opinion

The Band(aid)wagon – lyrically unsightly

Posted on by Indraja Gugle

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“No peace and joy this Christmas in West Africa…Where a kiss of love can kill you – And there’s death in every tear…How can they know it’s Christmas time at all?”

Band Aid belted out lyrics which earned them unpleasant reviews yet again. Their anthem to raise money for Ebola victims just cements how the world perceives Africa. Crippled.

To all those who have bought this song online, thank you. You did help. Band Aid 30 probably had its heart in the right place, but unfortunately the lyrics and the video just did not strike the right chord with the people it speaks about.

The song is patronising, victimising Africa like an unchanging land of dying people.

The opening sequence shows an all-skeleton Ebola victim being picked up by medics, followed by an airy-fairy shot of celebrities stepping out of their cars, getting clicked as they make their way to the studio “to do their bit” for Ebola victims. Cocky heroism, anyone?

Mainstream media completely failed to take into account how the song was perceived by Africans.“The idea that Africa needs to be saved in 2014 by washed up C-list pop artists is a perverse example of a messiah complex,” Abdullahi Halakhe, a political analyst from Kenya told AL Jazeera.

Making a quiet donation away from the limelight, like Adele, scored better, I think. A generous donation by each would have saved them the “precious time” of recording a whole video. Also, huge savings to be made on the cheesy charm that inspires fans to spare a few dollars.

If one were sincere about charity, one wouldn’t make it a publicity stunt. Which, unfortunately, the song strongly reflects.

African organisations and agencies (yes Africa does have those) are working harder. It is natural that their courageous work get more recognition. Yet there’s not enough about them in the Western media. Instead, we have pop-artists singing if Africans know it’s Christmas.

It genuinely pains me that Chris Martin of Coldplay is a part of a song I criticise, but this is how I feel.

Here’s a charity song you could be adding to your iTunes library instead. Performed by various African artists, the song informs and uplifts.

 

Are breastfeeding photos too intimate for social media?

Posted on by Indraja Gugle

As stories of breastfeeding images do the rounds on social media, a burning question still remains – do we have to be prepared for more instances of ‘over sharing’ before we log in to our accounts?

Last week, there were two different instances of breastfeeding images popping up on Facebook. One was a mother who posted a photo of hers breastfeeding her premature baby for the first time in 12 weeks. It was taken down by Facebook only to republish it, citing adjustments in their nudity policy. Another photo of a breastfeeding graduate from University of the Sunshine Coast went viral as she expressed her gratitude to the university which supported her in her studies. Both these photos garnered “likes” in big numbers and support the world over.

Social media is increasingly blurring the lines between private and public spheres. What was considered to be too intimate is now out for the public to see, like and comment on. We live in the age of over sharing. Every little moment, however random, is clicked and finds its way on Facebook or Instagram the next instant. From pictures in pajamas to swim suits to barely nothing, social media has seen it all. But let’s face a fact – robots will start trending faster before the world treats breasts like any other body part, like arms or feet.

Many would argue that when it comes to celebrities, posing buck naked for the world to see is not termed inappropriate. Their skin show is acceptable while a commoners is not.

Nursing mothers do not enjoy celebrity status, do not have their breasts ‘photoshopped’, do not pout for the camera seductively and rather, have a warm motherly smile on their faces. Perhaps that is why they are discriminated for their breastfeeding photos.

Social media has also steadily become the new bible which dictates the mindset of people. If it’s OK on social media, then it catches on widely in real life too.  Take LGBT rights for example. Social media has empowered them like no one in their immediate circles has. They still have to struggle, but they have become more socially acceptable than they were before. A lot of the credit goes to social media for spurring discussions and sensitizing the society towards them.

Posting of breastfeeding photos on social media has unintentionally become a tool to sensitize the society towards women who breastfeed in public. The web is increasingly seeing such photos from women who wish to share their emotional experience. We rely heavily on social media to influence and change society. Does common sense evade us to such an extent? If one is amongst those who are uncomfortable with women breastfeeding in public, one must remember that their mothers probably faced the same censure to feed their hungry, wailing mouths.

Though motherhood is a global phenomenon, it is also deeply personal. And so is breastfeeding. While sharing is good, one must also remember to respect the privacy of special moments. These are the intimate instances that bind us to our dearest person. In a mother’s eyes, this dearness is also immeasurable and almost inexplicable, making it all the more sacred. So maybe, it is all right to cherish the experience within your own little world instead of getting the whole world in.

What do you think? Are breastfeeding photos too intimate for social media?