Lecturer at the Department of English and Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Research and teaching interests include literature, post-colonial studies, dystopian literature, queer studies, gender, sexuality, film and popular culture. BA (Hons.) in English from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Completed the MA in Gender and Women's Studies at the University of Colombo. Address: Sri Lanka
In the contemporary society, Cyber Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) has become a common ph... more In the contemporary society, Cyber Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) has become a common phenomenon on social media. This can be particularly seen on Facebook which is at present the most widely used social media platform in Sri Lanka. The research problem of this study is based on an exploration of the gendered nature of cyber violence on Facebook. It is based on the premise that, the ways and means of abuse women are subjected to on Facebook are diverse and varied. Thus, the objective of this research is to scrutinize the socio-cultural assumptions and dominant ideological beliefs and values which lead to the construct and usage of injurious content and hate speech against Sri Lankan women on this online platform. It is based on the methodology of a qualitative content analysis to survey text and visual media which provoke harassment on Facebook. These are explored by scrutinizing the gendered visual representations of offensive and misogynistic content and verbal terminologies such as sexist hate speech against women. These explorations are based on an analysis of memes, comments, images and posts which are predominantly based on two incidents which occurred in July 2015 and August 2014. Based on this qualitative content analysis, this study concludes that, the sexualisation and abuse women are subjected to on Facebook depict how the body and sexuality of women are disciplined and controlled. This is realized by deconstructing the meanings and attributes of Sinhala injurious content which vilify and denigrate women by subjecting them to abuse, ridicule, and harassment.
Research related to reception studies on queer representation in fiction within higher education ... more Research related to reception studies on queer representation in fiction within higher education institutions (HEIs) is a vastly unexplored area in Sri Lanka. This study intends to fill the gap in existing research by prioritising the need to factor in receptors’ positions and practices in teaching and learning these works. This research aims to understand, deconstruct, and explore the varied positions and practices of receptors (lecturers and students) in the teaching and learning of a selected Sri Lankan English fiction, Funny Boy (1994) by Shyam Selvadurai at local universities. The contextual and pedagogical site selected includes three universities in the Western and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. The methodology of the study incorporates a qualitative research design to conduct a reception analysis. The primary data collection methods are in-depth interviews with three lecturers and two students and a focus group discussion with three students. The findings of this research i...
Research related to reception studies on queer representation in ction within higher education in... more Research related to reception studies on queer representation in ction within higher education institutions (HEIs) is a vastly unexplored area in Sri Lanka. is study intends to ll the gap in existing research by prioritising the need to factor in receptors' positions and practices in teaching and learning these works. is research aims to understand, deconstruct, and explore the varied positions and practices of receptors (lecturers and students) in the teaching and learning of a selected Sri Lankan English ction, Funny Boy (1994) by Shyam Selvadurai at local universities. e contextual and pedagogical site selected includes three universities in the Western and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. e methodology of the study incorporates a qualitative research design to conduct a reception analysis. e primary data collection methods are in-depth interviews with three lecturers and two students and a focus group discussion with three students. e ndings of this research identify and analyse the frames of reference, pedagogies, approaches, and strategies involved in the teaching and learning of the selected ctional work. ese enable the analysis of varied reception positions and practices to explore their possibilities of incorporating critical and queer pedagogies to ensure a transformative learning experience within HEIs.
Migrant women workers are the main income generators of their families and they contribute to the... more Migrant women workers are the main income generators of their families and they contribute to the Sri Lankan economy as a vital part of the labour force. This research explores their representations in Sri Lankan English fiction in terms of how they are perceived and negotiate with their identities. The methodology of this study includes a textual analysis of selected Sri Lankan English fiction such as Vijita Fernando’s “The Homecoming” (1984), Punyakante Wijenaike’s “Anoma” (1996) and Jean Arasanayagam’s The Famished Waterfall (2004). This research aims to scrutinize the representations of migrant women workers within the dominant ideological framework where women are primarily perceived as the cultural disseminators of their nation. One of the research questions of this study is to determine the extent to which migrant women workers are considered transgressive according to the conventional beliefs and values in the mainstream society where women are symbolically equated to the na...
