Author Archives: Anuki Lulla

Hasan Minhaj’s Patriot Act show has taken over really well in terms of spreading accurate facts. His episode, “Saudi Arabia” was an eye-opener to me personally as I wasn’t aware of this information, and his explanation to such controversial topics was really easy in understanding. In the first act, we see Minhaj introducing the Khashoggi murder case which happened in Saudi Arabia. He explains the whole issue of how Saudi Arabia acted in denial and later accepted it. It kind of created havoc for journalists in America. Later, he moves on in setting up an introduction of Muslims specifically focusing on Saudi Arabia, and explains why Saudi in particular since it is the “homes of two of the holies cities in the Islamic world: Mecca & Medina”. And throughout the first act, he continued explaining about Saudi Arabia and their methods of trying to portray it as progress in being a “modern country” which is completely false.

In the second act, he speaks about Indian American Muslims and explains due to a one particular country of Muslims the entire Muslim community is questioned and treated unfairly and similarly is shown in the novel “The Reluctant Fundamentalist”, we see how Changez and all the Muslim communities were treated in America after the 9/11 attack. Minhaj expresses that he has been told by people to “probably lean into the Indian side of your identity” since Muslims are taken and treated differently. He also talks about how people look up to Indians as “doctors, lawyers, engineers” which is an old stereotype and addresses a few names of Indian Americans as examples- John Kapoor (who was arrested for being involved with racketeering, frauds regarding medical), Raj Gupta (who was involved in inside trading), Dinesh D’souza (who talks and shares opinions which make zero sense), and a few more.

Overall I feel his main aim to introduce the topic on Indian Americans especially Muslims as he wanted to explain in the first segment why Muslims have a hatred.

Among all the beautiful crafts and exhibits in the Multiversity Gallery in Museum of Anthropology, there are two photographic images of a girl and boy pictured in their school uniforms and titled her first of school and his first day of school by Dionne Paul. The pictures are presented vertically, first comes the image of the girl and below is the boy. The image is a color print except their uniform portion is overlapped with a black and white image of probably the real image of the school uniform back then. The girl dressed up in a coat and gloves while the boy is dressed in a shirt, trousers, tie, gloves and a sweater like waist-coat. We see both the children with happy smiles on their face and your first impression is ‘oh look happy kids’, but the real shock is delivered when the Artist’s statement is read.

In brief, the artist’s note describes how difficult it was for the Indigenous families and kids to be away from each other at an unknown and unsafe surrounding where they were brutally treated because of who they were and how different they were. Dionne also states that these two works are a visual manifestation of the crimes against humanity which was conducted one short generation ago at 139 Indian residential schools in Canada. She also shares personal information of her dad being a day scholar at the Sechelt Indian Residential School, which was closed in 1975.

I believe the Dionne meets Robert Houle’s definition of an “artist-warrior” as she is brave and has the courage to show to share the story of the struggles faced by the indigenous families and allow the piece to be displayed in a western- modern museum which satisfies to what Robert described it as “hostile territory”. I am super grateful for the access given to us (general public) to learn about the horrific past of the indigenous culture.

I, myself being bought up in a different country (Uganda) have never faced this kind of behavior or struggle. I honestly had no idea about any of the Indigenous culture and has been the opportunity to know and understand about it means a lot. Somehow it deeply hurts me to know about all these crimes committed a few years back but I hope we are able to contribute to making a better society

References:

Paul, Dionne. Her First Day of School. 2013, Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver, BC.

Paul, Dionne. His First Day of School. 2013, Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver, BC.

Kramer, Jennnifer. “Figurative Repatriation: First Nations ‘Artist-Warrior’s Recover, Reclaim, and Return Cultural Property through Self-Definition.” Journal of Material Culture, 2014, pp. 161-182.

As per Dean’s Article, it all began with a series of replies with the George W. Bush’s administration. Dean was able to put out her point stating her argument with the due success of Neoliberal. For the debate I was in FOR Dean’s article emphasizing Neoliberal Globalization hence I read the article with that point of view. The article stated that social media not inhibits rather than enhances sociopolitical changes. I had taken the role of speaking the closing statement. Throughout the reading Dean’s point of view was 10 years ago which kind of still strongly relates. Dean’s argument did affect my opinions somehow. It changed my perspective in how people blindly follow up things. As I stated in my closing statement regarding the ALS Ice bucket challenge, it has collected a lot of funds but not because people wanted to bring a change or donate for the cause it was more like a mandatory post for one’s social media account. I will admit I wasn’t even concerned about ALS, the only highlight was ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE. I also agree social media is a platform where you can’t judge if a matter is true or false. But everyone is clever enough to figure it out in some time now.

