Can't live with or without them...

For a language expeditor like me-Cant, Slang and Jargon are some of the interesting areas of exploration. I chanced upon an interesting Portmanteau (compound word, for e.g.: smog =smoke +fog). The word is IRRITAINMENT that has put an end to my search for a word to make a topic of interest for a blog. Irritainment refers to entertainment and media spectacles that are annoying, but we find ourselves unable to stop watching them.

This write-up or sattiriscription(satirical description) is not an exposition of English language and its variations. This throws a direct hint at the weird soap operas, reality shows, dance shows, talent hunts and now truth-n-dare sessions, to name a few. It seems as if the human race is left with two choices- work or watch television. While the celebrities (as they call themselves) and regular folk, hang out their dirty linen on all television channels, the euphoric and show-us-more public watches with voyeuristic thrill. I am no exception. It is funny rather interesting to watch the celebrities throwing tantrums at each other. Then, all-in-one comp`ere comes to their rescue teaching them ‘Etiquette Gita’, as to how to behave. One can find an interesting galore of melodrama and needless to say, we would like to watch. We can’t deny this.

The K-series is notorious among the pool of soap operas. A tête-à-tête of young girls with old men, eternally bad female villains, and play-with-in-a-play are the fixed fundas. Just like drugs, smoking and alcohol, soap operas are an addiction. I was a die-hard fan of Rajeev Khandelwaal and Kahin to Hoga. When it almost reached the status of an epic, I questioned myself, what am I watching? Irritainment in full swing!!

Having had done with Swayamvars, Dance and Singing shows, the idea hamsters behind the idiot box came up with another unfolding drama “Sach ka Saamna”. I just watched one episode. Frankly, I enjoyed it. The participants appeared to me as Circus clowns. There is something very alluring and the polygraph or a lie-detector is both boon and bane in disguise.

Will you intend to have an affair if your partner can’t find out? Have you ever contemplated killing your husband or wife (Ram Gopal verma has already explored this aspect)? Have you thought of another woman other than your wife? The answer is an emphatic ‘yes’ on all counts.
The spouses talk about their ex-flames, exisiting flames and would-be-flames and the rest listen in awful awe.

It’s happening, certainly for the normal folk. Suddenly, it’s just not stars that seem to spread their canvas in all hues, your neighbor can also pop-up on T.V. You never know!! People are taking part in it, only with a line that “The truth shall set you free.”

Try it out. A good testing ground to experiment how truthful you are! But a lot of patch work has to be done later. Putting aside jokes and jests, truth has become so cheap a commodity. I understand that it is subjective, but does it carry any value anymore?

I recollect Tagore’s Articulations of Aspiration in Gitanjali,
“Where the Mind is without Fear,
And the head is held high,
Into that Heaven of Freedom, My Father,
Let My Country Awake.”
The mind is set free and the head is also held high… but for reasons not convincing. In short, we are herded in the other direction. Not a positive sign indeed!