Who the hell is Maya Khan and where did she suddenly pop-up from? Maybe I'm too busy living my own burger life to know who she is, but I'm pretty sure of one thing: very few people leave me speechless, and she has had the (dis)honour of being one of the few (un)lucky ones to have had that effect on me. But while I relentlessly fume at the cheap and, ironically, immoral, "project" this lady managed to successfully execute, another concern comes to mind; one that SHOULD be considered equally salient:
Television gives the masses what it thinks they want. There are numerous people who work behind the scenes- research, production, direction, script-writing, idea-formulation and logistics (to name only a FEW)- who have the authority to either accept or veto ideas.
So, do these people:
a)Think that this is what we, the masses, want to watch- do we yearn to wake up every morning to a group of nosey, holier-than-thou, menopausal aunties?
Television gives the masses what it thinks they want. There are numerous people who work behind the scenes- research, production, direction, script-writing, idea-formulation and logistics (to name only a FEW)- who have the authority to either accept or veto ideas.
So, do these people:
a)Think that this is what we, the masses, want to watch- do we yearn to wake up every morning to a group of nosey, holier-than-thou, menopausal aunties?
b) Have mentalities that reflect agreeing points of view? Does the fact that the idea was approved by the directors, writers of one of Pakistan's leading television channels, echo a similar and ever-growing mentality of our nation and of people who have the power to CHANGE our mind-sets?
I feel it be a matter of concern when what we get is what is thought of as what we want. Confused? Samaa Tv probably thought, "Hey this is EXACTLY what our viewer base wants because this is exactly the kind of stuff they preach. We can continue making MILLIONS by chasing young-love out of parks in Karachi. Let's do it. No one's going to NOT condone this.
And you know what? They're probably right. You can't be stupid AND run a television channel as successfully as Samaa TV. The creators of the Maya Khan show (whatever it's name is), KNOW that we do not have a scarcity of Maya-Khan-like-robots running hither and thither in Pakistan. So maybe we shouldn't really blame them. But I'd be ignorant if I didn't. These people are role models. They enforce and reinforce ideas, morals and codes of behaviour in to those who religiously follow their shows. Why is it imperative for us, as Pakistanis, to continue to stick our noses where they don't belong? Why are some of us hell-bent on making other people's issues and responsibilities our own? These "professionals" may counter my arguments by saying, "Well, these things affect how OUR own children/youth are being socialised- they'll think it's okay to go on dates in parks without their parents' consent. We're the media. It's much like an obligation. We need to make a positive difference."
Well then, where are these arguments when you air despicable content which is explicit not only for your 10-year old pre-pubescent sons/daughters, but also for your 80-year old mothers/fathers who watch television on a daily basis? Where do all those moral and ethics vanish at that time? Oh so you mean, you'd like the beautiful, young, half-nude actress shaking her heavy bosom for the camera to be your children's role model? Well done!
Let's say it's not about "DUTY". Let's say it's, "Oh but this is what the FANS want."
If the "fans" want porn, will you give them porn? So you're willing to, potentially, jeopardize the reputations, feelings and privacy that those young couples are entitled to, for the sake of cheap capitalism? Technically, they should be able to sue you right about now.
It scares me to think that we are being led by such people who have the biggest impact on society. Are there no limits? No boundaries? Is everything primed by a green light? Is there no respect or concern for consequences? What's next?
We have better things to be focusing on. Honestly speaking, I shouldn't even have to be writing this piece. Why should I? Are there not people dying in my own city- my own locality even? Is our country not being hit by severe price-hikes? Are we still not recuperating from devastating floods? Isn't our government not going through a notorious period of it's power? And this is just a fraction of what the real picture is.
Thank you, Maya Khan- for making us realise that all the above calamities have secondary importance in your eyes and of your useless minions as well. Also, I'd like to give a special shout-out to our very own local media for doing the best they could have to embarrass themselves. It seems as though Veena Malik has competition.
I feel it be a matter of concern when what we get is what is thought of as what we want. Confused? Samaa Tv probably thought, "Hey this is EXACTLY what our viewer base wants because this is exactly the kind of stuff they preach. We can continue making MILLIONS by chasing young-love out of parks in Karachi. Let's do it. No one's going to NOT condone this.
And you know what? They're probably right. You can't be stupid AND run a television channel as successfully as Samaa TV. The creators of the Maya Khan show (whatever it's name is), KNOW that we do not have a scarcity of Maya-Khan-like-robots running hither and thither in Pakistan. So maybe we shouldn't really blame them. But I'd be ignorant if I didn't. These people are role models. They enforce and reinforce ideas, morals and codes of behaviour in to those who religiously follow their shows. Why is it imperative for us, as Pakistanis, to continue to stick our noses where they don't belong? Why are some of us hell-bent on making other people's issues and responsibilities our own? These "professionals" may counter my arguments by saying, "Well, these things affect how OUR own children/youth are being socialised- they'll think it's okay to go on dates in parks without their parents' consent. We're the media. It's much like an obligation. We need to make a positive difference."
Well then, where are these arguments when you air despicable content which is explicit not only for your 10-year old pre-pubescent sons/daughters, but also for your 80-year old mothers/fathers who watch television on a daily basis? Where do all those moral and ethics vanish at that time? Oh so you mean, you'd like the beautiful, young, half-nude actress shaking her heavy bosom for the camera to be your children's role model? Well done!
Let's say it's not about "DUTY". Let's say it's, "Oh but this is what the FANS want."
If the "fans" want porn, will you give them porn? So you're willing to, potentially, jeopardize the reputations, feelings and privacy that those young couples are entitled to, for the sake of cheap capitalism? Technically, they should be able to sue you right about now.
It scares me to think that we are being led by such people who have the biggest impact on society. Are there no limits? No boundaries? Is everything primed by a green light? Is there no respect or concern for consequences? What's next?
We have better things to be focusing on. Honestly speaking, I shouldn't even have to be writing this piece. Why should I? Are there not people dying in my own city- my own locality even? Is our country not being hit by severe price-hikes? Are we still not recuperating from devastating floods? Isn't our government not going through a notorious period of it's power? And this is just a fraction of what the real picture is.
Thank you, Maya Khan- for making us realise that all the above calamities have secondary importance in your eyes and of your useless minions as well. Also, I'd like to give a special shout-out to our very own local media for doing the best they could have to embarrass themselves. It seems as though Veena Malik has competition.
1 comment:
I love the title. hahaah it's hilarious. you also raised some pointed questions about viewership and audience tastes/demands.
I can totally relate to your feelings of speechlessness. I felt the same. I clenched my fists, I laughed, my jaws dropped. It was all so ludicrous.
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