MediaSpace: DME Media Journal of Communication

Divided Homelands, Fragmented Lives: Partition Narratives in Hindi Parallel Cinema

Md Danish Rahman, Ritu S. Sood, Aaqib Anwaar Butt — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The year 1947 was a defining moment in history for South Asia when India became
independent from the British Raj. The Partition of India and the subsequent violence
and mass migration created an unending trauma, memory and identity issues. This
paper explores how Hindi parallel cinema represents the Partition of India through
a close analysis of two specific films, Garam Hawa and Tamas. The study adopts a
qualitative, interpretive approach to examine how cinematic texts in these films
mediate experiences of violence, displacement and belonging. The study reveals
that Partition trauma is articulated not only through the narrative content but also
through the aesthetic strategies such as fragmentation, silence, spatial dislocation
and narrative ellipsis. Both films present an alternate form of history, as Garam Hawa
presents a personal and intimate representation of the aftermath of Partition while
Tamas presents a broad multi-narrative perspective on the communal violence and
breakdown of society that resulted from Partition. The study highlights the relationship
between formal structure and historical experience, as well as contributing new
insights to the fields of film studies and trauma theory through an analysis of culturally
relevant accounts of the Partition using realist cinematic practices to convey historical
trauma.

From Canvas to Screen: Advantages and Disadvantages of Art Forms

Vipin Sharma, Dhruv Sabharwal — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Traditional painting techniques have been profoundly impacted by digital
technologies, which have grown to be a powerful force in modern visual culture.
With an emphasis on changes in artistic approach, creative methodology, and
visual thinking, this paper investigates the theoretical effects of digital influence
on traditional painting. The study presents digital media as an enabling framework
that transforms how painters conceive, plan, and carry out their work rather than as
a replacement for conventional methods.
Based on theories of media convergence, hybrid creativity, and post-digital art, the
study looks at how artists use digital tools for reference development, compositional
experimentation, and ideation while maintaining material-based painting processes.
Rapid visualization, stylistic exploration, and iterative design are made possible by
the use of digital platforms, resulting in a hybrid artistic practice that combines
digital efficiency with analog sensibility. This change reflects more general shifts in
the perception of craftsmanship in the digital age, artistic authorship, and originality.
The impact of online platforms, virtual exhibition spaces, and digital distribution on
artistic identity and audience participation is also taken into consideration in this
paper. The study makes the case that digital influence has redefined traditional
painting as an adaptive and evolving form through qualitative and conceptual analysis
of current artistic practices and theoretical literature. The results highlight the ongoing
value of traditional painting in a digitally controlled creative environment and add to
scholarly conversations in art theory and visual culture.

Subtle Subversions: Exploring Women’s Agency and Patriarchal Negotiations in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Cinema Through a Postcolonial Feminist Lens – Implications for Gender Equality in Contemporary Indian Media (SDG 5)

Praveen Jain, Atul Arora — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This paper discusses how the agency of women and patriarchal negotiation processes
have been represented in the films of Hrishikesh Mukherjee based on postcolonial
feminist approach. It explores how the middle cinema that Mukherjee produced
indirectly criticizes gender norms in postcolonial India and leads to the discussion of
Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) that emphasizes gender equality. This paper
will analyze these representations and how they apply to modern filmmaking. The
mixed approach was adopted; qualitative textual analysis of three films, Abhimaan,
Anuradha and Guddi along with quantitative content analysis of 50 scenes of each film
was adopted. Also, 200 viewers were surveyed to determine the perception of gender
equality in these stories. The results show that the female characters are represented
as change agents in patriarchal limitations where 68 percent of scenes reveal female
agency. The themes of subtle resistance and hybrid identity are outlined with the help
of qualitative analysis. The research recommends that the current media could use
the stories of Mukherjee to inspire gender equality through reinforcing the voice of
women and incorporating gender sensitive viewpoints in the film study and creation.

From Crisis to Liberation: Indian Media and 1971 Bangladesh War

Proggyaa Paaramita Sengupta, Rakesh Kumar Dubey — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 was one of the most significant events in the
history of South Asia. The 1971 War resulted in the emergence of Bangladesh following
a political crisis, military repression, and interstate conflict (Sisson & Rose, 1990;
Raghavan, 2013). Within this unfolding crisis, India emerged as a significant regional
actor. When Bangladeshi mass people were murdered by the military of Pakistan,
India intervened and sent army to fight against Pakistani soldiers and supported
freedom fighters (Drong, 2016)
However, historical media research shows that newspapers often contribute to
the construction of national narratives about war and identity. During any war or
crisis, the media becomes an essential source to provide objective and neutral
information (Ryan, 2009). The way Indian media represented 1971 allowed for a better
understanding of how public memory and identity are shaped through journalistic
ways, particularly in times of conflict.
This study analyzes how the war was covered in Indian media during 1971. It identifies
variations in media narrative across news reports. It will use a mixed approach to
present the 1971 conflict in two leading Indian English dailies (The Times of India and
The Indian Express) between October to December 1971. Using qualitative coverage
analysis, the study examines news reports of the front pages of both newspapers
to identify dominant themes, narrative patterns, and representations of key actors.
Data served by interviews of the journalists also. Data will be based on primary and
secondary sources. Particular attention is given to shifts in language, emphasis,
and thematic focus. The results suggest a clear progression of coverage through
all three phases, with a notable move from of the refugee problem and diplomatic
developments in October, to increased military activity in November, following its
formal declaration on December 3, 1971, in December.

