Deserves to be slapped? Role of mass media again!

I read through annika20's very interesting thread on Role of cinema & mass media too! - violence. I recently read something on another forum pertaining to a similar subject and I am taking the liberty to post it here with the permission of the thread starter . It is from the Parichay - nayee zindagi ke sapno ka forum. The thread starter has stated that physical violence of any sort is always inexcusable (I concur with this) Shockingly there are many who feel that since the person slapped is a villain and has done many evil things, she DESERVED the slap! These people also feel that the protagonist behaved in the right manner and if he not slapped that woman they would have been disappointed.
My question is not whether Kunal was right in slapping Richa or not. My question is, what is it that makes a person think that another human DESERVES to be slapped or beaten or abused and what role does TV have to play in reinforcing such opinions?


http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3044829

Thanks Leena for bringing this up in this forum aswell.

The same issue was brought up in the diya aur baati hum forum too. Because it was the villainess with a long history of villainy to her name that got slapped, it was cheered by many. Domestic violence,unfortunately, seems to be woven into the fabric of mindsets that people forget that 2 wrongs do not make a right.

This is my first post on India forums.

I watch many of the shows between 9-11 on weekdays & notice many instances where violence & many other wrong doings are passed off in the name of fiction. That is the reason why they carry the disclaimer before the show. The trouble is that in their interviews, many of these cvs, producers etc say that their shows are a slice of life & based on real life. Meenaxi from Diya Aur Baati Hum herself said in some interview that the CVs pick instances from the society that they live in to incorporate into the story. Of course, we all know that these things happen but when they are shown in popular shows, they get magnified out of proportion & find there way back in society in very twisted ways. So instead of helping to control these evils, these shows end up advertising them.

Leena has brought up a very thought provoking question here, that it is not important to judge what the men did in these shows is right or wrong, the more important question is should the audience be cheering these men for lifting their hand on a woman ?

I read Fariyals post on the Parichay forum & I tend to agree with her when she says that as soon as we start excusing violence in the name of provocation or instinct we allow it to become a means to an end. The ramifications can only be detrimental on the more susceptible among the audience.

I am reading words "Physical Abuse" ??? A slap from Kunal to Richa should not be regarded as physical abuse but a Kunal way to discipline Richa
Canada ka isiliye diwaala nikal gaya hai... Cops are busy in domestic violence cases and are not paying attention to murderers, robbers and scammers...



W*F

this kind of attitude really makes me sad.

Originally posted by: nirvanlove

I am reading words "Physical Abuse" ??? A slap from Kunal to Richa should not be regarded as physical abuse but a Kunal way to discipline Richa
Canada ka isiliye diwaala nikal gaya hai... Cops are busy in domestic violence cases and are not paying attention to murderers, robbers and scammers...



W*F

this kind of attitude really makes me sad.

I agree, it is very troubling to come across such opinions but like Aamir said during the female foeticide episode, it is not always the uneducated who are responsible for these acts. Education has little to do with it, it is like he said, peoples SOCH that needs to change. Attitudes like these are in a way responsible for many instances of abuse that female prisoners face at the hands of the jail staff. Unless brough to light it is explained away as disciplinary action. Where does one draw a line?

@Bhavi1972, I read some of your interactions with members on annika's thread and on principle I agree with you but how of it is in our control? media bombards you with images from all sides. it is not only movies and tv or computer, it is in every facet of life.
Take a simple taxi ride, from point A to B. Unless you keep your eyes and ears shut, you will see all the titillating hoardings advertising everything from cookies to comdoms. The radio will probably be blaring chikni chameli or a similar new chart topper, the cabbie will most likely run a red light, chances are that he will talk on the phone while driving, open the car door to spit paan and loudly curse the other motorists. How much of this can you avoid? At some level the common man imbibes some of this even on a subconscious level and before he realizes it, it becomes part of him/her. When this same man goes home and watches a principled lawyer hit a woman, why would he consider it wrong?

Wow...I am reading things on that forum...I am amazed at a lot of people's attitudes.

Thanks, Leena for the Pm & for bringing this to the right forum.

Leena, the question you posed on whether TV reinforces peoples opinions, you answered beautifully yourself. You said, "It has become a vicious circle, TV supposedly mimics life, but life sadly is reinforcing what is aired on TV".
This cycle can only be broken on an individual level...It's up to each one of us to break this vicious cycle & that can only happen with the awakening of reason.
Change can only come about, when more people decide to raise their voice against a wrong, be it on TV, when people take up a stand, when people realize that life can only be experienced to the fullest when one can feel & share & try to alleviate anothers pain & is not merely a fence sitter, a mute spectator occupying space on this crowded planet.

It is heartening to know that there are many who feel the way I do & as one member said on my thread...there is hope, so long as for each of those that sides with the wrong doers, there is one like us👍🏼😃

Guys, came across this quote in my study...it made so much sense!