Evolution of our media
Nov 28th, 2011 | By Huda Bukhari | Category: Latest, Media Watch, Pakistan
While flipping through the channels, I stared blankly at the TV screen as I sat there wondering how the media has evolved over the past few years. From just a single black and white channel to a vast variety to choose from, the media has done its part in not only entertaining us but also keeping us updated on what’s happening around the globe, but not without some repercussions.
Not so long ago, the women, allegedly the chief audience of the tube, were hooked on to the Indian soaps, so much so that they were adopting the Indian culture as their own, with use of Hindi language in their everyday conversation, mimicking their style of dressing, pouring thousands of their hard earned money on make up in their efforts to look more and more like the Tulsis, Parvatis and Kashishs of the Indian television industry.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, the Pakistani media thought it their duty to start making dramas that would revolve around the same plots as the Indian soaps, with the same exaggerated expressions and glamorous ambience, in hopes of attracting more viewers.
In the past, the plays echoed real life issues with the performers focusing solely on expressing the emotions that were required, not a show of amplified sentiments. Most of the current inclination of our entertainment industry as far as television is concerned is to provide the juiciest show they possibly can without worrying about its consequences. From how I see it, it has become a race and media is trying its utmost to win it any way it can.
Lately, to my utter astonishment and horror, an astounding number of dramas are being filmed on topics that are not even close to reality. The favourite theme of every channel nowadays is extramarital affair, prostitution and/or promiscuity. Gone are the days when the dramas that were made to view in the family hour, could be viewed with the family. This is contrary to the current trends of productions.
Why then do we worry about the youth not being as innocent as they were back in olden days? Are we not responsible for most of what has happened? As goes the saying, as you sow, so shall you reap!
I still think our duty as a citizen of the state is not finished. If we want a better Pakistan, a state which was founded on the ideology of Islam and named for its purity, we need to come forward and speak up for putting a stop to absurdities like immoral representation of our culture and blatant spread of debauchery by some of the private productions.
Very well written.
One thing more, not only drama now our Eid and weekends we have only Indian awards shows or their dance shows.
In past, we have very good weekend and specail eid shows with our own heros.
And this picture http://yfrog.com/nvhzsg shows current dramas style!
I feel you are right in your criticism but i think mere criticism does not fulfil our responsibilty as a thinking citizen. We must present some creative ideas before media which we think can result in the production of positive and entertaining dramas to be viewed in the family hour. otherwise every other person in pakistan is criticising media in one way or another. I hope I am making my point clear
Finally!!! i can see SOMEONE writing about a very basic and important issue. someone who believes that education starts not at school but at home and TV and Media play now an even more vital role than mothers in old days. finally someone is pointing out why we have gone astray. i just wish that we come out of this inferiority complex and learn to value our traditions at home, in culture and even in drama and its evolution. we created great works of art in drama and music and we were class apart. drama refelected us and we reflected the class of drama but all is lost in a glitter that does not let us see and recognize our own face. BRAVO and THUMBS UP to HUDA BUKHARI for this article and evoking a ‘thought reaction’ that one day InshAllah make us rise back to where we belong!!
Bravo Huda! You have touched a raw nerve. Indeed the blatant spread of debauchery is the key point which almost all the entertainment channels are focusing on. The fear which once was shown upon the adoption of television culture by our grandparents is proving cent percent correct. They feared that this box which is getting a place in our household is going to be the integral ingredient of obscenity! And this is true today. How our younger generations are suffering from this,is indeed a dilemma. The young females who are the most prone part of this situation need to be provided with an alternative and they need to indulge themselves into something positive and constructive. The future of not only a home, family but the entire nation depends on the TERBIYAT of the daughters, sisters, mothers of the society. For that to occur, the males of the house have to step in and join in with their female counterparts and strive for the betterment if we seriously want some constructive change to occur.
We can’t do a thing unless we stop hypocrisy. The lifestyle we have adopted negates Islamic lifestyle. Total boycott of western and Indian “entertainment media” is the way to go. We all should promote productions (home grown or not) that teach us, and perhaps our generations to come, the essence of Islamic way of life. As Syeda Bukhari mentioned, women in our society have a greater role to play…. Excellent topic Huda!!!!