The present study scrutinizes the cases of honor killings in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Canada through selected documentary films. The case focuses on the social, moral, and religious aspects that coerce some people to take the lives of their own family members in case they defy norms. The documentaries chosen as case studies provide the perspectives of both the victims and the victimizers regarding the concepts of honor, dishonor, and honor killings. People in certain societies reject progressive new thought as attempts to contaminate their perceived cultural purity. People from these communities who try to assimilate liberal ideas are often shunned, especially when the emancipation of women is concerned. Even the seemingly progressive males are very unforgiving about the female members of their families embracing the modern ways of life. The women who try to defy set traditions are branded as being rebellious and are punished to serve as a precedent for future rebellions by women and to save society from their alleged bad influence. In some patriarchal societies, women are seen as the preservers of the family’s honor, and their conduct often reflects the family’s culture, morality, and ethics. Any lapse on a woman’s part allegedly taints the family’s name, and punishment must be given to the erring party to restore the family’s honor. The case also studies the influence of society as a compelling factor in honor killings.
The paper attempts to study the presence of homophobia prevalent in Indian society and its representation onscreen through parallel films. It also studies the relevance of these films, which are comparable to ethnographic films in terms of selection of their content and the intent of the filmmakers, in attempting to affect a change in the society for the betterment of minority groups and victims. While doing so, the parallel Indian film Aligarh has been taken as a case study which is based on the life and mysterious death of Professor Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras. The public uproar and unofficial ban and violence against the film during its release provides us with useful anthropological insight into the mindset of a large number of people who resort to violence in the face of change from the accepted and widespread societal norms.
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