Ishika Goswami
Ancient, Divine, Queer - Reclaiming Power Through Myth, Memory and Movement
Summary
This research explores the representation of queer identities in Indian mythology and history through Bharatanatyam, an Indian classical dance form rooted in storytelling. The idea for this practice-based research took form as I navigated my own journey of longings, frustrations, doubts and fears while coming to terms with my bisexuality and found myself drawn to the histories and mythologies that had been overlooked or forgotten, stories that challenged the idea of queerness as something foreign to India. The process of seeking these narratives became an act of reclaiming a space within my own culture. Through this research, I aim to dismantle the perception of queerness as a western, urban or elite construct, instead situating it within India’s cultural and spiritual traditions, by analysing mythological narratives and historical accounts of non-heteronormative identities and relationships.
This project explores identity, belongingness, oppression and liberation through a series of performances leading up to the creation of a choreography script that interweaves queer-coded mythological tales with contemporary queer lived-experiences, stimulating empathy and broadening societal perceptions of non-heteronormative identities. Through experimental performance, I negotiate with the rigour of classical Indian arts and bend its etiquettes, making space for an immersive, emotionally charged experience that encourages deeper engagement with the identities being embodied.
Keywords: Queer Identity, Performing Arts, Bharatanatyam, Performative Research, Hindu Mythology, Indian Queer History, Representation
Complete Thesis
The main artefacts that emerged from this research was a poem that I wrote based on the poem Ritusamharam, taking the poet Kalidasa’s style of connecting the cyclical nature of the six Indian seasons with human desires and emotions, a sculptural piece, titled Untethered Offering, and a choreographic script that ties together mythological and historical queer instances with my own lived experiences. The poem was presented along with pictures representing that particular stanza taken by fellow MRes students, Jay Sethi and Emaan Mohsinuddin, and took the form of an accordion booklet with the sculptural piece in the middle.
