Cleavages are making headlines for quite some time, especially in the last few weeks. Recently, Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone sparked a debate on media and society objectifying women. For all those who do not know about the controversy, here is the long story cut short:
Times Of India, India's leading daily newspaper, had posted a video from their Twitter handle @TOIEntertain about actress's apparent display of cleavage, headline of which read: "OMG! Deepika Padukone's cleavage show". The video shows Deepika in a white anarkali dress, camera focusing from top, with a constant red arrow pointing on...ehh..her cleavage.
To which, the actress gave a series befitting replies and Re-tweets from her supporters on her Twitter handle @deepikapadukone where one of them read,"YES! I am a woman. I have breasts AND a cleavage! You got a problem!!??"
To which, @TOIEntertain tweeted to the actress saying the video was posted with an intention to compliment the beauty.
To which, Padukone released a 'Point of View' where she pointed on how it is high time we must stop objectifying real women.
To which, Times Of India's supplement, Bombay Times released a half page full'Dear Deepika, Our Point of View' where they asked Deepika to do away with hypocrisy and the other half with actresses photographs she had voluntarily posed for showing ample amount of her cleavage.
This worsened the issue, which comes with its own logically inductive folds, at the first place.
Firstly, thank you Ms. Padukone for standing up.
Millions of Indians, including celebrities, are voicing out their opinion on social media on the issue. Every newspaper web has this controversy covered.
After analyzing various 'opinions' and Deepika's screenshot of cleavage-showing video, I came to a major conclusion: I have seen it before. And not just of Deepika's but of various other actresses.
Headlines about actress's wardrobe malfunctions, cleavage show or inner wear pops aren't new for us. Infact,had she not written about it on her social media account, not many of us would have even noticed it with wide eyes.
(At the time of the controversy, she had 7.3 million followers, The Times of India had 2.58 million followers. To join the league, there have been other news dailies like DNA with 3,60,000 followers and Hindustan Times with 1.17 million followers, who didn't miss taking advantage of brutal bashing of their competitor. Hence the news became difficult to ignore. Thankfully.)
Second, thank you Times of India. For educating people about the location of a cleavage and how it can make one go OMG! thanks to your omnipresent red arrow.
Today, however, was the saddest day for Indian Journalism after TOI released their point of view, something which seem to be completely missing the point. While on the first place, as usual as they might make it sound, TOI shamelessly sensitized people about the cleavage. They went on with the sub-headline questioning "Was Deepika's hypocrisy for publicity?". Below which, there was another subtext that announced, "(Below are) Pictures of Deepika that she got shot volutarily in real". Which they think, made their stand strong with parallel logic to 'We raped you because you were a prostitute anyway!' I will not comment about the political correctness of their logic and statement, you are the best people to do that. Again, the most interesting part of this picture is...guess..YES! The red arrow again, which yet again points towards her cleavage reminding us, for those who may lose their way, that the cleavage is located on the chest.
The TOI's opinion, in my opinion, is not just insulting and defamatory but reminds us of our patriarchal culture that shames women for their own body. TOI questioned how Deepika even had the guts to question them given that she herself started her career as calendar girl. So? Well, damn you logic!
In the middle of the entire issue, it is also difficult to ignore the time of the controversy. Disclaimer: No claims will be made here, whatsoever. TOI mentioned that video was on the web for more than a year. This makes it interesting. Why the problem after 2 days of releasing Finding Fanny?Agreeing to the view that this might be just a co-incidence, then the PR of the film really comes with lucky stars on their sleeves.
In Deepika's Point of View,there is a brief mention of her upcoming role in Farah Khan film, which I find was very unnecessary. The note would have still been as powerful without its mention.
I believe that by using 'this is how media has always been' or 'this is how film industry functions' as an excuse to justify what TOI has published would be sensible. To bring the greater change, issues need to be picked up, one at a time.
For those claiming that the pedagogy of online journalism justifies such sensational headlines need to give a look at non-mainstream media houses that are working perfectly fine without it.
I wouldn't judge as to who is being benefited more of the parties involved, I am heartily thankful this happened, for whatever purpose. For the other media houses, for the time being, would refrain from alleged objectification. For the people have themselves come out to think and speak about what is right and what is wrong.
About the author: Shruti Chaturvedi, is a student of Psychology. A quirky Tumblr and Twitter addict, she aspires to make this world Psycho-Politically correct.
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