Afleveringen
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In this episode of The Antarapologist, I am delving into the complex nexus between nationalism and hegemonic masculinity. From the genderisation of the state to sexualised warfare to the preservation of patriarchal traditions, masculinised nationalism is all around us. Listen to this episode to find out how masculinity intertwines with the nationalist fervour of India's Hindu nationalists.
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In this episode of "The Antarapologist," I delve into the complex interplay between consumerism and cultural appropriation, examining how traditional cultural practices and symbols are increasingly commodified for mass consumption, from gua shas, to dream catchers, to 'boho' outfits and more. It's vital we preserve the cultural integrity of what we consume and I also offer examples of how to engage with diverse cultures more respectfully and deliberately.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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What does it mean to be Indian? - A question loaded with controversy, both historical and modern. Although India is constitutionally secular, Hindutva, the ideological combination between nationalism and religion, aims to redefine India as a Hindu nation. Modi's BJP party has tapped into the widespread anger and fear in Hindu nationalists that a secular India will discriminate against them. In this episode, I look into what secularism means in India and why people believe it has gone so wrong.
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Liberalism seems to be one of those words that is thrown around in politics. But what actually is it? How does it play out today? And given that so many countries and communities are refusing to follow the 'liberal world order' or comply with liberal ideas, what are some shortcomings of liberalism? This episode will answer these questions and look at how one can find fault with liberalism's universalistic, individualistic and rational base.
Some of these ideas have come from Francis Fukuyama's 'Liberalism and Its Discontents', a fantastic book that sheds light on different perspectives on this issue, whilst still defending liberal ideas.
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Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe is a fantastic piece of postcolonial literature, looking retrospectively at the horrors of colonialism and how it destroyed myriads of rich, native cultures, for example, the Igbo community in Nigeria, within the fictional clan of Umuofia. The Igbos have an intricate and beautiful culture, replete with rituals and traditions that are imbued with spirituality and meaning. Yet this is denounced by white missionaries who impose Western government, trade and Church.
In this episode, I revisit this book, one I had studied for my GCSE English Literature Exam. I look at this novel through an anthropological lens, given that the discipline emerged during colonialism. The cultural richness conveyed through Achebe's writing, reflects the common objective of modern anthropology of staying true to the people you are studying and covering the parts of their culture with respect and focus. Further, I look at how the ideas of 'civilisation' emerged from traditional anthropological work and how it is important to abandon ideas that all communities must reach the same destination of Western 'civilisation'.
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Alexis de Tocqueville wrote that people in the democratic age‘have an ardent, insatiable, eternal, invincible passion’ for equality. They will ‘tolerate poverty, enslavement, barbarism, but they will not tolerate aristocracy’. It is indisputable that the value we give democracy, or ‘rule ofthe people is rooted in the allure of the ballot box its promise of freedom and equality for all, and its method of ascertaining whatever we mean by the ‘common good’.
But, is democracy an end in itself? When, if ever, does it fail to deliver on its promise of universal autonomy and liberation? Is there such a thing as too much democracy?
This episode consists of an essay I wrote for the John Locke Essay Competition entitled, 'Is there such a thing as too much democracy?'
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Suicide is one of the most heartbreaking, often incomprehensible realities of life. In this episode, I look at suicide from a sociologist's perspective to illuminate the social and cultural factors that drive incidents of suicide. I draw on Durkheim's theories of suicide and then offer further ideas about identity and emotion.
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In a world where far-right populism, and sometimes populist authoritarianism seem to bloom, understanding how identity politics facilitates this is crucial. In this episode, I'll be looking at what has generally shaped the identity of rural white voters, given the importance of this demographic to politicians like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage.
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Our political climate feels fraught with right-wing populist and authoritarian leaders and what underlines the rhetoric of their movements, is a traditional, 'luridly retro' idea of masculinity. This phenomenon is part of the wider resistance against social change and progression. The modest gains of feminism, shifting definitions of gender and sex, and economic instability have meant that many men have reverted to conservativist ideas of manhood and identity. I also look at the role of social media and digital echo chambers.
