http://desicritics.org/ Superior South Asian bloggers on Culture, Media, Politics, Sport, Business, and Technology. en Copyright 2006 by the authors Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:38:42 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss BC custom software http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-340684 As a 28 year old myself and presently pursuing a PhD at an esteemed institute, I was shocked beyond belief the day I stepped inside the Tv room in the GIRL's hostel where I stay, and found a bevy of women, also PhD aspirants, eyes agog, excitement personified, watching what? SPLITSVILLA!!!! I had the rather innocent intention of watching a Euro2008 football match, but of course, I was no match for them..... Had to sit through the show and only then could I touch the remote. That was the only episode of Splitsvilla I saw... I came away with my opinion of the fellow emancipated women of my institute, spiralling downwards at the speed of light. ' So if women on campus, all ultra-intelligent no doubt, are uplifted to seventh heaven by such derogatory shows, can we really blame the men for being such chauvinists? 340684@desicritics.org Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:38:42 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-340169 This might come a little late, as the show is almost over, but as I just stumbled across your article I feel compelled to comment on it (and not the race or rakhi issue that the others are bickering about!) I like Splitsvilla. This comes as a shock to most people as I am known to be a self proclaimed feminist. What needs to be taken into consideration is that the girls on this show are on the show voluntarily, and that too to promote their careers (with most of them wanting to get into the glamor/ film field) These girls DO intend to become the next priyanka chopra or even rakhi sawants of India, and if they want to come on TV and shake their tushes and flash their assest so be it. I guess for lot of people the problem with the show lies in these 20 women wooing these so called "catches", but say it was the other way round, with 20 men trying to impress two girls, would that too make you uncomfortable or turned off? 340169@desicritics.org Sun, 24 Aug 2008 21:27:16 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-339149 First it was Black/White, now its Rakhi Sawant.... :) Coming back to Splitsvilla, im amazed that there are so many girls who want to participate in the show. That there is an audience is one thing, that there is so much participation is quite another. I find it completely bizarre, cos i can't imagine any of my female friends putting up with such nonsense even for a minute. 339149@desicritics.org Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:35:15 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338798 I agree with Spirit. Ms. Sawant herself admitted on KJo's show about having done plastic surgery with that now-famous statement " Jo bhagwan nahi deta hai,doctor deta hai" (What God didn't give you can be given by a doctor). Okay, I appreciate her honesty though. But she looks like a Barbie now. With puffed up lips,boobs,cheeks etc etc. Infact some people say she looks like a transexual (ironically that's the role she played in Masti. Maybe she suited the role well!). She's fun and all, but she doesn't look real. 338798@desicritics.org Sat, 9 Aug 2008 01:35:31 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338796 "respectable women do not wear jeans pants." heh. 338796@desicritics.org Fri, 8 Aug 2008 21:02:18 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338795 SS, In India, as you well know, there is a very strong discourse about ""respectability"". Largely a hangover from a feudal era that survives and thrives, trying to draw the line between the so-called elites and those labeled as the riff-raff. Some typical examples: "Women from respectable families do not do such and such" "Of course, since you come from a good family, you have to think about marrying into a respectable family" 338795@desicritics.org Fri, 8 Aug 2008 20:28:02 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338794 common, ignore ravi. seriously. that comment was so far beyond the pale (no pun intended) that it's not worth responding. 338794@desicritics.org Fri, 8 Aug 2008 20:22:40 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338793 Ravi: ""This is all so much ado about nothing. PC is so infuriating sometimes. It is clear to me what Ledz meant by "respectable blacks". Could any one deny here that, blacks lag behind other races when it comes to education, income levels etc?"' Ravi, I don't believe Led meant to be demeaning. However, without being self-righteous about it, only when one has lived here for decades, does the discourse of race, the way it plays out, sinks in. As well, to be "respectable", one does not necessarily need a collection of degrees ("education""), loads of cash ("money") etc. 338793@desicritics.org Fri, 8 Aug 2008 19:44:34 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338778 Spirit What body parts are fake? 338778@desicritics.org Fri, 8 Aug 2008 10:51:36 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338772 DL, I don't know how you find Rakhi 'earthy'. She looks very plastic to me. Almost all her body parts are fake :( 338772@desicritics.org Fri, 8 Aug 2008 08:03:50 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338391 I got to see Rakhi Sawant's show in Zoom and man, I loved Rakhi. Something tells me I may be one of the few ones who find her earthiness attractive;) Point is its always refreshing when people are allowed to be themselves on television and not be like our robotic anchors of NTDV and Times Now with their neutral accents;) 338391@desicritics.org Sun, 3 Aug 2008 06:18:24 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338389 I'm quite irritated that Sakshi's interesting post on the worst reality show in India today has degenerated into a silly fight about black/white. 