Blog Pen-Date : 02-Feb-16
Alas....... I finally got a topic to write on.
My topic of curiosity this week - English rock-band Coldplay has released their latest song / video "Hymn For The Weekend" and the song has already piqued everyone's interest whilst garnering more negative reviews from the Indian community for stereotyping their culture. Or more fancily termed as "cultural (mis)appropriation". (A term that we Indians will now romanticize with and eventually bore each other to death by over using in every frigging newspaper column. Oh hell Yea! Wait for it! This is second in line to the previously romanticized term in Indian Media "Growing Intolerance".)
Honestly, till this morning I had no idea about this song and came across whilst reading the local newspaper, an Indian Columnist had written about it in not-so-good taste. However, I necessarily do not agree with all the amount of criticism the band and this video has been gathering so far.
One very interesting take I came across is below :
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/feb/01/coldplay-beyonce-hymn-for-the-weekend-cultural-appropriation-india
Thank you Ms. Rashmee Kumar. At least this article made up for a good reading time, improved my vocabulary and gave me a different perspective to ponder about. However, I still do not agree with it and here's why.
In all due respect the video is a creative endeavour and therefore we shouldn't place any restrictions on what the director / producer / band has decided to portray. It's a lovely song and has been simply shot in a very beautiful manner with as much colour and stylised slow-mos' possible.
IMO (In My Opinion), below is perhaps the most intriguing excerpt from the above article :
" Perhaps the most insidious aspect of western media’s infatuation with India is the lack of social and political context, namely in the careless conflation of India with Hinduism. Holy men in saffron robes, stone idols covered in garlands and multi-limbed gods have come to represent a whole country that is currently experiencing internal conflict stemming from Hindu nationalism. Those in power seek to define India’s politics and culture based on upper-caste Hindu doctrines that have been used to sanction violence against non-Hindus and people of lower castes. The link may seem tenuous, but the reproduction of benign, ahistorical Hindu images erases not only the multiplicity of religious practices, but stifles critical thinking about India’s social and political climate. Coldplay’s video romanticizes Hinduism to further exoticize India as a westerners’ paradise unsullied by harsh realities. "
Now, why on earth should the director of this video feel obliged to think about the social / political context of India? If it is intended to be seen as an instrument for gaiety (e.g. kids dancing whilst playing festival of HOLI with the band) why do we need to inject our complexed and harsh realities into it? Let us not question every single motive or perspective when it comes to creativity.
India is definitely more than mystics in saffron robes, idols in garlands, kids dancing in chawls etc. I am sure when westerners visit India these days have noticed this phase-shift in the modern metros. Growing Mercs / BMWs' / skyscrapers etc. are a sign of that!!
However, one cannot deny that the stereotypical portrayals in this video are still very much prevalent and there is nothing wrong about that.Why do we Indians get so offended if western music videos show snake charmers / mystics in saffron robes etc? Aren't these a part of our history / culture? Latest research from leading pharmaceutical companies in India have released a drug, it's called a "Chill Pill". We Indians need to take a heavy dose of the same.
We Indians have a problem with almost everything. Remember, Zoya Akhtar's movie Dil Dhadakne Do from 2015? When it was released, it gathered negative comments from the media stating that the director was interested in portraying the "affluent lot" or the Indian creme de la creme. It irked me the same way this situation has.
Having a difference of opinion and not agreeing is everyone's right, but we have no authority to be enraged as a nation and question every creative endeavour.
The only misfit I found in this video was Beyoncé dressed up as an Indian movie star. It would've made more sense if it was Sonam Kapoor presenting that role instead. But then let's leave it at that, I better not become a victim of my own criticism.
Oh before I forget...... the DISCLAIMER as follows :
- This blogpost merely reflects the opinion of the writer himself. It's not meant to offend or demean anyone or their point of view. If it does, then it's your problem and I am sure you'll able to solve it. Remember the "CHILL PILL".
