Rhythm And Algorithm: Reality TV, Item Numbers, And The Poetics Of Remix

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

2025

Published In

Routledge Handbook Of South Asian Cinemas

Abstract

This chapter examines the confluence of dance reality TV shows and Bollywood item numbers to examine the aspirational desire associated with remix aesthetics. The intersection of these two industries has given rise to a distinct consumer culture that celebrates the blending of global and local dance styles to produce a cosmopolitan and global Indian identity. Through an analysis of dance performances in reality shows and the Bollywood item number such as “Kamli” from Dhoom 3, I show how remix aesthetics reconfigure female sexuality and erotic desire in negotiating new gender codes and aspirational desires of a consumerist modernity. The paper argues that this cultural phenomenon is marked by contestations over female sexuality and gender identity, highlighting tensions between the poetics of desire around tradition and modernity. Ultimately, it demonstrates how remix aesthetics in Bollywood item numbers and popular media such as dance reality TV serve as a site for negotiating cultural values associated with desire, fame, and female sexuality in India's globalized mediascape. The findings offer insights into the complex dynamics of cultural production, consumption, and identity formation in contemporary India.

Published By

Routledge

Editor(s)

A. Gehlawat and J. Beaster-Jones

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