338389@desicritics.org Sun, 3 Aug 2008 05:17:49 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338385 For all those PC folks here, Bill Clinton was called the first "Black President" of America. Is that racism? Ravi 338385@desicritics.org Sun, 3 Aug 2008 01:49:34 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338383 Folks, This is all so much ado about nothing. PC is so infuriating sometimes. It is clear to me what Ledz meant by "respectable blacks". Could any one deny here that, blacks lag behind other races when it comes to education, income levels etc? He is talking about those folks who have had the good fortune to be born in a relatively well-off family, get a good education and hence have a more prevalent American accent. This PC just distracts from the main discussion here and everywhere else. There is no doubt that TV programs these days try to shock and awe people. It is a natural progression from the Hum Log to Khandan to Shaanti (all these were TV shows in India during the 80s and 90s) and now the reality shows. It is shockingly predictable as Time magazine would say. That's why no TV in Kulkarni residence for the last 8 years. Regards, Ravi 338383@desicritics.org Sun, 3 Aug 2008 01:47:57 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338349 Actually those 2 guys are ex-roadies (another reality show on MTV) ,so I don't think they are from the producer's clan. And it's fun to watch girls wooing guys. Of-course I don't believe all that "Finding true love along with 5 lacs" crap! It's just a show. But I think the roles of men and women are changing in the society. While women now go out and fend for themselves, they woo the men also ! Men, on the other hand, now cook, help their wives in the household chores and take "paternity" leaves. Again it's not a sweeping generalization. But it's happening in atleast a fraction of the society. 338349@desicritics.org Sat, 2 Aug 2008 11:44:42 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338343 Led, Point taken about the spelling, but not about the context. "respectable blacks"? sounds like the senator who once said that obama was one of the "cleanest" blacks ever in the race. retort from al sharpton "trust me, i take a shower everyday". the senator did not intend to sound racist....yet. 338343@desicritics.org Sat, 2 Aug 2008 07:48:50 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338342 yes, I was the one who created the misspelling. but no, it is not an ad hominem attack. you seriously have no clue how to talk about race without being offensive. on top of that you refuse to admit it. even when others beyond myself have told you this, you act as if I am the only one telling you and that you've not said a thing. the way you used the term is offensive, ledz. you really have some serious issues behind how you think about race. 338342@desicritics.org Sat, 2 Aug 2008 06:56:02 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338340 CS, maybe you should go to my post and check for yourself the original spelling as well as the context in which I have used the term. 338340@desicritics.org Sat, 2 Aug 2008 00:54:55 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338339 SS - "well I think we all see where ledz is coming from when he used to the term "respectible blacks" Go back to my comment and understand the context in which I used that term. You are just indulging in ad hominem attacks since you very well know your case is weak. "(falls over laughing at his continuous digging himself in an even deeper hole each time he responds to this....)" Keep deluding yourself.. 338339@desicritics.org Sat, 2 Aug 2008 00:49:04 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338284 Led: "respectible blacks" What the FISH? Really! Folks, either: 1. Led knows not what he/she is doing, as she/he continues to inadvertently dig herself/himself into a bigger racist hole. 2. Or he/she does know exactly what he/she is upto, but has that "well I've never pretended to be a PC animal" ace up his/her sleeve. The ultimate license for intentional injury to folks who have said nothing vile against you. 338284@desicritics.org Fri, 1 Aug 2008 14:06:19 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338283 Led: "respectible blacks" what??? perhaps respectable spelling too?? 338283@desicritics.org Fri, 1 Aug 2008 14:03:35 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338272 well I think we all see where ledz is coming from when he used to the term "respectible blacks" that says it all right there in a nutshell. I guess he feels if you have a non-standard accent you are not respectable! (falls over laughing at his continuous digging himself in an even deeper hole each time he responds to this....) PS, I am not, nor have I ever been, hysterical. well, laughing hysterically, maybe, but not in any other way. 338272@desicritics.org Fri, 1 Aug 2008 13:01:14 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338270 Ledzius: Firstly, I am not making a case against you. If you would stop getting defensive and realize the connotation of your own words you would take this criticism objectively rather than personally. When you say a person is being "white" you ARE introducing a racist connotation. Whether you wanna admit it or not is a different issue. Secondly, you speak about an "accent" that black people like Oprah etc use which I honestly have not noticed. I don't see a difference between Oprah's "accent" and Tyra's accent. Really, I don't. In fact Tyra often uses a lot of "y'all" and "sista" than Oprah ever would so your comment is not just racist-sounding but also baseless. Chandra: As for SS, her comments do sound confrontational and somewhat reproaching I admit...but hysterical I'm not so sure especially since we cannot hear her tone (only imagine it). So it kinda is a matter of perspective. I think we all need to remember that this is a virtual medium and people's tone etc cannot be interpreted. Everybody needs to be given this benefit of doubt. Also lets get back to the topic at hand everybody....Splitsvilla 338270@desicritics.org Fri, 1 Aug 2008 12:37:10 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338263 I've got to see this show - Splitsvilla:) 338263@desicritics.org Fri, 1 Aug 2008 11:55:23 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/29/053942.php#comment-338248 Aditi, you wrote -"It is a common misconception that educated black people who speak well, do not use Ebonics or hip-hop lingo are speaking "white"." First of all, why do you assume that I meant blacks speak Ebonics or hip-hop lingo automatically when they don't speak "white"? Do you fail to recognize that there is a legitimate black accent that is NOT ebonics or hip hop lingo? If you make the assumption that "black accent" is always the latter, it only reflects on your own subconscious racial bias. If you have ever listened to Oprah, Sam Jackson, or many of the other respectable blacks (which I sure you have), you know rather well in your heart that they do NOT speak Ebonics. So using this term just to build your case against me sounds pretty hollow. In case both you and SS missed where I was coming from, I just wanted to point out that Tyra does not have a trace of even the standard black accent which you would associate with most respectable blacks in the US. As Kerty pointed out, maybe even the standard legitimate black accent is not enough to be successful in the US. One has to go completely white. Which is probably the reason why Tyra Banks is where she is now, as far as the show is concerned. I was merely pointing at the inherent racism in US showbiz (and in the process inadvertently exposed the prejudices of some of the commentators here). Need I say more? 338248@desicritics.org Fri, 1 Aug 2008 10:20:29 EDT