Dreaming in Canadian: South Asian Youth, Bollywood, and Belonging

As various nations wrestle with issues of immigration, integration, and pluralism, second-generation immigrants are exploring new ways to make sense of who they are and where they belong in the face of competing cultural demands. They may call their adopted countries home, but these young adults know that they stand out from the majority. This book documents the voice of South Asian youth on the margins and the role of media in their everyday lives. Faiza Hirji focuses on Bollywood cinema - a popular Indian export with strong patriotic and religious themes - as an avenue for the production of cultural, religious, and national identities among these young people, particularly Muslims. Through lively interviews, these young people share their thoughts on how Bollywood shapes and reflects their perceptions of themselves, how they practise their faith and interpret cultural values, and whether they view themselves as hyphenated Canadians. A unique blend of personal reflection and analysis, Dreaming in Canadian offers a thoughtful response to mainstream media studies on diaspora, nationalism, and multiculturalism. It shows that second-generation immigrants - anchored by the belief that ethnicity and religion can be embraced freely within a pluralist environment - may use media in a variety of ways to assist in the development of their own uniquely hybrid identities.