In the contemporary society, Cyber Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) has become a common ph... more In the contemporary society, Cyber Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) has become a common phenomenon on social media. This can be particularly seen on Facebook which is at present the most widely used social media platform in Sri Lanka. The research problem of this study is based on an exploration of the gendered nature of cyber violence on Facebook. It is based on the premise that, the ways and means of abuse women are subjected to on Facebook are diverse and varied. Thus, the objective of this research is to scrutinize the socio-cultural assumptions and dominant ideological beliefs and values which lead to the construct and usage of injurious content and hate speech against Sri Lankan women on this online platform. It is based on the methodology of a qualitative content analysis to survey text and visual media which provoke harassment on Facebook. These are explored by scrutinizing the gendered visual representations of offensive and misogynistic content and verbal terminologies such as sexist hate speech against women. These explorations are based on an analysis of memes, comments, images and posts which are predominantly based on two incidents which occurred in July 2015 and August 2014. Based on this qualitative content analysis, this study concludes that, the sexualisation and abuse women are subjected to on Facebook depict how the body and sexuality of women are disciplined and controlled. This is realized by deconstructing the meanings and attributes of Sinhala injurious content which vilify and denigrate women by subjecting them to abuse, ridicule, and harassment.
Bound by Culture : Essays on Cultural Production Signifying Gender, 2020
This essay refers to select Sri Lankan novels written in English (Punyakante Wijenaike's Giraya a... more This essay refers to select Sri Lankan novels written in English (Punyakante Wijenaike's Giraya and Amulet, Shyam Selvadurai's Funny Boy, Carl Muller's The Jam Fruit Tree and Brandon Ingram's Living their Lie) to explore how queer sexualities are represented. These radical works are considered controversial in the mainstream Sri Lankan society as they focus on subversive queer identities. The essay does not only address the visibility given to the queer sexualities in these novels but also problematises their representations. These representations are often perceived in terms of characters straying away from the accepted normative conventions and expectations of the society. They are also portrayed in a way that express concerns of lajja-bhaya (shame-fear) to expose or reveal desires which are considered as taboo, unnatural and abhorrent within the dominant discourse. Moreover, when certain characters give in to their desires, which are considered as 'deviant' in the hegemonic discourse that superimposes heteronormativity as the norm, they are 'punished' for embracing their non-normative/queer sexuality.
The absurd can be defined as the conflict which arises due to the human inclination to pursue mea... more The absurd can be defined as the conflict which arises due to the human inclination to pursue meaning and purpose in life, and human incapability to find any in a disordered and unreasonable world. Absurd heroes in literature perceive the world as meaningless and irrational and thereby revolt against the dynamics of power which are pervasive within societal institutions. This research is based on a study of the absurd and revolt of the protagonists in selected fiction of Albert Camus (1913-1960). The objective of this study is to scrutinize the ways in which the characters in Camus's fiction resist the absurdity of modern existence, ideological expectations and the dialectics of power in social institutions. The problem statement is based on exploring to what extent the characters' struggle, revolt and resistance can be considered as subversive in terms of how they are realized in the narratives. The methodology is a textual analysis of fiction which includes Camus's novel The Outsider (1942) and his short fiction-The Guest‖ (1957),-The Growing Stone‖ (1957) and-The Renegade or A Confused Mind‖ (1957). This study conceptualizes the absurd and revolt in Camus's selected fiction via theoretical frameworks predominantly based on ideology and power. It concludes that, Camus engages in a powerful socio-political critique by engaging with the diverse ways in which the resistance of his absurd heroes can be realized. These are explored in fictional contexts where such characters are surrounded by societal institutions which seek to discipline, regulate and control them.
