Privacy is back in public.
No, there is nothing like privacy in public, so says one section. Yes, even in public there is room for privacy says the other section.
The issue is Mid-Day publishing photos of Shahid and Kareena smooching during a party. They deny they ever did it, are suing the daily. But the publication stands by the story.
For purposes for debate let us assume the paper is right.
It is really difficult to conceive how a party hall can be a private place. It is public. It's not that the camera had invaded their bedroom or bathroom.
What's newsy in the photo? That's the other question. The word news has a number of definitions. One of them is "an event that is interesting, or attracting the attention of the reader". And, the definition also depends upon the publication. What is news for a science journal, is no news for a film journal.
The very fact that the photo has created such a ruckus is proof that there is a good element of news! To say such photos don't attract (a good many) readers' attention is very far from truth.
The problem as I see it is not in smooching, it is also not in publishing the photo either. It is in the way we react.
If such a thing had indeed happened, the couple should have just asked, "So, what is big deal!" And just kept quiet. And, the public who had a good look at the photo, should have just seen it and also kept quiet realising well that we are all very human.
Don't you thing we should all be much more angry about many inhuman things that happen around us?
This is about everything that is evolving around us with time .... The changing trends .... Their highs and lows .... The changes that are making an impact on our lives .... From technology to social, economic and political issues ... Some books, some sports, some personal anecdotes.
Friday, December 17, 2004
4 comments:
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Absolutely.
ReplyDeleteIt is really us who make it news. There are far more important things that should relly concern us. Two people kissing should matter to us in the least.
HOwever, all that is for the public to see, I do not think, is for the public to photograph. One might say that there are different rules for celebrities, I still like to think that it is a violation of privacy. I do not think we hanndle cell phones with cameras very well, in general.
The thought of what is 'right' from a societal/group/community point of view, I do not think, crosses the Indian mind too frequently. You can find ample examples of this in the lack of a que in shops & busstands, in throwing away garbage on the streets, & many other such manifestations. The seeds of indiscipline are a bit deep in us.
Thinking win win is a lot more than just a way of doing business. Its an attitude, for me, in general. We need to go beyond thinking on the lines of 'What works for me' & go to 'What works for us'.
S!
I fully agree with you that it is their personal matter. But there is one thing to consider which makes the clip suspect.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who has taken video through mobiles will know that the person who took the kapoor clip would have had to get quite close to the 'subject'(s) to get the quality that was shown on tv channels. Were both unaware of the camera which was so close? If so, how? Were they under the influence of drugs?
I fully agree with you that it is their personal matter. But there is one thing to consider which makes the clip suspect.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who has taken video through mobiles will know that the person who took the kapoor clip would have had to get quite close to the 'subject'(s) to get the quality that was shown on tv channels. Were both unaware of the camera which was so close? If so, how? Were they under the influence of drugs?
Souvik.. true, we are an indisciplined lot.
ReplyDeleteAnd, we tend to spend a lot of the energy as a group on things like religion, which no doubt is good. But we can also redirect a lot of it for civic and community development. Haven't you seen roads and surroundings outside prestigeous colleges, well-known temples etc in bad shape. It is a great paradox I haven't been able to understand.
Back to those pics which created a controversy. It may be a violation of privacy or not, depending upon the limits people have set for themselves. But still I think, the couple -- if they could smooch in public -- should have owned it up too... "Why should it excite you all so much.." they should have asked. It would have taken the steam out of the controversy.
Dinakaran... a weird thought by the way.... Did the duo have a hand in the whole thing... Don't be surprised, people go to any extent to make the world talk about them.
Pradeep