How Media is Taking Away Our Independance

I study video and filmmaking which means that I get to see what goes on behind the big white screen and based on whatever I have been learning and experiencing, I can tell you that media plays one of the most important roles in influencing our lives.

How many times have we looked at those perfectly fit and flawless actors and wished that we could be like them? How many times have we watched those numerous clichè versions of Romeo and Juliet and wished that our 'Knight in Shining Armour' would come and save us from this cruel world? And how many times have we seen that actor turn his life from rag to riches in 3 hours and have gotten inspired to suddenly change the world?

But let me just burst your bubble here and tell you, all of this that you see on the screen is nothing but a big scam. Yes. I said it. It takes several hours to just get the actors' hair to stay in place, let alone make them look 'perfect'. Since media has an access to such a big platform and such a big audience, who have a different mindset of their own, they tend to do something that will stand out. And what is it that stands out of the masses? Fantasy.

We know and have seen everything in this world right from poverty to luxury, from good people to bad people. What we don't see in this world is what the media shows us. They have gotten so successful in showing it, that we start believing in it.

We start believing that we need someone to come and change our life around. We start believing that there is a magic wand which will just make this world colourful with just one swirl. We start believing that our life will be screwed after each break up and a  break up song with ice cream and crying yourself to sleep is a must to get over it. Once we have seen all of this, we start wanting it, because we as humans have this tendency to be attracted to everything that looks pretty and then go deeper into thinking if it is actually worth it when in reality, it should be the other way around.

We start believing that we will bring a change, we get all geared up, but we don't know how, because the movie just shows you two extreme points. The rags and the riches. The 'to' in between is somewhere purposely omitted because that 'to' is the most difficult part which nobody wants to go through.

Take this line from a Bollywood song for example, " Main jo jee raha hoon, wajah tum ho." Although it sounds very dreamy and romantic, but in reality it is teaching you to be dependent on someone else for your own happiness. It's showing you that for living your own life, you need a purpose, and that purpose is someone else, not you.

I am not saying that all of the media is bad. It sure has it perks. It makes us aware of the social issues around us and some movies are so phenomenal that they take your mind to the next level. But these are the films that do not get a hit. The films that blow away the box office are the ones which have at least one item number in them and at least one anti equality action which shows male dominance and unrealistic delusions.

If only we understand that we all are here on this Earth for a purpose, and that purpose is to live our life to the fullest. There is going to be sadness in the world and there won't be a magic wand in anybody's hand to swirl it and make it all go away. We have to surpass it with paitence and hardwork and it's going to hurt. Keeping expectations from our loved ones is not wrong, because they are the ones that we look upto, but drowning in those expectations and hurting yourself and others when they don't get fulfilled is wrong.

Try and use the world of fantasy to explore different boundaries, to show your creativity to the world and to understand the human race better. Remember, you are the painter of your own life. You decide what colours to use and which ones to throw away. Don't let anyone else paint on your canvas and when the painting is finally over, you will realize that you have created your own masterpiece without anyone's help, and that's what makes it more beautiful, no matter how good or bad you paint it.

-Brown and Indian