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Title MOVING BEYOND THE CRIME SCENE: UNVEILING THE IDEOLOGICAL CANVAS IN SELECTED PAKISTANI DETECTIVE FICTION

Author(s) Muhammad Waleed Zafar

Abstract This thesis explores the intersection of ideology, power, and resistance in Pakistani Anglophone detective fiction through the lens of Louis Althusser’s concept of ideological state apparatuses (ISAs) and Slavoj Žižek’s notions of the ‘typical’ and the ‘stand-in.’ Focusing on The House of Fear (1955) by Ibn-e-Safi, The Doomsday Deception (1987) by Ishtiaq Ahmed, and The Prisoner (2013) by Omar Shahid Hamid, the study examines how these novels portray ideological dynamics within Pakistan’s cultural and historical contexts. By analyzing the role of literature, media, law enforcement, and religious institutions as ISAs, this research investigates how detective fiction critiques or reinforces prevailing structures of ideology and power. The thesis further explores the ways in which protagonists navigate ideological forces, either upholding or subverting dominant narratives of authority and justice. Through narrative techniques, character development, and thematic concerns, these novels highlight systemic corruption, socio-economic disparities, and political influences, revealing detective fiction as a potent medium for social critique. Additionally, Žižek’s framework of the ‘stand-in’ and the ‘typical’ is applied to examine how these works reflect broader ideological struggles, positioning the detective figure as both an enforcer and a disruptor of hegemonic power. By situating these texts within their socio-political milieu, this research demonstrates that Pakistani detective fiction functions not merely as entertainment but as a significant literary space where ideology is negotiated, contested, and redefined. In doing so, it contributes to broader discussions on the role of genre fiction in shaping and reflecting cultural discourses on justice, authority, and resistance.

Type Thesis/Dissertation

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Department English

Language English

Publication Date 2025-08-11

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