Content Creation: Let the Viewer Decide

The recent controversy surrounding obscenity on social media is being fuelled by overreaction by both sides of the divide—the divide that comes between so-called modernity and conservatism.

- J OYEETA BASU

While one side is adding the cover of "freedom of speech" to basically obscene and outrageous content, the other side is resorting to extreme action as a counter. What was on display in the viral clip featuring some young and massively popular social media influencers was crass and vulgar.

Given that the "jokes" made were based on some western comedy shows and were intended to shock, although apparently in a closed-door programme, proves that the makers of such shows lack the ability and creativity to think independently, or even adapt such western shows according to Indian tastes and mores. At the best they can copy-paste content they have lifted from the West.

They think it's all very modern to follow the West blindly, forgetting their own cultural moorings. In reality, they are nothing but deracinated. At the same time, however much they want to belong, they will never be a part of the western "creative" milieu, simply because they are Indian.

As for the argument that it is about freedom of speech—in India, freedom of speech is not absolute and comes with "reasonable restrictions". As Indians, content creators will have to follow Indian laws, so there is no point crying about how "illiberal" India is.