Trust, Privacy, and Transparency in Multi-Service Platforms: A Study of India’s Super Apps

Prakriti Tripathi, Muktesh Rohilla, Ramvati Ramvati — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

India’s super apps are growing fast. Platforms like PhonePe, Paytm, Tata Neu, and Jio
have layered payments, shopping, travel, and entertainment into a single application,
building directly on the scale of UPI adoption. As AI features chatbots, personalised
recommendations, fraud detection get embedded into these platforms, questions
of trust, privacy, and transparency become harder to sidestep.
This study looks at how Indian users aged 18–45 perceive trust, privacy, and
transparency within AI-enabled super apps and specifically, whether trust in one
service bleeds over to others on the same platform. Using a structured questionnaire
(N = 50) and the REFLECT Ethical UX Framework, four hypotheses were tested. Three
findings stand out: a moderate-to-strong trust spillover effect across all AI feature pairs
(Pearson r = 0.533–0.742, all p < 0.001); a privacy paradox where AI convenience (M =
3.82) and data concern (M = 3.90) co-exist; and a clear user demand for transparency,
with 80.0% of respondents saying they would share more data if given honest
explanations and genuine control. The study also finds serious failures in the Legibility
and Consent dimensions of current super app interfaces, and proposes three design
interventions aligned with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023
and the 13 dark patterns prohibited by the Central Consumer Protection Authority
(CCPA).

Soft Surveillance and Self-Governing Femininity in Gendered Controlled Digital Media

Ipsita Sachdev, Mehak Bansal — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

While the media is often critiqued for misrepresentation, its more insidious role lies in
shaping how women learn to monitor and regulate themselves. This paper examines
how contemporary Indian digital media, particularly Instagram reels, influencer
content, and beauty/ lifestyle advertising, function as a system of soft surveillance
that normalises gendered self-discipline. Rather than overtly imposing stereotypes,
these platforms circulate aspirational visual cultures that subtly prescribe how women
should look, behave, and present themselves in public and private spaces. Focusing
on curated content around “ideal” femininity, productivity routines, beauty standards,
relationship advice, and “trad wife” aesthetics, the study conducts a qualitative visual
and discourse analysis of high-engagement posts to identify recurring patterns
of self-optimization, emotional restraint, and aesthetic conformity. It argues that
such content shifts the locus of control from external societal enforcement to
internalised self-surveillance, in which women actively reproduce restrictive norms
under the guise of empowerment and choice. The research uses qualitative visual
and discourse analysis of selected Instagram posts with high user engagement. It
examines patterns in imagery, captions, and narratives to understand how gender
norms are subtly reinforced. The paper situates these dynamics within the Indian
socio-cultural context, showing how digital media repackages traditional patriarchal
expectations - such as modesty, desirability, and familial responsibility - into modern,
algorithm-friendly formats. This creates a hybrid model of control that is less visible
yet more pervasive, operating through aspiration rather than coercion. By reframing
media as a mechanism that produces self-governing gendered subjects, this study
challenges conventional narratives of representation. It highlights the need to critically
interrogate the politics of “empowerment” in digital culture. It ultimately argues that
without addressing these subtle modes of normalisation, media risks reinforcing
gender hierarchies in more deeply embedded and less contestable ways.

Promoting Dogra Culture Through Social Media: The Role of Influencers in Shaping Youth Perceptions and Societal Behaviour

Chetna Sharma, Mehak Jonjua, Parul Mehra — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In the digital age, social media influencers are powerful actors shaping culture,
particularly among youth residing in regional areas like the Dogra region of Jammu
and Himachal Pradesh (Sharma, 2019). The purpose of this study is to explore how
influencers are instrumental in promoting, reinterpreting, and disseminating cultural
aspects of Dogra youth in Jammu; the larger Duggar region; and the digital diaspora.
Globalisation has created two effects on regional culture, increasing the visibility of
a regional culture while threatening to homogenize it, selectively represent it, and
commercialize it. The study also explores the difference in the level of commitment
to Dogra culture by youth across different age groups and urban/rural divides
(Sharma, 2019). According to UNESCO (2023), digital technologies have potential for
documenting, transmitting, and revitalising intangible cultural artefacts but there are
concerns with regards to authenticity, concentrated power from large social media
companies, and algorithmic biases in visibility.
The current research is conducted using qualitative thematic analysis of five semistructured
interviews with purposively selected Dogra influencers on Instagram,
YouTube, and Facebook (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The thematic analysis, based on the
six-phase framework developed by Braun and Clarke, revealed that Dogra social
media influencers bridge cultural divides by translating cultural aspects of Dogra
youth for their followers into digital formats that appeal to them (such as using
the Dogri language, Dogra attire, Dogra festivals, Dogra food, Dogra folklore, and
Dogri symbols). The findings indicate that social media influencers have the ability
to enhance cultural continuity amongst their followers, although the effectiveness
of this occurred through ethical digital practices, initiatives aimed at preserving the
Dogri language, and community-based stewardship. This research study contributes
to the body of media studies research by highlighting the role of regional influencers
in negotiating global platform logics to maintain the identity of a localised culture.

