' employs hyperreal elements through its alien protagonist, who observes and questions human behavior on Earth. The film presents reality through an outsider’s lens, exaggerating familiar aspects of society to provoke reflection and critique, thereby constructing a hyperreal version of human life.

Hypermodernism:

Hypermodernism refers to a cultural and social phase marked by accelerated technological progress, global interconnectedness, and continual change. It represents an intensified form of modernity that magnifies its defining traits—such as individualism, rational thinking, and the pursuit of progress—while reflecting the speed and instability of the contemporary world.

Hypermodern Architecture:

The transparent dome of the Georgian Parliament building in Kutaisi was designed to symbolize the openness and accountability of democracy. This structure, along with several other futuristic designs introduced during Mikheil Saakashvili’s leadership (2004–07, 2008–13), exemplifies the hypermodern architectural aesthetic (Chapple).

Architecture plays a significant role in expressing corporate identity and reinforcing power relations. Hypermodern buildings, often associated with major institutions, embody authority and innovation. Modern “smart” architectural systems use advanced technologies—such as sensors, automated controls, and data analytics—to enhance efficiency, performance, and occupant comfort, reflecting the hypermodern emphasis on technological integration and optimization.

Cyberfeminism:

Cyberfeminism is a feminist movement that emerged in the 1990s, combining feminist thought with technology and digital culture. It investigates how gender, technology, and power interact, questioning and resisting traditional hierarchies and gender norms. The term was first introduced by British cultural theorist Sadie Plant and the Australian art collective VNS Matrix, who envisioned cyberspace as a space for feminist resistance and creativity.

Research on cyber literature reveals how symbolic violence is often directed at women, particularly Arab women, who are depicted through derogatory labels such as “beasts,” “demons,” or “dolls.” Such portrayals objectify them and reinforce patriarchal notions of women as possessions, dependent on male authority and denied autonomy (Faisol, Abdul Basid, & Al Lastu Nurul Fatim et al.).

Cyberfeminism seeks to counter these narratives by creating empowering digital spaces and alternative representations of women. It also emphasizes intersectionality, recognizing how gender interacts with race, class, sexuality, and other aspects of identity to shape women’s experiences online and offline.

Posthumanism:

Posthumanism is a philosophical and cultural framework that questions conventional ideas of what it means to be human. It examines the merging of humans and technology, the transformation of consciousness, and the ways in which technological advancements challenge the boundaries between human, machine, and environment.

Indian cinema has played a vital role in visualizing posthuman ideas through imaginative storytelling. Films such as 'Robot 2.0' and 'Go Goa Gone' reflect this transition, portraying the blending of human and technological identities within popular culture.

Transhumans—beings that maintain human form but possess enhanced abilities like superior intelligence, strength, or awareness—are central to this concept. The 'Krrish' film series, starring Hrithik Roshan, provides a notable example of this evolution. Similarly, Remo D’Souza’s 'A Flying Jatt' (2016) depicts Aman Dhillon (Tiger Shroff), who unexpectedly gains superpowers and uses them to fight pollution, merging superhero fantasy with a social message (Singh).

Engaging with this worksheet has helped me gain a more profound understanding of these theoretical concepts and their significance in today’s world, while also strengthening my research and writing abilities.

References :

Barad, Dilip. Worksheet for Postgraduate Students on Cultural Studies. blog.dilipbarad.com/2024/10/worksheet-for-postgraduate-students-on.html.

Chapple, Amos. “Georgia’s Hypermodern Parliament Building Faces Uncertain Future.” RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, 14 May 2021, www.rferl.org/a/georgia-kutaisi-parliament-building-abandoned-saakashvili/31248176.html.

Das, Partha, and Manoj Majhi. “Gender Role Portrayal in Indian Advertisement: A Review.” Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, Jan. 2022, pp. 461–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94277-9_40.

Faisol, Abdul Basid, &Amp; Al Lastu Nurul Fatim, M., et al. “The Face of Arab Women in Cyber-Literature.” Arab Media & Society, 8 Apr. 2024, www.arabmediasociety.com/the-face-of-arab-women-in-cyber-literature.

“‘Hyperreality’ and Popular Indian Films.” Research Gate, Apr. 2022, www.researchgate.net/publication/359864543_'Hyperreality'_and_Popular_Indian_Films. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

IN PRAISE OF SLOWNESS: Challenging the Cult of Speed. professionalwritingcourse.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/article-honore-excerpt-praiseslowness.pdf. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

Konversations By InsideIIM. “The Portrayal of Women in Media Through the Lens of Semiotics - MICA.” YouTube, 4 Aug. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=D76LxYhaudk.

Nuclear Power in India - World Nuclear Association. world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-g-n/india.

Pinto, Viveat Susan. “Impulse Buying Behaviour Picks up Online.” Financial Express, 21 July 2024, www.financialexpress.com/business/industry/impulse-buying-behaviour-picks-up-online/3560115.

“The prospects for governing biotechnology in Canada.” Reserch Gate, www.researchgate.net/publication/253686479_The_prospects_for_governing_biotechnology_in_Canada#pf29. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

Samani, Bahareh Bagherzadeh, et al. “Paul Virilio’s Dromology and the Postmodern City in Don DeLillo’s Cosmopolis.” Cogent Arts and Humanities, vol. 5, no. 1, Jan. 2018, https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2018.1424600.

Singh, Supriya. “Post-humanism in Indian Cinema.” Media India Group, 23 Dec. 2019, mediaindia.eu/cinema/post-humanism-in-indian-cinema.

Thank You !