Life and Art - Part 1

I remember when the movie, 'Amruta' came out and this dialogue was in the promos. A dark skinned girl asks her mom that she believes they are not related because of the complexion difference. I remember my sister being of similar age to that movie protagonist and asking the same to my mother. 

We all talk of 90's kids but there is a greater phenomenon around 90's mothers. While the female labor force participation rate as in female employment has been more or less stagnant since Independence, the female employment in services sector saw a good jump in late 80's to 90's. On the other hand, primary and secondary education has improved significantly during the same period. Other things were happening too, the rise of nuclear families, western dressing and so on.

Also to note, feminist movement was in full swing during 70's in the Western world which could have a ripple effect settling in this period in the subcontinent. During this period, I think an amusing wave happened in the Indian. Female protagonists were being carved out to be rich, spoilt shrews who did not believe in patriarchy or male superiority. The themes ran in a way that they ultimately came to terms with the fact that they are supposed to be docile, home makers if they want a chance of any happiness in their marriage or life. 'The taming of the shrew' got violent makeover.

Such content got so popular that Pushpa, KGF, Animal would be ashamed.  Ultimately movies are an escape. And this gives me the idea that movies are actually not always inspired by the life in general but portray something far removed, a fantasy. The fantasy did not stop anything, education wise girls and boys are almost proportional, societal expectations changed drastically, western influence got deeper and more. And extrapolating the same, I looked at the American film content.

Remember Mr and Mrs. Smith? There is a scene where the protagonists are sharing their body count, (both are assassins) and the lady's number is far greater than the man's. The scene did not feel organic, much like something done to impress a section of society. And it's a repetitive theme, even today. But somehow I think if we look at Hollywood content, people and their disposition towards the politics, they are clueless of what's happening in the real world. 

Sometimes this makes me conclude that women are definitely not better off in the advanced economies the way their movies portray or media in general, how they are keen on putting down women from South Asia and Middle East's situation. Funny how an economy who can never allow a woman to be a President looks down on the rest of the world's civilization through its depiction of so called 'representation'. I think its not funny but necessary. Ultimately movies are an escape, they need to do this to feel good about themselves I guess.