To unravel the extent to which Shakespeare is accorded cultural capita

Question

To unravel the extent to which Shakespeare is accorded cultural capital in India, two examples from popular culture will be examined - one from an Air India advertisement and another from a Hollywood film in the making that casts ‘Bollywood’ star Hrithik Roshan as an Indian king in Rajasthan, looking to avenge the murder of his father.

The Air India advertisement, found in a 1975 American magazine, features Shakespeare with a beautiful Indian woman clad in a sari. Focused from shoulders up, the black and white image reproduces a typical studio shot of a married couple. The top of the ad reads, We go out of our way to please you. We also go to London every day." This is followed by the contact reference to Air India. Presented in the image of a couple, the ad naturalizes the union of the colonized Indian woman and Shakespeare (the most authoritative representative of the culture of the colonizer) and thrusts them into the global realm of tourism, art, and commerce to symbolize the union of East and West, with Shakespeare representing the means of transcending the distance between India and England. To make it more enticing, the slogan that follows the main caption of the ad is also somewhat sexualized: "We (Air India) work all day to make your night with us a dream." The advertisement creates a spectacle that reproduces Shakespeare in the image of the authoritative imperial traveler to the exotic and mysterious land, India, represented through the image of the exotic Indian woman. In so doing, the advertisement at once obscures the gendered, racial, and colonial dynamics that complicate such an image and legitimize the discourse around Shakespeare as a harbinger of cultural authority

My second example is a Hollywood film in the making that plans to cast Indian Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan in the role of a Rajput prince who avenges his father's murder in a "chilling thriller." To generate publicity for the film, the filmmakers proposed to market Roshan as an "Indian Hamlet." While the producer believes that Hrithik is the ideal candidate for the role and places him "somewhere between Tom Cruise and Antonio Banderas," he recognizes that Hrithik is a new name in Hollywood. Therefore, he says, "we will have to sell him through the two known names--Hamlet and Shakespeare". In doing so, the Hollywood producer assumes the far-reaching influence of and appreciation for Shakespeare. At the same time, as a film that will be shot in India with some scenes in England, it conjures up the image of exoticism that continues to seize the West's imagination.

Such images not only keep alive Shakespeare’s insidious influence in India, they further perpetuate the discourse about the bard's cultural superiority, which continues through government-sponsored agencies, the continuing presence of Shakespeare studies in education, and through theatre groups and touring companies performing locally and visiting from abroad.    1 
 1. According to the passage, Hrithik has to be marketed as India’s Hamlet because

(A) his name is unknown to American audiences
(B) American audiences confuse him with Tom Cruise and Antonio Banderas
(C) the movie’s Hollywood producer assumes the far-reaching influence of and appreciation for Shakespeare
(D) the film will be shot in India and England
(E) Hrithik is the ideal candidate for the role

2 
 2. The author’s attitude toward the cultural capital accorded to Shakespeare in India is best described as one of

(A) indifference
(B) hesitance
(C) disapproval
(D) amusement
(E) neutrality

3 
 3. It can be inferred from the passage that more people in the U.S. are likely to pay to see the Hollywood movie mentioned in the passage if the actors are

(A) Indian
(B) British
(C) Classically trained
(D) familiar to the audience
(E) excellent at portraying their roles

4 
 4. In the last paragraph, the author is primarily concerned with

(A) correcting an error occurring in one of the works under review
(B) citing evidence to support a view of Shakespeare in India
(C) drawing conclusions on the basis of evidence presented in the first three paragraphs
(D) summarizing the arguments about Shakespeare presented in the first three paragraphs
(E) refuting the view of Shakespeare’s influence in India presented in the previous paragraph

RC Butler 2022  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 17 Date: 11-Jan-2022
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2022 .  Click here for Details

Source: Reading Comprehension Practice (Docs)

Nishuchoudhary12 · Answer

Please explain 2 no. Passage written in positive tone how can we infer it negative???

Posted from my mobile device

Sajjad1994 · Answer

The only reference lines from the passage are:

"Such images not only keep alive Shakespeare’s insidious influence in India, they further perpetuate the discourse about the bard's cultural superiority"

This text suggests that the author somehow does not agree with the cultural capital accorded to Shakespeare in India.

Answer: C

100mitra · Answer

Paraphrasing:   
  Para 1:   Shakespeare is accorded cultural capital in India by 2 examples
  Para 2:   The Air India advertisement, its description and conclusion stating as the advertisement at once obscures the gendered, racial, and colonial dynamics that complicate such an image and legitimize the discourse around Shakespeare as a harbinger of cultural authority
  Para 2:   Hollywood film in the making that plans to cast Indian Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan in the role of a Rajput prince who avenges his father's murder in a "chilling thriller." assumes the far-reaching influence of and appreciation for Shakespeare, also to seize the West's imagination.
  Para 3:    Conclusion : Shakespeare’s image alive in insidious influence in India, by government-sponsored agencies in education, and through theatre groups and touring companies performing locally and visiting from abroad.

