CULTURAL NEGOTIATIONS IN TRANSITION: ANALYZING TRADITION AND MODERNITY IN HOW IT HAPPENED THROUGH STUART HALL’S LENS

Abstract

This paper is a cultural analysis of the novel How It Happened by Shazaf Fatima Haider and uses Stuart Hall’s cultural theory to analyze the blend of tradition and modernity. This paper advances the understanding of societal changes and the agonies of individuals amidst transformations by looking into the conflicts with dimensions related to cultural negotiation, character construction, and intergenerational conflicts. Through an analysis of the central characters Saleha,Zeba  and Dadi, this article shows how Pakistani society is trying to balance the clash of tradition and modernity simultaneously, against a backdrop that increasingly ups the stakes for modern values and ideologies. The textual analysis brings forth changes that expose larger identities and evolution of a society. Further, the paper rationalizes the difficulties of understanding the fringes of modernity that push for cultural transition on the individual level. The paper critically analyzes how contemporary societies especially those located within a South Asian milieu cope with their traditional pasts and modern presents and how it determines cultural identity and social cohesiveness.