Goethe-Institut’s int’l conference on Masculinity begins Friday

Goethe-Institutes in Bangladesh and India are set to virtually inaugurate a 2-day international conference on Friday.

Dhaka, Sep 2 : Goethe-Institutes in Bangladesh and India are set to virtually inaugurate a 2-day international conference titled ‘M3: Man, Male, Masculine’ on Friday.

The international conference will bring together intellectual and cultural perspectives from experts and artistes from South Asia and Europe on the theme of masculinities, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh said in a press release.

M3: Man, Male, Masculine is a South-Asian regional project on the theme of Masculinities, aiming to discuss current visions of masculinity across the gender spectrum in Bangladesh and India and explore the current visions on masculinities across the gender spectrum through various discursive, cultural, and educational activities, the press release added.

The idea is to provide, through various perspectives and formats, a chance to not only develop an understanding of stereotypes and role models but also reflect on individual perceptions of masculinity.

The focuses on masculinities in general with a particular emphasis on the prevailing scenario in Bangladesh and India.

It also intends to explore the different notions of masculinity, such as how men are perceived and how masculinity is constructed in media, art, and performances, and how does all this make young humans, who identify themselves as male, feel.

From the Bangladesh frontier, Esha Aurora (Journalist, Bangladesh) and Fikri Anil Altintas (Writer & #HeForShe Catalyst, Germany) will be in conversation on 4th September at 5 pm (Bangladesh time), regarding Performing Masculinity. The interactive conversation shall encompass perspectives and contexts of gender performance; the Topic of Honor of ascribed non-white masculinity, Gender-based violence, and the concepts of Orientalism in masculinity.

Performing Masculinity will also be discussed within the realm of Contemporary South Asian Cinema. A Panel Discussion moderated by film curator and journalist Meenakshi Shedde.

The speakers include acclaimed Bangladeshi filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki (Bangladesh), Rubaiyat Hossain (Bangladesh), Devashish Makhija (India) and Tillotama Shome (India).

The discussion intends to explore how different roles are written for men and women actors. It will also look at how differently men and women are directed and treated onset, gender disparity in pay scales for actors, as well as directors. It will also be exploring childhood events that may have shaped these stakeholders into the people they are today and how often men watch films directed by women.

Other speakers include Urvashi Butalia (Feminist Researcher & Writer, New Delhi), Florian Fischer (freelance Consultant on Social Issues, Germany), Meena Kandaswamy (anti-caste activist, novelist, India), Michael Meuser (Professor of Sociology, Dortmund University), Sumathi Ramaswamy (Professor of History & International Comparative Studies, Duke University, USA), and more.

Artistes including Aditi Mittal (writer, comedian, actor, India), Anamika Joshi (Spoken-word artist, India), Mandeep Raikhy (Dance practitioner & choreographer, India), Susanne Sachsse (actress, Berlin Germany), Kerstin Rickermann & Silke Beller, Film-makers Germany) and more will be performing in an around the same topic.

To participate in the conference via Zoom and to register in advance for the sessions on 3rd & 4th September 2021, visitors are required to follow the link at https://bit.ly/RegisterGIM3, reports UNB.