Stigmatized Public Literacies an Ethnographic Study of Ads of Local Films, Graffiti and & Internet Chatting

Contemporary trends of research in South Asia specifically and over the globe generally have shown a great tendency to the research that can contribute to the interests of wider public. Basing its premise on New Literacy Studies (NLS), this research explores some of those public domains that are considered stigmatized in Pakistani culture (hence Multan, a city in the southern Punjab). It aims at analyzing how these literacies although they are stigmatized yet being practiced publically, are loaded with ideologies. It also tries to probe the impact that these stigmatized public literacies are having on its general audiences. As this research involves the ecological approach of literacy, so it takes into account the cultural impact of practicing the prohibited literacies openly in the public. It is basically a dogma, a paradox that literacy practices that are considered a taboo in Pakistani culture, are being so openly practiced to the extent of becoming an integral part of everyday life of those people for whom it is stigmatized. This research provides food for thought for the users and consumers or whoever is directly or indirectly allied to these literacy practices and literacy events.