Visual Currencies: Documenting India's Red-Light Districts.

The article discusses video documentaries of life in India's red-light districts. Particular focus is given to the multichannel video installations "A Kiss Is Not a Kiss" and "The Hijras" by artist Elahe Massumi and the documentary film "Born Into Brothels" directed by Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman....

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Signs: Journal of Women in Culture & Society Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 109 - 133
Autor principal: Lynes, Krista Geneviève
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: University of Chicago Press Autumn2011
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:The article discusses video documentaries of life in India's red-light districts. Particular focus is given to the multichannel video installations "A Kiss Is Not a Kiss" and "The Hijras" by artist Elahe Massumi and the documentary film "Born Into Brothels" directed by Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman. According to the author, Briski and Kauffman's documentary depicts the red-light districts as being outside of the social structures of postcolonial India, while Massumi's artworks demonstrate that they are a part of its capitalist democracy. It is suggested that analyzing the problems associated with sex work on a national scale precludes analysis of its local and transnational dimensions. Other topics include difference, ethics, erotics, and citizenships.