This paper engages with Visakesa Chandrasekaram’s dystopian fiction The King and the Assassin to... more This paper engages with Visakesa Chandrasekaram’s dystopian fiction The King and the Assassin to examine how it offers a scathing socio-political critique of the oppressive and restrictive power and influence wielded by the government as well as the dominant and hegemonic social institutions in the country. This paper looks at how these are explored in his narrative by referring to the abuse of power by social institutions or power structures in the form of uncovering state-mediated violence and by exposing the exploitation and corruption by authority figures in Sri Lanka. This paper engages with the discourses of power, control, discipline and the self-disciplining gaze with reference to Michel Foucault to theoretically substantiate its arguments. It observes how power monitors, observes and manipulates citizens in The King and the Assassin by reducing them into ‘docile bodies.’ These individuals are governed by the faceless gaze of power which acts as a self-disciplining, controlling and shrivelling mechanism which restricts the free choice, decisions and actions of people.
Queer sexuality studies focus on what is excluded and devalued within identity binaries as well a... more Queer sexuality studies focus on what is excluded and devalued within identity binaries as well as what is marginalized within the hegemonic discourse. This study is based on examining the queer representations in Sri Lankan English fiction by engaging with three predominant Sri Lankan English writers. The methodology includes a textual analysis of selected Sri Lankan English fiction by contemporary Sri Lankan English writers. The fictions comprise of the two novels Giraya (1971) by Punyakante Wijenaike and The Jam Fruit Tree (1993) by Carl Muller which is the first book of his trilogy of the von Bloss family. The short fiction incorporates the short story “Old Boys’ Nuts” from Chhimi Tenduf-La’s short story collection Loyal Stalkers (2017). The objective of this study is to explore the stereotypical queer representations of selected Sri Lankan English fiction to problematize their depictions of non-conformist sexualities. The research problem of this study is thus based on ‘queering’ Sri Lankan English fiction to unearth whether these representations cater to the stereotyping of queer identities in a predominantly heteronormative society. Based on a discussion of the stereotyping of queer identities in Wijenaike’s, Muller’s and Tenduf-La’s narratives, this study persists that, the queer representations are seen as taboo, forbidden and unnatural. This paper therefore concludes that, despite the subversive potential of the selected novels to address non-normative sexualities, their stereotypical perceptions of queer identities are problematic. This is because they lead to the devaluation of sexual minorities who are seen as deviant and abhorrent within the largely heteronormative Sri Lankan context.
International Research Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS), 2018
Queer studies are based on the social production and regulation of sexuality by focusing on sexua... more Queer studies are based on the social production and regulation of sexuality by focusing on sexual minorities who are vilified and marginalized within the hegemonic discourse. This study engages with the representation of queer identities to scrutinize homosexuality and homosexual relationships in selected Sri Lankan English novels. It identifies literary work which have voiced the queer identity within the dominant discourse that superimposes the establishment of a ‘compulsory heterosexuality.’ The methodology of this study is based on a textual examination of two novels by two contemporary Sri Lankan English writers who voice such non-conformist sexualities in their fiction. The primary novels which are examined for this study comprise of Funny Boy (1994) by Shyam Selvadurai and Living their Lie (2009) by Brandon Ingram. The objective of this paper is to problematize the representation of homosexuality in these novels by incorporating insights of a number of theorists including those of queer theorists. The research problem of this study is grounded on a queering approach to the selected literary works. This is incorporated to analyse whether their queer representations challenge or affirm to the dominant societal heteronormative discourse. The discussion of the selected novels unearths the ubiquitous and pervasive heteronormative ideology and its ideological expectations in representing homosexuality and homosexual relationships. The representation of queer identities are thus exclusively perceived through a lens of heteronormativity which has enabled an essentialist perception of sexuality. It is through this essentialist perception that, the non-normative sexualities are regarded as deviant, unnatural, marginal and in opposition to heterosexuality which is established as the norm. The study concludes by establishing that, despite the subversive and radical attempts of the selected novels in addressing queer identities, they still cater to the superimposition of heteronormativity. This is realised by how the novels contribute to the dominant heterosexual expectations of the society to perceive homosexuality and homosexual relationships as taboo and forbidden identities.