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The advent of secularism, founded on the Enlightenment ideals of rationalism, was expected to lead to the dilution of religion. Yet evidently, religion still forms a critical part of many individuals' lives and is also harnessed as a tool for social solidarity. What are the reasons behind religion's resilience?
In this episode, I attempt to answer this question. I speak about the ideas I wrote in an essay entitled, 'Why has religion remained a force in a secular world?' for the Cambridge Re-Think Essay Competition, for which I received an Honourable Mention and was invited to a formal dinner at King's College, Cambridge.
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Feminism has formed the core of my identity but growing up, I started to wonder whether it was futile because of the significant strides made towards gender equality, especially felt in my all-girls school in London.
But today, looking at the world around me, from how social media frames feminism and womanhood, to the commercialisation of feminism and the rise of #girlboss, to the pervasiveness of the 'male gaze', I now understand that sexism's subtle force is ubiquitous and still, demands our focus.
Please note that some ideas in this episode concerning the sexualisation of young girls and women may be unsuitable for some listeners.
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In this episode, I talk about how the timeless human impulse of nostalgia has manifested in politics, focusing on how it has enhanced ethnoreligious nationalism and defined the rhetoric of right-wing parties, drawing on examples such as the German Volk and Trump's call to Make America Great Again.
Thank you to Ian Prasad Philbrick for his article on 'Trump's Nostalgia Boom' which led me to uncover other ways nostalgia influenced politics.
Find my other sources here:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10670564.2014.898907
https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/fellows-book/nostalgia-for-the-future-modernism-and-heterogeneity-in-the-visual-arts-of-nazi-germany/
https://deseraestage.medium.com/donald-trump-s-good-old-days-266c4df74822
https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/enlightenment
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In this episode, I will explore the accents of my identity as a code-switching, second-generation immigrant and the ever-evolving relationship I have with my Indian culture.
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What's your reaction to the question, "Alexa, is this man guilty?". Most likely, if yours is anything like mine, she will say, "Sorry, I don't know that one," but what if this changes? What if Artificial Intelligence is used to decide whether a person is guilty or not, whether they should be released or kept behind bars for the next half of their life?
In this episode, I talk about how feasible it is to introduce AI to the legal sector and the ethical and practical implications of this. From efficiency and accuracy to racial and gender bias to whether computers can actually understand humans as well as we can, is a future where robots deliver verdicts in court even possible? Listen now to find out!
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On the 24th of June, 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
A shocking reversal that has allowed states to drastically reduce or outlaw abortion access after it was legalised 50 years ago.
In this episode, I will talk about why abortion is necessary and simply a part of healthcare, why this regressive and divisive ruling will not even have the intended consequences (of reducing the number of abortions that happen) and why and how this has even happened in 2022!
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Polarisation is an issue that the world has been fraught with for a while now but lately, it seems that every news story has the capacity to divide the nation. From dicey elections to violent protests to controversial bills, political animosity and division are at an all-time high. In today's episode, I'll be looking at why this is. I'll be exploring how our beliefs are actually formed, our psychology- in an individual and group context and lastly, the role of social media plays in polarising people.
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In a world seemingly full of wrongs, the youngest generation is determined to put it right. With the help of social media and the internet, Generation Z has fueled much-needed change and taken action when it comes to societal and environmental problems that have faced the world for decades. In this episode, I evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of our generation's, some of my own thoughts and how we can aim to cultivate a more balanced outlook on the issues that matter most to us.
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Flawless skin, the perfect nose, toned arms, pouty lips, voluminous hair, slender legs, hourglass figure, attractive smile, flat belly. The list is endless. This episode addresses the toxicity and unrealistic beauty standards of today's society, which have left women and girls all across the globe fraught with insecurities and a warped definition of beauty.
