Tuesday, November 17, 2009

The unfortunate problem of plenty!

This is the last thing I wanted to read. An article that talks about children getting affected by plain stupid stereotypes and weak role models!

"The media pretend to enhance their capacity to take on the challenges of modernity whereas in fact, it is training young girls to accept oppression as a way of life." - Very true. Media seems to target the fringes - extremes would be more apt. There is no middle line, no moderation. Its stupidity at one end V stupidity at another. So, you can get to enjoy Balika Vadhu on one channel and Roadies/Splitsvilla on another. Now, if you say, you enjoy both, you need to visit a psychiatrist soon.

The whole gamut of serials and reality shows do not appeal to the majority of the sane youth today. I don't see anybody discussing Roadies, Splitsvilla, Big Boss and their like, at least not the set of people I move among regularly everyday. I am thankful for that. My sanity is intact!

"
Mera sindoor bantt gaya lekin main patni dharma nibhanungee" - how much more substitute your favorite curse word here can it get? Imagine hearing blip, blip continuously once every 30 seconds, supposedly to cut off the choicest filthy phrases, that is the alternative available unless you choose to forget thinking about alternatives and decide to abandon by switching off!

It is sad that with an explosion of choice, quality is getting compromised. I remember those days when DD National had something called Public Masti (the host name was Tarana) in the morning Subah Savere show. Tarana used to go to the public, pose some question and this part of the show had some 5 songs played - all short capsules. I fell in love with her. (Later in my life, Juhi who is still with channel V stole my heart!) I used to see it till the end, then tie my shoelaces and run to school that was just 5 mins away! Those days, their simplicity is in stark contrast to the mind numbing choices we have with the remote today.

Sadly, with regards to quality, I pity the generation that is growing up now. Pointless Social networking, computer games and dumb TV shows have replaced a far simpler life - a life of fewer choices it was, but much more joyous and healthy! Cricket in the evenings followed by Chitrahaar and the weekly countdown shows, Crazy Mohan dramas - how I yearn for them now! Choices are not always welcome especially when they offer no relative merits over each other.

12 comments:

Hari said...

Bingo..!!
A very poignant observation...
Did you by any chance get to have a look at the Roadies 7.0 audition...
Mark my words... It won't be long, before the show is banned from the TV circuit.. !!

Samba said...

Chanced upon ur blog from a friend's.

Good one. keep writing.

Shiva said...

@Hari: I earnestly wish Roadies and its brethren are banned. Even if we can exercise our choice(just for the sake of argument), one shouldn't forget that every freedom comes with responsibility.

@Aswin: Thanks and do keep visiting :)

roguegene said...

"if you say, you enjoy both, you need to visit a psychiatrist soon." - that had me cracking up... its bad that they get to watch only these stuff... Though the programs in DD were old school, I would take them anytime compared to this gibberish.. they are classics compared to this and they didn't delve into the pits of stupidity whereas these programs that are being telecasted now reach new lows everyday.. but we need to accept that it is fun to watch them once in a while to see to which extent they take this..

Pink Mango Tree said...

Totally Totally Totally agree! Like i used to relish on Malgudi Days and sunday morning dose of Rangoli - I wonder what kids enjoy these days - Rakhi ka swayamvar???!!! :(

Shiva said...

@roguegene: "we need to accept that it is fun to watch them once in a while to see to which extent they take this.." - Once in a while, as you say, for the sake of curiosity, yes... :)

@Shalini: Rangoli!! the whole household used to come together though we hardly know proper hindi!!
"I wonder what kids enjoy these days - Rakhi ka swayamvar???!!! " - the depths to which people can plunge!!

Unknown said...

Good one Siva, i went into flashback mode for some time :)

The one who has loved and lost said...

Pointless Social networking, computer games and dumb TV shows have replaced a far simpler life - a life of fewer choices it was, but much more joyous and healthy!

I think you know my thoughts on the topic very well :)

This world is getting faster by the day. I wonder whether its getting meaningless too. I hate to think along these lines, but that's how I always feel. There is a scene in the movie Wall E, where people are shown being confined to the luxury of their chair. Everything they wanted to do could be done by sitting in the chair. But that made them fat, obese, "don't-know-how-to-walk" useless flesh forms who from the time they were born were enslaved by the evils of convenience and luxury.

Ah! Too depressing.

Shiva said...

@Deepak - :) It makes us get into flashback mode thinking about these!

@The Layman: Certainly! :) Too much of anything is suffocating apart from being good for nothing!

Aishwarya V said...

Very true. Choices of the past were few, but the quality was good. You won't image, I did not have 'cable connection' at home until I joined CEG :) And still I managed to entertain myself through books, limited TV programs, hobbies, etc. Today life has changed completely with these useless shows and movies.

Nethra L said...

Landed on ur blog randomly, Good post...Have you noticed a pattern? Each generation moans that the gen-next misses out on two things: good childhood and great movie songs :) We are all official inheritants of the "enga kalathula ellam" svaram now :D

Btw, I am from the Intel community too, though working in the UK. Nice meeting you virtually Shiva, keep up the good work.

Shiva said...

@Aishwarya: "You won't image, I did not have 'cable connection' at home until I joined CEG :)", now that is some news to us!

@Nethra: "Each generation moans that the gen-next misses out on two things: good childhood and great movie songs :) We are all official inheritants of the "enga kalathula ellam" svaram now :D" - Absolutely and we are 100% justified :)

"Btw, I am from the Intel community too, though working in the UK. Nice meeting you virtually Shiva, keep up the good work." - Great! Thanks and keep visiting :)