Are we, the audience, responsible for regressive content too? - Page 3

Originally posted by: LiveLifeHonest

I agree with the supply=demand. And the problem is that there is too much demand. What happened in PPK was an isolated case, but replace the child marriage with abusive male lead and portray romance between the male lead and female lead and the show would have never gotten banned. People aren't really rejecting regressive content- they pick and choose according to their wishes. Or else shows that portray sexism like IB and movies like Judwaa 2 would have gotten banned long time back. But they didn't. Moreover, quite a huge no. of people who were against PPK were fans of regressive shows like IB and Udaan and in my mind, I was thinking, dude what message are you trying to send out? You want to ban a regressive show but you're a huge supporter of another one? Moreover, the petitioners wanted to ban PPK but had made no attempts to address the other regressive content on TV. That is why banning PPK was not satisfying for me; it felt more like a hypocritical movement, rather than a movement for progressive content. It would have been more progressive if the public had gone all out and asked for at least common regressive practices on TV and movies being rejected such as a sexist/abusive male leads, superstitions etc.

Ask any fangirls of such movies and shows, they will support the movie/show in spite of how loudly they protest, asking for progressive content. I agree with your point about education. It's not about education. In fact, I feel that it fosters many pseudo-intellectuals instead: people who pick and choose regressive content according to their whims and fancies and preach against them, while watching other forms of regressive content. Hope that made sense! 😆

Oh you totally make sense and I absolutely agree.
Coming to regressive TV shows, I am probably going to side hugely judgemental and kind of a hypocrite here, but i think there are only few things necessary to make a desi show a hit :

• A moderately good looking and kinda well dressed actor
• A moderately good looking and kinda well dressed actress
  
• A few of falling on eachother, flying duppattas, random cutesy quarreling moments

You have these three elements in your show, and you are bound to get a number of fans. Not many give two shits to the story-line or the characterizations.

This is why I think that PPK faced such a huge blacklash, while other shows having abusive themes keep running.

Since you guys are talking about PPK show, I've heard of the theme (worst in history of Indian tv; regressive is an understatement) because there was huge outcry over it and the issue went up to I&B ministry. The revolution was a slap in the face for the authorities at the helm of things. It's victory of sane audience. Also read that some tv stars too batted in support of the ban. It's appreciable as they influence the society through their characters and are accountable to their fans/audience. What was most appalling was a lot of reactions poured in on SM against the ban. It clearly shows how a large section of audience are ready to accept cheap, objectionable content in the name of entertainment or pure prejudice. So where is the change here in their ideologies or mindset? Don't we need to protect our own interests like those profit-making top bosses?

Yes, yes, yes!

Whos to say what is regressive