The opposing team had presented few examples such as the Arab Spring and Me Too. They didn’t really talk about Me Too much which turned out to be their weaker point to my perspective. Me Too was a perfect example to raise the bar between the arguments as through social media there a change bought in people’s life. However, the AGAINST team didn’t really impact because my view was almost similar to theirs. After all we are in the millennial era. Everyone follows social media more than anything and aware whatever is viral or not. If the issue really matters or is real with the help of social media there can be change in the society. Though the FOR arguments did make sense because even if the social media is bringing a sociopolitical change, people may be participating for it but there are quite few out there who are really concerned and majority of the users aren’t even aware of their situations it’s more like they want to participate the trend. . But I believe I am 50-50% agreement with both the stands.

The second debate was on Manuel Castells’ chapter, ‘The Egyptian Revolution’. It focused on how social media helped in informing the world about Egypt’s sociopolitical change.  The difference between both the arguments in Castell’s supported the usage of social media platform like Facebook, Twitter and youtube while Dean clearly stood out against this platform.

However, this debate was a fun activity which helped in learning different perspectives and makes a person understand the usage of social media for sociopolitical change much easier.

Social Media has been a big influence to everyone’s life now. The activity or action to update one’s life has become a necessity. This platform maybe stated as a boon or bane. With the recent controversies social media has taken a new turnover and a new platform to represent. One of the recents is the #MeToo movement, which is still ongoing and perhaps one of the biggest controversy on the social platform.

It all formerly began as an effort by activist Tarana Burke more than ten ago, and set aflame after a tweet by actress Alyssa Milano. Currently the movement is being followed up in India. Everyday a new revelation is shared through the medium of social media. A huge number of celebrities and other survivors are coming forward to share their terrifying stories which have given the hashtag suction. The controversy has become a huge shock and realization that woman are still taken for granted.

Via my research I found an article stating according to a recent study #MeToo hashtag was used more than 19 million times on twitter which is more that 55,000 uses of that hashtag per day. Social Media has definitely contributed its best in spreading this movement and making every person aware about their story. Social media has given its best to convey the unity and courage to the victims. The exploitation of woman had generally been a conversation but with the proper usage of social media the message has magnifically shared to another level. Social media has over 71% (approx) users globally hence the news takes on and becomes viral helping the information to spread out and help other victims to share their stories too or maybe someone might realize his mistake and stop this act. The hashtag has an exceptional influence because it showed the ability of woman and survivors of sexual harassment and violence.

Through the #MeToo movement in twitter the Indian film industry is collectively taking a decision to walk out from the accused people’s project or keeping it on hold waiting for the final verdict of the accusation. But the use of the phrase stormed on twitter after the events like Golden Globe Awards and also when Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford testified before a Senate committee. The movement reached its peak point after Time magazine name #MeToo activities as person of the year and the day after International Women’s Day.

There is definitely no calm to this storm until the accused pay for their shameful act.

References:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/10/13/metoo-impact-hashtag-made-online/1633570002/

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/india-metoo-sexual-harassment-tech-mobile-phones-social-media-a8606756.html

Currently Internet is a platform which is ruling people. The internet has created a small world within itself for the followers. People have indulged themselves into following the craziness of this world. This craziness is termed as fandom. A Fan culture is now more likely to be known as a pop culture. Stalking every single move and act of someone has become a part of our daily living. More likely this is a stressful situation between both up loaders and followers. This whole process is now a part of human’s life. People treat fandom as a religion.

Fan cultures cultivates around creations and artistic expression that may take place in different forms like fan fiction, cosplay, fan art, videos, folk songs and various other interactions with a group of people or around a fictional universe. Fans generally share their creations through the platform of social media. The internet has given a warm welcome to this culture and is embraced with a lot of similar minded people across the globe. This social activity allows fans to build their own communities in which they can express themselves and connect with different ideas and thoughts.

According to the Media Scholar Henry Jenkins, he contrasts the fan culture with consume culture, emphasizing that fans “poach” from popular media, appropriate idea from the text and rereading them in creative ways for their own uses. This culture has become beneficial for the culture industry. Taking the fan culture as an advantage they use them as their sources of promotion which actually works out quite well for them. Jenkins has also strongly opposed against the negative fan stereotype, keeping his pint that these portrayals must be critiqued and fandom must be out looked positively.

A fandom is usually divided into groups within themselves, people are grouped according to whomever’s opinions relate. Sometimes these groups take a negative spat over the internet creating unnecessary controversies which destroys the image of the celebrity. It can be taken positively that he/she is all of talks but it negatively affects the career.

However fans need to understand they aren’t a part of a celebrities personal life. Every person has a right to say out their onions but not to impose it into others life. This culture is meant to be a fun-entertaining environment and must be followed in that way.  It will then help in building a person in a right way. The more people take this culture positively the more better it gets. Being crazy isn’t meant being ill but making it a habit is harmful. The beauty of this culture is the ‘belief’ which should never fade.

References:

https://alevelmediaguilsborough1730spencer.wordpress.com/2017/12/06/media-theorists-henry-jenkins-fandom/

Fan Culture