1. According to the passage, Hrithik has to be marketed as India’s Hamlet because  
(A) his name is unknown to American audiences
  Correct: as mentioned in the passage, para 2, 
“he recognizes that Hrithik is a new name in Hollywood” it means he is unknown to American audience

(B) American audiences confuse him with Tom Cruise and Antonio Banderas
  Wrong:   Out of scope, actually Hrithik is unknown to American audience, how could they get confuse

(C) the movie’s Hollywood producer assumes the far-reaching influence of and appreciation for Shakespeare
  Wrong:   Producer target assumption by, saying, 
"we will have to sell him through the two known names--Hamlet and Shakespeare"

(D) the film will be shot in India and England
  Wrong:   this is not the purpose or reason to market Hrithik as India’s Hamlet

(E) Hrithik is the ideal candidate for the role
  Wrong:  as mentioned in passage, its only producers believe, “While the producer believes that Hrithik is the ideal candidate for the role and places him "somewhere between Tom Cruise and Antonio Banderas,"

2. The author’s attitude toward the cultural capital accorded to Shakespeare in India is best described as one of
  
  Explanation:   as per sentence mentioned in passage,
1. “To unravel the extent to which Shakespeare is accorded cultural capital in India, two examples from popular culture will be examined “
2. Conclusion: “Such images not only keep alive Shakespeare’s insidious influence in India, they further perpetuate the discourse about the bard's cultural superiority”

(A) indifference:   Wrong:   – Author’s tone does not show lack of interest, concern or sympathy in passage
(B) hesitance:   Wrong:  – Author’s tone is not tentative, or unsure, passage properly explain with 2 different examples 
  (C) disapproval: as mentioned above explanation, passage starts with brief to unravel but mentions in the end with insidious influence   
(D) amusement:   Wrong:  – Author’s tone is not in state or experience of finding anything relate to entertainment 
(E) neutrality:   Wrong:  – Author mentions one view through 2 different popular cultural concluding insidious influence in India and simultaneously perpetuate the discourse by various means

3. It can be inferred from the passage that more people in the U.S. are likely to pay to see the Hollywood movie mentioned in the passage if the actors are  
  Explanation:   as mentioned in the passage, 
“Therefore, he says, "we will have to sell him through the two known names-- Hamlet and Shakespeare ". 
 (Hamlet and Shakespeare are well known in US) 
In doing so, the Hollywood producer assumes the far-reaching influence of and appreciation for Shakespeare. 
At the same time, as a film that will be shot in India with some scenes in England, 
it  conjures up the image of exoticism  that continues to seize the West's imagination.”

(A) Indian –   Wrong:   cannot be inference 
(B) British –   Wrong:   cannot be inference
(C) Classically trained –   Wrong:   cannot be inference
  (D) familiar to the audience – Correct, as mentioned above  
(E) excellent at portraying their roles –   Wrong:   cannot be inference

4. In the last paragraph, the author is primarily concerned with  
  Explanation:   as mentioned in the passage,
 " Such images  ( based on 2 cultural capital examples ) not only keep alive Shakespeare’s insidious influence in India, 
they further perpetuate the discourse about the bard's cultural superiority,  which continues  
- through government-sponsored agencies, 
- the continuing presence of Shakespeare studies in education, and 
- through theatre groups and touring companies

(A) correcting an error occurring in one of the works under review 
  Wrong:   (No Error correction tone)
(B) citing evidence to support a view of Shakespeare in India 
  Wrong:   (No supporting views)
  (C) drawing conclusions on the basis of evidence presented in the first three paragraphs 
– Correct, as mentioned above   
(D) summarizing the arguments about Shakespeare presented in the first three paragraphs 
  Wrong:   Examples are not part for argument quoted in 1st three paragraphs 
(E) refuting the view of Shakespeare’s influence in India presented in the previous paragraph 
  Wrong:  – no dispute tone in passage, it in fact states a statement, explains with 2 different example and conclude the conclusion

Anshuman0902 · Answer

Sajjad1994 please provide explanation of question no.4 , and tell me why option B is wrong

carcass · Answer

At the same time, as a film that will be shot in India with some scenes in England, it conjures up the image of exoticism that continues to seize the West's imagination.

Such images not only keep alive  Shakespeare’s insidious influence  in India,   they further perpetuate the discourse about the bard's cultural superiority  ,  which continues through government-sponsored agencies , the continuing presence of Shakespeare studies in education,  and through theatre groups and touring companies  performing locally and visiting from abroad.

(B) citing evidence to support a view of Shakespeare in India

They are NOT evidence or facts or examples

(C) drawing conclusions on the basis of the evidence presented in the first three paragraphs

Such images keep and blah blah blah are conclusion WHY in India there is still a Shakespeare stronghold on culture
Now we do know (based on the info in the previous ones) that X must be true and not only that. Also Y and Z (groups and companies)

regards

Prob2303 · Answer

Hi Sajjad,

Can I get a brief summary of the passage and the OE for Q1, Q2 and Q4?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

A post with better than official explanations is available here; let me know if you have any doubt. https://gmatclub.com/forum/to-unravel-t ... l#p2945498 Summary of the passage: This passage discusses two instances in popular culture in India that highlight Shakespeare's cultural prominence. The first is an Air India ad from 1975 featuring Shakespeare with an Indian woman, symbolizing the union of East and West for global tourism. The ad portrays Shakespeare as an authoritative imperial traveler, overlooking colonial dynamics. The second example is a Hollywood film starring Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan as an "Indian Hamlet," emphasizing Shakespeare's influence to market the film. These instances contribute to perpetuating Shakespeare's cultural superiority in India, evident in government agencies, education, and theater performances. Cheers

To unravel the extent to which Shakespeare is accorded cultural capita

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

To unravel the extent to which Shakespeare is accorded cultural capita

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