Disrupting masculinity: Locating Indian OTT web series as quality television and sites of subversive masculine representations

Abstract

This paper addresses a void in academic discourse by scrutinising Indian OTT web series as exemplars of ‘quality’ television, referencing the criteria outlined by television scholar Thompson (1996). Drawing on Albrecht’s (2016) examination of masculinity in contemporary quality television, the study endeavours to explore how Indian web series provide fertile ground for diverse portrayals of masculinity in contrast to conventional soap operas that are sometimes seen to reinforce gender stereotypes. Focussing on two Amazon Prime Video series, the analysis seeks to shed light on the cultural significance of Indian web series and their subversive masculine representations.

Keywords

Masculinities subversion web series quality television

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