Framing the Citizenship Amendment Act: A Multimodal Analysis of Short-Video Discourse and the Construction of Belonging in Digital Spaces

Namit Hans, Shikha Rai — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The rapid rise of digital media has led to a fundamental alteration of the contemporary
public discourse, and short-video platforms have emerged as critical sites hosting
reconstruction of complex socio-political issues within the digital sphere. This
study presents a framing analysis of short-video content related to the Citizenship
Amendment Act (CAA), analysing how diverse and competing interpretive frameworks
influence the audience’s understanding of the issue and the overall mediation of social
identity. This research is situated within a larger PhD project by the researcher, which
examined 15 prominent topics in India, including the focus of this study - CAA. The 10
analysed videos, a subset of total 100 videos, were selected because the topic (CAA)
serves as a strong case study for competing narratives and high emotional intensity,
thereby influencing identity construction of the audience.
Findings of the study reveal a highly fragmented discursive landscape. The Legal and
Constitutional Frame anchors the entire discourse in formal logic and institutional
validity of the act. On the other hand, the Humanitarian Frame sees how unique
platform characteristics of the short-video format, like personal storytelling and
facial expressions, are used to evoke empathy and highlight the impact on lived
experience of citizens. The Security Frame, conversely, puts an emphasis on need for
administrative regulation and national interest, while the Identity and Cultural Frame
focus on the collective memory and symbolic belonging aspects of the issue. The
study demonstrates that short-videos bring together visual, linguistic, and auditory
elements to create ‘hybrid’ frames, playing a crucial role in influencing social cohesion
and formation of a collective identity.

Classroom Learning Vs. Digital Learning In Indian Primary Education

Aahana B. Chopra, Swati Sharan — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This Paper Examines that how a child is being shaped through the various modes
of Learning, Like- Classroom learning and Digital learning. The education system in
India has mainly relied on classroom learning, where students learn from teachers
and interact with classmates. However, with better internet and digital technology,
online learning has become an important option. Some Scholars brings out other
side of it as a challenge like lack of internet access for some students, less practical
learning, and reduced social interaction. This shift increased during the COVID-19
pandemic, when schools moved to online classes. Since then, online learning has
become common because it is flexible and easy to access. (Shushant Yadav and
Sanjay Kumar Singh,2025)
Using a mixed-methods research design the study combines qualitative interviews
with principals, heads of departments, and primary teachers; parent surveys
administered via online forms; and focus-group discussions and participant
observation with primary students. Narrative analysis and coding of interview,
survey, and observational data are supported by basic quantitative techniques using
tools such as Likert-type scales, Excel, and Google Sheets. The sample includes
approximately 12–15 teacher interviews, 90–100 parental survey responses, 40–45
student focus-group responses, and 7–8 prior case studies to situate findings within
existing relationship on classroom versus digital learning. This Paper looks at both
the aspects of the learning equally to find out which mode of learning is best suited
for primary education children.

Exploring the Role of Anime and Manga in Shaping Social Attitudes among Animation Students

Amit Singh, Ritu S Sood — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Manga & Anime subculture exported from Japan to globally sometimes called
“Animanga” for ease of discussion. Today the impact of this visual popular culture so
immense that almost every country has been witnessing Comic Con Events, Cosplay
and communities which further resulted into a shaping cultural participation and
social behavioural attitude. Today this has been become a one sided relation known as
“Parasocial Phenomena” and potential sources of emotional attachment, inspiration,
and social learning. Earlier research has explored anime fandom, media consumption
and market trends However, it seems there is little research on the significance of
emotional attachments with anime and manga characters on the development of
Social Attitudes among the youth. The present study attempts to fill this gap, and
examines the role of exposure to anime and manga in the development of emotional
attachment to fictional characters, and in the development of attitudes related to
empathy, cultural diversity, cooperation, responsible citizenship and Sustainable
values. The research design included a structured questionnaire measuring
quantitative and qualitative insights. The study also provides insights for policy makers
from academia and researchers regarding the educational and social possibilities of
anime and manga in developing sustainability.