Wednesday, January 27, 2010

C'mon, women are as wonderful (:

It has been a really long time since I last updated my blog. Like merely a virtual space, I do feel bad when I leave this blog there “to die” literally.

There are many things in life and there are many things to share. As an ordinary person, my life can get a bit mundane to talk about though my everyday is different.

In addition, just like most people living in Singapore, I’m extremely time-poor. Even when I have the time, I will rather laze around.

Yet, there are times when I wish to share with you some update about my life or what I’ve learnt or discovered.

Yesterday, during one of my lectures, we watched a documentary-like show which, directly insults women by, though somehow matter-of-factly, saying women are merely an object of sexuality in MV (Music Video).

In this age, we might have long been sensationalized with these type of MVs – MVs which seek to arouse people or “materialize” people’s fantasy. These MVs often do so by downplaying women by depicting how women are deprived of man and can’t live without men. To make things worse, these MV often depicts women shaking either their ass or boob to seduce men. These two sentences are perhaps the main gist of the show anyway.

Living in Singapore, I do feel fortunate that I’m exposed to both the eastern and western culture. Though I do not have complete understanding of both cultures, I am at least able to navigate around. There are still things from the west which I, as an Asian, feel that is absurd and there are things in the East which, I feel are not keeping up with the pace of life – or in other words, they are a bit too conservative.

With this, and zeal and optimism in life, I don’t really feel that there is a definite right or wrong for most things in life. I’m also not bothered with what people say, unless constructive criticism, so my life is so much more upbeat.

Yet, I feel that this show and the excessive use of women body in MV is indeed ludicrous. In the show, it’s mentioned that women are desperate without men and women are subservient to men or even, women serve to satisfy men only.

I think this is fatuous and untrue and the director of these MVs are perhaps personally deprived and seek to satisfy their wants through filming all these. They will then be praised about how they have successfully captured the wants of the audience, to their benefit. But, I beg to differ. Please stop polluting my clean tiny little mind!

In this age when women are emancipated already, this concept seems even more weird to me. Why must women still be depicted in this fashion?

A few good examples cited in the show include Mariah Carey, Madonna and Gwen Stefani. Madonna and Gwen Stefani have always portray the image of strong independent women, yet their MVs are nothing new to the norm in the market. Unfortunate, isn’t it?

Let’s just take a look at the before and after of Mariah Carey:

Her once-innocent appearance seemed to have been diluted by mainstream culture which is characterized by one 3-letter word which begins with S.

I still love her songs and camaraderie she builds with her fans but feel that it’s sad that people conform to social norm just to fit into this somewhat erotic culture. Perhaps I should throw away this obsolete thought of mine and just embrace this like Mariah and still continue to view tomorrow as brightly as I currently see it to be.

I don’t know. Sometimes, when you grow up, the reality or truths just begin to unfold.

But in any case, everyone grew up from a different culture and has different views and perspectives to different issue. Just take things with a pinch of salt, be more open to other’s culture while remaining at status quo if you deem your current way of living is good enough for you. This is what I feel.

Yet, always remember what your initial goal is and not be blinded with whatever that comes your way while you pursue your equilibrium in life.