Disha Murugupandiyan Week 4 - "Mom, look! I'm on TV!"
Representation has always been important.
In recent media, such as movies and television shows, representation of all races and skin colors has increased and become prioritized. In this blog, I want to specifically focus on South Asian representation in South Asian films, specifically Tamil films.
As an avid Tamil movie watcher, I’d like to say I’ve watched a majority of the most mainstream and iconic films. From this, I can say that America has gotten one part of this “representation game” right. Actors like Simone Ashley, Avantika Vandanapu and Maitreyi Ramakrishan can objectively be considered as “dark skinned.” However, female leads in Tamil movies are known to be quite the opposite, even when the majority of the Indian population is dark skinned. Light skinned actors are favoured and there tends to be a certain “love” or preference for them.
A notable scene that represents this love for fair skin takes place in the iconic Rajinikanth move, Sivaji: The Boss (2007). Rajini, playing the role of Sivaji, pines after Tamizhselvi, claiming that he would do absolutely anything to receive her hand in marriage. After weeks of chasing, Tamizhselvi tells Sivaji that she would marry him if one of his features was different: his dark skin. Going as far as to have him stick out his hand next to hers to compare their vastly different skin tones, Tamizhselvi claims this immutable element as the deciding factor in their marriage. And so Sivaji tries, with Fair and Lovely cream, bleach and a traditional Indian concoction to change the unchangeable. While this claim made by Tamizhselvi can be dismissed as a ploy to get Sivaji to give up, the underlying message of this scene cannot: it’s better to be light skinned than dark. Tamizhselvi does go on to fall in love with Sivaji, even without a different skin tone, but the effect this scene may have on children is just as important.
This isn’t just about movies or TV shows; this is about what is seen as beautiful or desirable and what is not. When children don’t get to see someone with the same skin tone as them, especially in a story that takes place in a country with people that look like them, it sends a powerful, indirect message. They learn that one feature is “better” than the other, and that “better” feature is valued more in the real world. Children internalize this, and make it their standard. They change the way that they look, maybe sweeping over their latest selfie with a whitewashing filter or avoiding the sun during their trip to the beach. This can impact more than just the outside, but the inside as well; their identity takes a hit, leading to lower self-confidence.
Of course, this has changed in recent years. Representation is looked at as a big factor now, and more steps are being taken to make sure that everyone feels seen. Seeing someone that looks like you on TV means more that can be explained in words; kids have someone similar to them to look up to, reinforcing the idea that they are pretty or desired.
Hi Disha, the moment you mentioned Fair and Lovely I had an audible scoff, despite it being toxic and containing chemicals, such as bleach, that literally ruin your skin barriers it has continued to be prevalent in Indian culture. Growing up we hear all these stories about how Social Darwinism has impacted the entire world's perception of beauty. Overtime I have seen how these ideologies have impacted people such as my mother. We were out buying make-up one time and even though the consultant color matched her exact skin tone she still chose the lighter foundation shade. This, essentially, generational trauma has been passed on and refined to fit society now. There has been a popular internet trend where these street interviewers ask people what race they would not to date, majority if not all answers were Indians. It is insane to me how normalized discrimination against Indians has become. Growing up the in the Bay Area, a predominantly Asian and Indian community, we feel the repercussions less but it does not mean they are not there. I agree that media plays a big role on how people are perceived in society and that in recent years the increase of South Asian representation has definitely improved, not only other's opinions on Indians, but future generation's views of themselves.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoy Tamil movies. I may not be as much of a fan as you are but I have watched a good amount of the recent blockbusters. I remember hearing about this debate previously and how little representation is given to Tamil women. There needs to be change soon and the image you placed really highlights the aspect of representation and why it is necessary. Without it, it emphasizes that one race is better than the other.
ReplyDeleteWhile scrolling on Youtube, I realized how there is still not even equal representation there. I see a dominant group and do not see minorities nearly as often. There is also the question of equality vs equity. If there are a lot less people in minorities, it does not make sense for them to be having the same number of people as the majority. So, for some things, it is ok to not have equal representation as long as there is equitable representation to provide a powerful message to children: they matter just as much as everyone else does.
DeleteHi Disha! Often in Bollywood movies, actors are usually very light skinned. The idea that light skinned actors are preferred over darker skin actors could possibly have its roots in British Imperialism. This is completely speculation however possibly the oppression of Indians by white men and women could have planted Indians with an idea that they are inferior to white men because of their skin color. This is called social darwinism, a term coined by Herbert Spencer. It is a crude version of "survival of the fittest" and it was heavily used in Nazi Germany. Perhaps this ideology is still rooted in Indian culture.
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