Dheeraj Waran
Final Year, English Honours & Literature
Dheeraj’s paper explores how the spectator is afforded so much power when they watch cinema since the camera is able to take spaces, positions and vantage points that are not possible for the human body. It emerges from the question of how the spectator is supposed navigate the relationship of being able to do so much with the reality represented on screen with the reality that poses limitations at home, and how the spectator isn’t able to re-access the limitless reality until they watch another film. Dheeraj is essentially looking at the concept of the transcendental subject and the death and life instincts.
Dheeraj was inspired from his interest in psychoanalysis and Freud and Lacan. Also, Film Theory was the only Film Studies course Dheeraj could take due to his transfer from sciences. He was therefore excited to be able to think through film theoretically and critically. The notion of transcending and reducing reality to less than something tangible was very exciting to Dheeraj. “Plus Wavelength (1967) is a really weird and fun film!”
Dheeraj is definitely considering further developing his paper. He wants to explore the death and life instinct’s relationship to pleasure.
Dheeraj is most passionate about theory. He enjoys the possibilities it poses and the idea of theorizing itself as an act. The act of theorizing is so powerful because there are so many narratives (that individuals consume daily), which people struggle with questioning. Therefore, the act of theorizing about a situation or particular event is very exciting for Dheeraj!
Dheeraj’s favourite Film Studies course is “Film Theory because it’s the only one I’ve done!”
Come see Dheeraj Waran’s symposium presentation on March 29, 2019 at 4:30pm in the Buchanan B Penthouse!
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