I’ve recently figured through my travails on Facebook that I’m a “missionary” position, white colour and “ecstasy” drug not to mention the fact that I’m a “Cosmopolitan” when it comes to drinks. I must admit that indulging in these exercises of “self realization” in the middle of a working day can be quite entertaining. Follow it up with a couple of games on http://www.stickcricket.com/ and we’re set to face the second half with renewed vigour.
Games have traditionally been a breeding ground for alter egos to be developed and nurtured. Kids in India grow up playing games: Lukka Chhuppi; Ghar, Ghar; etc. Each of these games allowed us to play roles and be characters that we aspired to. From a very young age, we’ve been habituated to fostering alter egos. The new age games allow on X Box and on Facebook allow us to re-fabricate that alter ego of ours and therein lies the success of these factions in the country.
However, only 39 million people in India have the access and hence the luxury to indulge themselves in the “alter egoisation” of their personalities. Add another million odd people who’d exclusively own X Boxes, PSPs, etc and we have a round figure of 40 odd million. So, barring these people, the rest of the country leads singular one dimensional lives with no vent for their constructed psychological superheroes. Correct??
Wrong!! The confluence of mobile interactivity coupled with reality television has allowed a large percentage of Indians to indulge themselves. Shows like Nach Baliye, KBC, Indian Idols, Sa Re Ga Ma, Jhoom India allow us to find manifestations of our personality in the participants. To us, these celebrities embody the perfect “alter ego”, a person we think has some qualities that we possess but leads a life we always wish we do. Hence, we make our favorites on these shows and back them through thick and think. Mobiles on the other hand act as our “new age” joysticks. By voting in and saving/deleting a participant, we allow ourselves to believe that we’re a physical part of the game show. Hence, reality television today has become the common man’s X Box.
Well, in days to come, may be X Boxes and PSPs will go more mass (alternatively, Tata Sky will grow beyond the rudimentary gaming options it now provides and become more evolved which may lead to gaming becoming really mass). But that I guess is a long time away, so for the moment, I’m going to ensure I stay a part of this culture by casting my vote for Rakhi Sawant on Nach tonight.
Games have traditionally been a breeding ground for alter egos to be developed and nurtured. Kids in India grow up playing games: Lukka Chhuppi; Ghar, Ghar; etc. Each of these games allowed us to play roles and be characters that we aspired to. From a very young age, we’ve been habituated to fostering alter egos. The new age games allow on X Box and on Facebook allow us to re-fabricate that alter ego of ours and therein lies the success of these factions in the country.
However, only 39 million people in India have the access and hence the luxury to indulge themselves in the “alter egoisation” of their personalities. Add another million odd people who’d exclusively own X Boxes, PSPs, etc and we have a round figure of 40 odd million. So, barring these people, the rest of the country leads singular one dimensional lives with no vent for their constructed psychological superheroes. Correct??
Wrong!! The confluence of mobile interactivity coupled with reality television has allowed a large percentage of Indians to indulge themselves. Shows like Nach Baliye, KBC, Indian Idols, Sa Re Ga Ma, Jhoom India allow us to find manifestations of our personality in the participants. To us, these celebrities embody the perfect “alter ego”, a person we think has some qualities that we possess but leads a life we always wish we do. Hence, we make our favorites on these shows and back them through thick and think. Mobiles on the other hand act as our “new age” joysticks. By voting in and saving/deleting a participant, we allow ourselves to believe that we’re a physical part of the game show. Hence, reality television today has become the common man’s X Box.
Well, in days to come, may be X Boxes and PSPs will go more mass (alternatively, Tata Sky will grow beyond the rudimentary gaming options it now provides and become more evolved which may lead to gaming becoming really mass). But that I guess is a long time away, so for the moment, I’m going to ensure I stay a part of this culture by casting my vote for Rakhi Sawant on Nach tonight.
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