In the contemporary society, Cyber Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) has become a common ph... more In the contemporary society, Cyber Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) has become a common phenomenon on social media. This can be particularly seen on Facebook which is at present the most widely used social media platform in Sri Lanka. The research problem of this study is based on an exploration of the gendered nature of cyber violence on Facebook. It is based on the premise that, the ways and means of abuse women are subjected to on Facebook are diverse and varied. Thus, the objective of this research is to scrutinize the socio-cultural assumptions and dominant ideological beliefs and values which lead to the construct and usage of injurious content and hate speech against Sri Lankan women on this online platform. It is based on the methodology of a qualitative content analysis to survey text and visual media which provoke harassment on Facebook. These are explored by scrutinizing the gendered visual representations of offensive and misogynistic content and verbal terminologies such as sexist hate speech against women. These explorations are based on an analysis of memes, comments, images and posts which are predominantly based on two incidents which occurred in July 2015 and August 2014. Based on this qualitative content analysis, this study concludes that, the sexualisation and abuse women are subjected to on Facebook depict how the body and sexuality of women are disciplined and controlled. This is realized by deconstructing the meanings and attributes of Sinhala injurious content which vilify and denigrate women by subjecting them to abuse, ridicule, and harassment.
Research related to reception studies on queer representation in fiction within higher education ... more Research related to reception studies on queer representation in fiction within higher education institutions (HEIs) is a vastly unexplored area in Sri Lanka. This study intends to fill the gap in existing research by prioritising the need to factor in receptors’ positions and practices in teaching and learning these works. This research aims to understand, deconstruct, and explore the varied positions and practices of receptors (lecturers and students) in the teaching and learning of a selected Sri Lankan English fiction, Funny Boy (1994) by Shyam Selvadurai at local universities. The contextual and pedagogical site selected includes three universities in the Western and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. The methodology of the study incorporates a qualitative research design to conduct a reception analysis. The primary data collection methods are in-depth interviews with three lecturers and two students and a focus group discussion with three students. The findings of this research i...
Research related to reception studies on queer representation in ction within higher education in... more Research related to reception studies on queer representation in ction within higher education institutions (HEIs) is a vastly unexplored area in Sri Lanka. is study intends to ll the gap in existing research by prioritising the need to factor in receptors' positions and practices in teaching and learning these works. is research aims to understand, deconstruct, and explore the varied positions and practices of receptors (lecturers and students) in the teaching and learning of a selected Sri Lankan English ction, Funny Boy (1994) by Shyam Selvadurai at local universities. e contextual and pedagogical site selected includes three universities in the Western and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. e methodology of the study incorporates a qualitative research design to conduct a reception analysis. e primary data collection methods are in-depth interviews with three lecturers and two students and a focus group discussion with three students. e ndings of this research identify and analyse the frames of reference, pedagogies, approaches, and strategies involved in the teaching and learning of the selected ctional work. ese enable the analysis of varied reception positions and practices to explore their possibilities of incorporating critical and queer pedagogies to ensure a transformative learning experience within HEIs.
Migrant women workers are the main income generators of their families and they contribute to the... more Migrant women workers are the main income generators of their families and they contribute to the Sri Lankan economy as a vital part of the labour force. This research explores their representations in Sri Lankan English fiction in terms of how they are perceived and negotiate with their identities. The methodology of this study includes a textual analysis of selected Sri Lankan English fiction such as Vijita Fernando’s “The Homecoming” (1984), Punyakante Wijenaike’s “Anoma” (1996) and Jean Arasanayagam’s The Famished Waterfall (2004). This research aims to scrutinize the representations of migrant women workers within the dominant ideological framework where women are primarily perceived as the cultural disseminators of their nation. One of the research questions of this study is to determine the extent to which migrant women workers are considered transgressive according to the conventional beliefs and values in the mainstream society where women are symbolically equated to the na...
