The latest photohoot of Ranveer Singh is ruffling feathers but which side are you on?
It is perhaps an irony that women have filed for a First Investigation Report (FIR) against Ranveer Singh’s (near) nude photoshoot when women all over the world (near) bare all when performing in concerts, and posting online. It is perhaps a conversation to consider that there is a very fine line between Art and Objectionable – where personal freedoms end and creative freedom begins. It is perhaps, also a matter of perception what some find offensive and others don’t.
Personal Choice
You like your latte skinny, half fat, lactose free, with a double shot or single, grande or tall, you like it with cream or without? The world is all about personal choice expressed in a cup of customized latte – if Starbucks can do it, why can’t Instagram?
An office-bearer of an NGO had alleged that the actor hurt the sentiments of women in general and insulted their modesty through his photographs. Safe to say netizens were up in arms – some praising the bold and expressive initiative, giving Ranveer a celebrity pat on the back (such as the likes of Alia Bhatt), and others challenging his right to bare all and hurt the modesty and sentiments of many women who happened to spot a near nude Ranveer on their Insta feed. Just like that. No trigger warning, sensitive, mature content warning etc etc.
Now, many would argue that this is a first!
If you’re on the net, if you’re using an app, you should KNOW that you will be exposed to all kinds of images from the heavily made up to the bare essentials, then why the fuss about Ranveer?
Creative Freedom
But while the actor received censure for baring his soul and body to millions online, others defended his act as a work of Art – bold, courageous and immensely aesthetic.
“The best cover shot this country has seen. Brave & unapologetic.”
Fashion designer Masaba Gupta
Here’s the thing. As many lauded his bare all approach, others were clearly offended by Ranveer Singh’s Paper Magazine photoshoot. But at the end of the day, questioned his fans, why should Ranveer Singh have to curtail his creative urge to pacify the modesty of others? Well, why should he? And for that matter, why should anybody? This is the age of personal choice isn’t it?
Where the artist deserves freedom to create, audiences and Instagram users also deserve the freedom to not view content they haven’t signed up for. Correct?
Here’s the flip side: In an age where we address teen depression, fake accounts on instagram, the risks of mental health on app users , the use of filters to create unreal lifestyles and overwhelming pressures on our youth, why can we not talk about NOT watching unwelcome nudity on our social media feed?
Twitter does it. Twitter warns users on content it considers requires a trigger warning, or that carries sensitive material. Instagram can and should follow suit. And that’s perhaps the most significant conversation that will come from the Ranveer Singh nudist debate.
Why can instagram users not check the boxes they agree to not view? This includes sensitive material, mature content and content containing potential mental health risks.
Changing Norms – Offensive Or A Win-Win?
SImple! Says the optimistic in me. Not so simple probably! Say the people behind socal media feeds. We need to change the way we do things, get people to sign up with agreements, alter and customize feeds,… too much headache over a puny photoshoot that wouldn’t even have got so much attention if we hadn’t placed it on our feed in the first place!
Oh but you didn’t place it. Ranveer Singh did, or Paper Magazine did. And these people are also part of the same online community as those who oppose the photoshoot and what it means for them. And both these sides make up a large part of your user base. So nothing, I argue nothing that furthers their user experience should be a headache for you.
Eventually, enough noise moves mountains. And whenever hot topics like a nude photoshoot ignite conversations in a community, always remember the good that can come of it.
One day the folks who run the apps will know they need to change. And change is after all, ineveitable, progressive and oh so very creative – it’s a win-win situation for personal choice and creative freedom so which ever side you’re on, keep at it! Protests drive change and change is not offensive (even if Ranveer’s photoshoot is)!
Oh and how would you like that latte now? You can get it whichever way you want – just ask the people at Starbucks, they’ll tell you!
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