Human communication in the society can take the strongest form if a person involves kinesics along with the spoken language. The physical domain of existence provides the scope to the individual to use verbal and non-verbal communication in unison to communicate some idea or matter. Now, the physical attributes that are used in such communication can very well be subversive in nature. One needs to delve into the matter in context to explore how the physical gestures work as symbols of subversion in various situations so as to accentuate the vehemence of opinion and expression by the individual engaging in utilization of the symbolic physical gesture. The research would aim to comprehend the importance of contextual knowledge in ascribing meaning to the body signs used for propagating an idea or communicating an emotion. The research would also endeavor to address the scope of universality of the body signs. Moreover, if the body signs are communicative enough sans verbal communication also needs to be ascertained.
I think this relates to our course because the very basic essence of this course is to understand the power and aesthetic appeal of gesticulations in human communication. I am trying to learn about the way in which body gestures can surpass the communicative power of verbal language. The project would delve into existing academic and online sources for the holistic comprehension and explication of the research questions. A close scrutiny and analysis would lead to a theoretical understand of the matter in context. The sources from the course would be used for extracting relevant information about the domain of study. The study would pave the way for further advancement in understanding the correlation among society, culture and body language. Apart from this, body gestures or forms are taken to be symbolic in nature in this study.
Anusha Kedhar’s article, “Hands Up Don’t Shoot” can be used as a relevant source that shows how a popular gesture of submission took the meaning of vehement subversion due to a killing. (Kedhar 1) The book, Between the World and Me, penned by Ta-Nehisi Coates talks about the discrimination meted out to the black community in America and delves into the various modes of protestations by the black people using non-violent methods. (Coates 4-10) Franz Fanon’s seminal book, The Wretched of the Earth is another significant work that can provide an insight into the hardships faced by the natives and explicates how they endeavored to physically protest against the oppressions by the colonial power. (Fanon 25-40) I am going to examine the hands up sign in context of the racial discrimination that has been a major issue in the world society for many years now. This particular case would be studied in relation to the two texts that have been mentioned in the course of this proposal.
This proposed research would provide an in-depth understanding of the hegemonic influences of the society on a community of people. It would also delve into the transformation of psyche of the black community that fought for their rights leading up to the bodily protest form in context. Thus, this research would address all the research questions by taking into account the societal practices, the cultural markers, the systematic violence on the black people and their form of protest that has come to be expressed by kinesics in the present era. The symbolic representation of ideas via the body is one of the most important aspects of the protest by the blacks in an era where racism has taken the form of veiled attack resonating white dominance on the black community.
Works Cited
Coates, Ta-Nehisi. Between the World and Me. New York City: Spiegel & Grau, 2015. Print.
Fanon, Franz. The Wretched of the Earth. New York City: Grove Press, 1961. Print.
Kedhar, Anusha. “Hands Up Don’t Shoot” The Feminist Wire. The Feminist Wire,
