Film & Photography Society
Film & Photography Society
SIMULACRA
Simulacra, the Film and Photography society of Indraprastha College for Women, is a forum for students who are enthusiastic about cinema and photography. It is one of the most active societies in the college.
The society screens films (monthly and/or weekly screenings) from different genres planned according to a particular theme. In previous years, it had organised Alfred Hitchcock, Jafar Panahi and Tim Burton Retrospectives, and screenings around themes of sci-fi, horror, education, animation, the constructed Indian nation, women photographers, etc. In the previous year, it organized screenings based on the theme ‘Cityscapes’; an enthusiastic audience turned up for films like Bombay Talkies, Monsoon Wedding and Delhi Belly. For 2016-’17, the society has designed a woman-centric theme ‘From a Woman’s Lens’ for its various events; the aim is to appreciate the contribution of women in the area of film and photography.
Simulacra also arranges photowalks, which are held once or twice a month. Over the years, photowalks to Chandni Chowk, Hauz Khas Village, Delhi University Flower Show, Kamala Nehru Ridge near Delhi University, Majnu ka Tikka, etc have been organised.
Sometimes, Simulacra coordinates events in collaboration with other societies. For instance, some time ago, the society joined forces with the Women’s Development Centre to discuss ‘Gender in Public Spaces’. A workshop was conducted by Jagori and students went to several places in Delhi to photograph ‘gendered (in)visibilities and public bodies’.
Also, the society aims to help the members carve a niche for themselves by the means of photography workshops conducted by prominent, professional photographers.
The society’s annual seminar takes place in January where experts from the field of cinema/photography are invited to talk to the students. This is usually preceded by a week of film screenings and photography competitions. Earlier themes were ‘Censorship and Cinema’, ‘Imag(in)ing India in Bollywood’, ‘Women Photographers’, etc.