The second session of the lecture series titled “Voices and Visions: Exploring Language, Media, Equality and Equity in the Modern Landscape” was held on 20th February at the School of Humanities Auditorium. The session conducted the 4th and 5th lectures by two guest speakers. The first session was held on 12th February 2024 and hosted the first three lectures.
The primary objective of the series is to address the potentiality of language being biased by exploring what it does—examining language in media, removing discriminatory elements, and promoting inclusivity and respect for all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities.
The second session featured two esteemed speakers— Prof. S. Upendran, Retd. Professor, Department of Materials Development, English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, who spoke “English through Rhymes and Songs”, and Prof. Usha Raman, Professor & Head, Department of Communication, University of Hyderabad.
Prof. Usha Raman delivered a lecture on “Performing Aggression: Toxic Masculinity in the Media.” She talked about toxic masculinity and gender imbalances. Media often depicts men as aggressive and dominant, using violence as a means of resolving conflicts or asserting power. She addressed the issues of masculinity and misogyny in media around the representation of women by looking at the journalistic performance itself. She highlighted behaviours that are contributing to hegemonic masculinity and reinforcement of stereotypes.
She emphasized the norms in journalism that contribute to creating a sense of what is professional and whether this idea is gendered. She drew attention to the concept of equity and equality, and it is fundamental to think about how the world is represented and how that representation creates space for people in it.
Prof. S. Upendran spoke on the topic, “English through Rhymes and Songs.” He emphasized on the importance of using songs and rhymes as learning tools in English language acquisition. It helps learners to learn the language better as the learning becomes implicit—a fun and effective way to pick up the English language in chunks. His lecture infused creativity and joy into the discussion.
Dr. Shree Deepa expressed that she was so emotionally charged with the cause that she wanted to host such an event—her dream project. She plans to continue hosting more such series at a convenient time.
The second session hosted about 60 participants from different academic backgrounds, making the sessions inclusive, multidisciplinary, and successful.
Contributed by- Rameshori Chanu, Ph.D. Student, CELS, University of Hyderabad