Book Description

Combining over 1000 brilliantly-colored photographs, videos, music, and text, this CD-ROM documents a distinctive folk art of urban Bangladesh. The owners of rickshas (conventionally known as "rickshaws" in English) personalize their vehicles with elaborate paintings that incorporate geometric motifs, drawings of animals, mythic and religious themes, and pictures of movie stars. Ricksha art is an expression of the fondest desires in men's hearts-for wealth, sex, power, one's village home, religious blessings, and consumer goods. Joanna Kirkpatrick has photographed rickshas for more than twenty years, cataloguing styles and motifs. She uses her study of rickshas as a window on Bangladesh culture and religion, examining the questions posed by pictorial representation in a Muslim society. Four video clips depict rides through crowded city streets and rural landscapes, as well as an interview with ricksha artists. Recordings of popular music evoke the rhythms of everyday life. Transports of Delight provides scholars and students with important primary source material and a rich ethnographic analysis. General audiences interested in South Asian folk art and culture and aficionados of pedicabs around the world will find this a truly delightful and informative journey. Includes glossary, map, and bibliography. Requirements: [specs to come].