In the contemporary society, Cyber Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) has become a common ph... more In the contemporary society, Cyber Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) has become a common phenomenon on social media. This can be particularly seen on Facebook which is at present the most widely used social media platform in Sri Lanka. The research problem of this study is based on an exploration of the gendered nature of cyber violence on Facebook. It is based on the premise that, the ways and means of abuse women are subjected to on Facebook are diverse and varied. Thus, the objective of this research is to scrutinize the socio-cultural assumptions and dominant ideological beliefs and values which lead to the construct and usage of injurious content and hate speech against Sri Lankan women on this online platform. It is based on the methodology of a qualitative content analysis to survey text and visual media which provoke harassment on Facebook. These are explored by scrutinizing the gendered visual representations of offensive and misogynistic content and verbal terminologies such as sexist hate speech against women. These explorations are based on an analysis of memes, comments, images and posts which are predominantly based on two incidents which occurred in July 2015 and August 2014. Based on this qualitative content analysis, this study concludes that, the sexualisation and abuse women are subjected to on Facebook depict how the body and sexuality of women are disciplined and controlled. This is realized by deconstructing the meanings and attributes of Sinhala injurious content which vilify and denigrate women by subjecting them to abuse, ridicule, and harassment.
Bound by Culture : Essays on Cultural Production Signifying Gender, 2020
This essay refers to select Sri Lankan novels written in English (Punyakante Wijenaike's Giraya a... more This essay refers to select Sri Lankan novels written in English (Punyakante Wijenaike's Giraya and Amulet, Shyam Selvadurai's Funny Boy, Carl Muller's The Jam Fruit Tree and Brandon Ingram's Living their Lie) to explore how queer sexualities are represented. These radical works are considered controversial in the mainstream Sri Lankan society as they focus on subversive queer identities. The essay does not only address the visibility given to the queer sexualities in these novels but also problematises their representations. These representations are often perceived in terms of characters straying away from the accepted normative conventions and expectations of the society. They are also portrayed in a way that express concerns of lajja-bhaya (shame-fear) to expose or reveal desires which are considered as taboo, unnatural and abhorrent within the dominant discourse. Moreover, when certain characters give in to their desires, which are considered as 'deviant' in the hegemonic discourse that superimposes heteronormativity as the norm, they are 'punished' for embracing their non-normative/queer sexuality.
The absurd can be defined as the conflict which arises due to the human inclination to pursue mea... more The absurd can be defined as the conflict which arises due to the human inclination to pursue meaning and purpose in life, and human incapability to find any in a disordered and unreasonable world. Absurd heroes in literature perceive the world as meaningless and irrational and thereby revolt against the dynamics of power which are pervasive within societal institutions. This research is based on a study of the absurd and revolt of the protagonists in selected fiction of Albert Camus (1913-1960). The objective of this study is to scrutinize the ways in which the characters in Camus's fiction resist the absurdity of modern existence, ideological expectations and the dialectics of power in social institutions. The problem statement is based on exploring to what extent the characters' struggle, revolt and resistance can be considered as subversive in terms of how they are realized in the narratives. The methodology is a textual analysis of fiction which includes Camus's novel The Outsider (1942) and his short fiction-The Guest‖ (1957),-The Growing Stone‖ (1957) and-The Renegade or A Confused Mind‖ (1957). This study conceptualizes the absurd and revolt in Camus's selected fiction via theoretical frameworks predominantly based on ideology and power. It concludes that, Camus engages in a powerful socio-political critique by engaging with the diverse ways in which the resistance of his absurd heroes can be realized. These are explored in fictional contexts where such characters are surrounded by societal institutions which seek to discipline, regulate and control them.