Alas....... I finally got a topic to write on.
My topic of curiosity this week - English rock-band Coldplay has released their latest song / video "Hymn For The Weekend" and the song has already piqued everyone's interest whilst garnering more negative reviews from the Indian community for stereotyping their culture. Or more fancily termed as "cultural (mis)appropriation". (A term that we Indians will now romanticize with and eventually bore each other to death by over using in every frigging newspaper column. Oh hell Yea! Wait for it! This is second in line to the previously romanticized term in Indian Media "Growing Intolerance".)
Honestly, till this morning I had no idea about this song and came across whilst reading the local newspaper, an Indian Columnist had written about it in not-so-good taste. However, I necessarily do not agree with all the amount of criticism the band and this video has been gathering so far.
One very interesting take I came across is below :
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/feb/01/coldplay-beyonce-hymn-for-the-weekend-cultural-appropriation-india
Thank you Ms. Rashmee Kumar. At least this article made up for a good reading time, improved my vocabulary and gave me a different perspective to ponder about. However, I still do not agree with it and here's why.
In all due respect the video is a creative endeavour and therefore we shouldn't place any restrictions on what the director / producer / band has decided to portray. It's a lovely song and has been simply shot in a very beautiful manner with as much colour and stylised slow-mos' possible.
IMO (In My Opinion), below is perhaps the most intriguing excerpt from the above article :
" Perhaps the most insidious aspect of western media’s infatuation with India is the lack of social and political context, namely in the careless conflation of India with Hinduism. Holy men in saffron robes, stone idols covered in garlands and multi-limbed gods have come to represent a whole country that is currently experiencing internal conflict stemming from Hindu nationalism. Those in power seek to define India’s politics and culture based on upper-caste Hindu doctrines that have been used to sanction violence against non-Hindus and people of lower castes. The link may seem tenuous, but the reproduction of benign, ahistorical Hindu images erases not only the multiplicity of religious practices, but stifles critical thinking about India’s social and political climate. Coldplay’s video romanticizes Hinduism to further exoticize India as a westerners’ paradise unsullied by harsh realities. "
Now, why on earth should the director of this video feel obliged to think about the social / political context of India? If it is intended to be seen as an instrument for gaiety (e.g. kids dancing whilst playing festival of HOLI with the band) why do we need to inject our complexed and harsh realities into it? Let us not question every single motive or perspective when it comes to creativity.
India is definitely more than mystics in saffron robes, idols in garlands, kids dancing in chawls etc. I am sure when westerners visit India these days have noticed this phase-shift in the modern metros. Growing Mercs / BMWs' / skyscrapers etc. are a sign of that!!
However, one cannot deny that the stereotypical portrayals in this video are still very much prevalent and there is nothing wrong about that.Why do we Indians get so offended if western music videos show snake charmers / mystics in saffron robes etc? Aren't these a part of our history / culture? Latest research from leading pharmaceutical companies in India have released a drug, it's called a "Chill Pill". We Indians need to take a heavy dose of the same.
We Indians have a problem with almost everything. Remember, Zoya Akhtar's movie Dil Dhadakne Do from 2015? When it was released, it gathered negative comments from the media stating that the director was interested in portraying the "affluent lot" or the Indian creme de la creme. It irked me the same way this situation has.
Having a difference of opinion and not agreeing is everyone's right, but we have no authority to be enraged as a nation and question every creative endeavour.
The only misfit I found in this video was Beyoncé dressed up as an Indian movie star. It would've made more sense if it was Sonam Kapoor presenting that role instead. But then let's leave it at that, I better not become a victim of my own criticism.
Oh before I forget...... the DISCLAIMER as follows :
- This blogpost merely reflects the opinion of the writer himself. It's not meant to offend or demean anyone or their point of view. If it does, then it's your problem and I am sure you'll able to solve it. Remember the "CHILL PILL".
