my notes

Dated: 19th September 2007

An Essay on –

My Experience on the workshop with Matthew on
“DECONSTRUCTING MEDIA”
(in light with the movies screened in SAIMC)

Muante Hansing
Roll no: C – 24
Audio Visual Department
The Workshop held on “Deconstructing Media” simply strengthens my belief on the right to question today’s existing social norms, values and the enigma of being righteous in the eyes of others itself. I have properly understood the meaning of diversifying the ethnicity of the cultural media; defining the role of the media in its proper context. Learning about theories and concepts is one thing, but practising this understanding is an entirely different ball-game. The workshop dealt with issues touching on human mentality and the society’s build-up at large. Various theories, concepts and explanations were dealt with. Important facts, figures, personalities etc were brought out during this occasion. Having first dealt with the question of FEMINISM, which I may understandably define as comprising of a number of social, cultural and political movements, theories and moral philosophies concerned with gender inequalities and discrimination against women; an ideology focussing on equality of the sexes. Feminists highlight the political relationship between a man and a woman. Feminists often differ in opinion over the sources of inequality, how to attain equality, and the extent to which gender and gender-based identities should be questioned and critiqued. Modern feminist political activists commonly campaign for a woman's right to bodily integrity and autonomy on matters such as reproductive rights, including the right to abortion, access to contraception and quality prenatal care; for protection from domestic violence; against sexual harassment and rape; for workplace rights, including maternity leave and equal pay; and against other forms of discrimination. There is a stereotypical construction of the ideological image of a woman when it comes to films. And this is highlighted in the screening of the film “TWO WOMEN (Iran) by Tahmineh Milani. This film highlights this very ideological meaning of “woman”; and questions the establishment of the male character as active and powerful: he is the agent around whom the dramatic action unfolds and the look gets organized. The female character is passive and powerless: she is the object of desire for the male character(s). In this respect, cinema has perfected visual machinery suitable for male desire such as already structured in the tradition of Western art and aesthetics. The workshop also dealt with the issue on CASTE; a system prevalent across all boundaries of the globe. Caste can be rightly defined as a rigid social system in which a social hierarchy is maintained by the heredity of defined status in society, and allowing little mobility out of the position into which an individual is born. An example of a film about the caste system prevalent today is “LESSER HUMANS” bu Satin K. The film is about them, the Bhangis, who occupy the lowest position in the caste heirarchy, outcastes even among outcastes. The 59-minute documentary shocks, even as it investigates the caste, gender, economic and political factors responsible for the perpetuation of this noxious practice. It exposes in gut-wrenching detail the fate of people doomed from birth to a lifetime of sweeping human dung from the hell-holes they work in. One of the most moving images in the documentary is that of Bhangi schoolchildren being asked to sit apart in the classroom, and being abused and reviled. A young girl talks about her dream of becoming a doctor, and how she had to drop out of school and join her broom-wielding kin. There are no pretensions left when it is human excreta that earns somebody one roti a day or five rupees a month.
Beyond these efforts, new factors attacking caste are now at play and may prove unstoppable. These are related to India's emergence as a modern, industrial nation, linked by satellite television and computer to the other nations and cultures of the world. The rise of the urban middle classes, with free mixing of sexes, and associating material success rather than caste with social status, has led to erosion of the caste system. Apart from this, another important discussion was done on the issue of SEXUALITY, all the characteristics of an individual’s behaviour that are related to sex. It refers to people’s sexual preferences and sexual identity, and may be described both in purely physical terms, and as an essential part of love and relationships. Sigmund Freud, the Australian Physician was responsible for developing theories central to psychoanalysis, the psychology of human sexuality, and interpretation of dreams. Sexuality itself is as diverse as everything else. And it had its share of social taboos attached to it. Anyone with an unorthodox sexual orientation was looked down upon, even today. Homosexuality is one term that refers to attraction or sexual behaviour between people of the same sex. In a narrow sense, gay refers to male homosexuality, but it often is used in its broadest sense, especially in media headlines and reports, to refer to homosexuality in general. The Documentary “TARNATION” stresses on the issue of sexuality; understanding and respecting individualistic choices, questioning their subjection to prejudice and discrimination. Homosexuality is also subject to stereotyping. Towards the end of the workshop, we also discussed about religion and sex and how, from a sociological point of view, the society tries to redeem itself by neutrally placing its ideals on the basis of what will serve its purpose best; and not for bringing about a radical growth and improved thought process. Topics amounting to FUNDAMENTALISM and COMMUNALISM were discussed thoroughly. When we talk of fundamentalism, it is nothing but a conservative movement among protestants who emphasized on the basic of Christianity and condemned the acceptance of a scientific point of view in Christianity. They were against the popularization of the theory of evolution. Their fundamentalistic ideals caused ongoing criticisms regarding religious and moral beliefs. The term Communalism, as I learnt is a modern term that describes a broad range of social movements and social theories which are in some way centered upon the community.
Other topics such as Anarchism, Marxism, Race, Cultural Stereotypes, Fascism, Liberism etc. were equally made clear to us during the workshop. It was clearly an opportunity to develop and examine the ways in which social structures and institutions—such as class, family, community, and power—and social problems such as crime—influence society and its people.
Stereotyping has deep roots in the human mind. In the modern world, however, such parochialisms are, on balance, a threat to human welfare. The struggle to create a free, democratic, fair, and rational society is still the main political and social issue of human life—with its expression in claims to equality for people regardless of their origins, sexuality, gender, and any other characteristics that may differentiate them.