This paper engages with Visakesa Chandrasekaram’s dystopian fiction The King and the Assassin to... more This paper engages with Visakesa Chandrasekaram’s dystopian fiction The King and the Assassin to examine how it offers a scathing socio-political critique of the oppressive and restrictive power and influence wielded by the government as well as the dominant and hegemonic social institutions in the country. This paper looks at how these are explored in his narrative by referring to the abuse of power by social institutions or power structures in the form of uncovering state-mediated violence and by exposing the exploitation and corruption by authority figures in Sri Lanka. This paper engages with the discourses of power, control, discipline and the self-disciplining gaze with reference to Michel Foucault to theoretically substantiate its arguments. It observes how power monitors, observes and manipulates citizens in The King and the Assassin by reducing them into ‘docile bodies.’ These individuals are governed by the faceless gaze of power which acts as a self-disciplining, controlling and shrivelling mechanism which restricts the free choice, decisions and actions of people.
Queer sexuality studies focus on what is excluded and devalued within identity binaries as well a... more Queer sexuality studies focus on what is excluded and devalued within identity binaries as well as what is marginalized within the hegemonic discourse. This study is based on examining the queer representations in Sri Lankan English fiction by engaging with three predominant Sri Lankan English writers. The methodology includes a textual analysis of selected Sri Lankan English fiction by contemporary Sri Lankan English writers. The fictions comprise of the two novels Giraya (1971) by Punyakante Wijenaike and The Jam Fruit Tree (1993) by Carl Muller which is the first book of his trilogy of the von Bloss family. The short fiction incorporates the short story “Old Boys’ Nuts” from Chhimi Tenduf-La’s short story collection Loyal Stalkers (2017). The objective of this study is to explore the stereotypical queer representations of selected Sri Lankan English fiction to problematize their depictions of non-conformist sexualities. The research problem of this study is thus based on ‘queering’ Sri Lankan English fiction to unearth whether these representations cater to the stereotyping of queer identities in a predominantly heteronormative society. Based on a discussion of the stereotyping of queer identities in Wijenaike’s, Muller’s and Tenduf-La’s narratives, this study persists that, the queer representations are seen as taboo, forbidden and unnatural. This paper therefore concludes that, despite the subversive potential of the selected novels to address non-normative sexualities, their stereotypical perceptions of queer identities are problematic. This is because they lead to the devaluation of sexual minorities who are seen as deviant and abhorrent within the largely heteronormative Sri Lankan context.
International Research Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS), 2018
Queer studies are based on the social production and regulation of sexuality by focusing on sexua... more Queer studies are based on the social production and regulation of sexuality by focusing on sexual minorities who are vilified and marginalized within the hegemonic discourse. This study engages with the representation of queer identities to scrutinize homosexuality and homosexual relationships in selected Sri Lankan English novels. It identifies literary work which have voiced the queer identity within the dominant discourse that superimposes the establishment of a ‘compulsory heterosexuality.’ The methodology of this study is based on a textual examination of two novels by two contemporary Sri Lankan English writers who voice such non-conformist sexualities in their fiction. The primary novels which are examined for this study comprise of Funny Boy (1994) by Shyam Selvadurai and Living their Lie (2009) by Brandon Ingram. The objective of this paper is to problematize the representation of homosexuality in these novels by incorporating insights of a number of theorists including those of queer theorists. The research problem of this study is grounded on a queering approach to the selected literary works. This is incorporated to analyse whether their queer representations challenge or affirm to the dominant societal heteronormative discourse. The discussion of the selected novels unearths the ubiquitous and pervasive heteronormative ideology and its ideological expectations in representing homosexuality and homosexual relationships. The representation of queer identities are thus exclusively perceived through a lens of heteronormativity which has enabled an essentialist perception of sexuality. It is through this essentialist perception that, the non-normative sexualities are regarded as deviant, unnatural, marginal and in opposition to heterosexuality which is established as the norm. The study concludes by establishing that, despite the subversive and radical attempts of the selected novels in addressing queer identities, they still cater to the superimposition of heteronormativity. This is realised by how the novels contribute to the dominant heterosexual expectations of the society to perceive homosexuality and homosexual relationships as taboo and forbidden identities.
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