Group-4

Group-4 Nakia West, Tracey Ramcharan, and Dickyi Tsering May 7, 2013 The western culture influences India in many ways. The culture of India is been disappearing by many ways. The influence of media has westernized the Indian culture from classical Indian traditions to basic modern trends and it has altered the way the people of India look at things. Media has been generating awareness on various social problems like dowry, female foeticide, infanticide, murder, Kidnapping, rape, Child abuse and human trafficking. Shows like Crime Patrol, gives the audience a view of what is happening in India that they are not aware of. Ignorance plays a big part of why these problems take place. Media’s focus on real events brings Indian society to a new light and westernized the minds of culturally developed people. It also brings into focus any atrocities faced by weaker sections of the society. Not only does, Media westernized the awareness of crime happening in India but also the idea of healthcare. India believes in Ayurvedic medicine but with Media, diseases like Cancer have a chance of being cured. It’s generating awareness on good practices like health, hygiene, nutrition, therefore improving the living standards. Media is responsible for the success of green revolution in India during 60's by popularizing the usage of high yielding varieties, fertilizers, pesticides and other farm management techniques. green revolution has improved the living standard of poor by enhancing their incomes. many new entrepreneurs from weaker sections of the society emerged. This has enabled them to rise in the social ladder and stay on par with the so called upper castes. Media is responsible for generating pan India identity and enabling people to loosen their parochial and narrower identities. Media also has been showing in new employment opportunities that are available in the market. this has enabled a common man with requisite skills to grab them. Media is also responsible for spreading in latest fashion and upcoming technology.  Music plays a significant role in Bollywood films and is used in such a way to help tell the story. The song, “Ketaki Gulab Juhi,” comes from the 1956 film, Basant Bahar. This song features classical vocal music and also incorporates India’s unique culture by the use of traditional instruments. Unlike some modern films, this classic strictly uses Hindi language and features traditional Indian practices. This song and others from the soundtrack feature a full orchestra combined with traditional Indian instruments such as the sitar, sarod, violin, dholak, and tabla. The male and female singers take turns singing in order to help narrate the story and only use Hindi lyrics. Songs contribute greatly to the gross earnings of a Hindi film. As a result, filmmakers look for more contemporary music and lyrics in order to appeal to the younger generation, who make up a significant percentage of the population. In the 2011 film, Luv Ka The End, many aspects of the film appealed to a younger audience and contained themes much different than those used in traditional films. In order to go along with these newer themes, the music in the movie is much more modernized than classic Bollywood music. For example: The song, “Freak Out,” is almost completely different from classic Bollywood music. In this song, male and female vocalists interact, a common technique used in Bollywood film music. Unlike traditional music, this song and many others featured in the film are a lot more rock-based. More contemporary compositions such as rock are given priority to attract the younger audience but they rarely depict India’s unique culture. In modern films, English is sometimes spoken or featured in the songs. In a more recent Bollywood films such as Tashan it contains both English and Hindi lyrics. In “Dil Dance Maare Re” from Tashan, Hindi and English words are used interchangeably throughout the song.  Despite the outlandish development in the international expansion of different types of media, television remains the most global and dominant. Television has made steady advances and profound impacts on the Indian society where millions are unable to read and write. Television has westernized and has a positive impact on the Indian culture because it allows the society to express themselves and discuss issues that they find interesting about other parts of the world. For example, people of the Indian society have more things to discuss amongst each other and it allows each and everyone to learn from each other as well as stimulate the mind. The westernization of the Indian culture allows the people of the Indian society to engage and entertain their minds. Television networks such as MTV allows the young adults to be informed of different types of music that is accessible to other parts of the world. It also allows them to become more Americanized in the way they speak and dress. Television networks such as Lifetime may prepare and inform the Indian society of bad events and crimes that take place and prepare them to deal with these difficult situations. Since television has provided the Indian society to be more informed of different trends, fads, and events that take place in western culture it positively impacts the Indian culture.  There are many negative aspects of Media itself, it not only invades privacy of people but also may pass on invalid messages. It may instill cultural stereotypes and also have a deep impression of western culture rather than your own culture. There are many disadvantages on how Indian culture westernized through the influence of media. In past movies such as Devdas, Indian culture was very traditional especially the ways of how the characters acted, spoke and dressed. However, in modern day films, such as Dev D many things have changed, they have less traditional trends and have become westernized. In Dev D planned events were less extravagant and traditional. When it came to clothing, they did not wear traditional Indian outfits, they wore regular clothing such as jeans and shirts, not saris and kurtas. The characters did not speak formal Hindi, but regular Hindi and as well as some English. In the film, they did not truly respect their elders when it came to speaking. Also, religion is an extremely important part of the traditional Indian culture; however in this film the Hindu religion was barely noticeable because they did not show any emphasis of it. Since this film was set in present day, many traditions have been “thrown out the window” because media has changed the way people look at things. The influence of media has westernized the Indian culture from classical Indian traditions to basic modern trends. However, there are also advantages on how the Indian culture westernized through the influence of media.  The idea of Media changing a culture is seen to be both negative and positive in ways. Media has become the pillar of the society itself, Healthy society is not possible without a healthy media. While being westernized for the positive aspects, it should also be able to preserve your own culture before you lose it to western culture. The information that is put on any kind of media should be checked then posted.