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The
introduction of cable network and satellite transmission has by all means expanded the
horizons of entertainment without any limitations and boundaries that were set by the
broadcasting networks and authorities.
Star group of industries is one of the widest telecasted networks all over South Asia
including some parts of Europe and America. Not only does it cater the youth with its
aura but it also serves as an addiction to our eastern women in particular house wives and
teenage girls who are obsessed with the never ending soaps, musical shows and game
programs shown by the television network and broadcasted nearly twenty four hours a
day including a repeat transmission.
This addiction has increased by an exponential rate since the last five years with the
expansion of some of the major serials into never ending fables. These old wives tales eat
up an ample amount of the precious time of our youth and younger generation which tend
to station themselves in front of their plasma’s instead of using their brain power in a
creative way. Their source of energy is lying dormant due to the fact that the thinking
capabilities are just being forced to a halt by the rubbish fantasies portrayed by one of the
most widely watched channels of the Star Network, Star Plus.
Without much pep talk I’d say it loud and clear that the impact of this channel which is so
called family based (if you can call a program telecasting advertisement of having safe
sex every five minutes) is completely devastating. Apart from destroying the social
norms and values of Pakistani culture this channel seems to exploit the years of natural
growth in which a teenager is going through an identity crisis. The viewership of this
channel includes a vast number of females and an abnormal number of male fans as well
who are no longer interested in their social, cultural or industrial life apart from being
couch potatoes.
This non-interactivity within a household can imbalance a natural flow of the family
dynamics and regenerate traumatic effects on its members. Superficially the training our
ladies of the house receive from programs aired by this network serve as a coaching class
to embellish within themselves the power of competition, jealousy and hatred. Each one
trying to prove the other woman wrong, degrade or demoralize her infront of a large
swarm of relatives or family members which sometimes include public. (Which in most
cases creates the scenario of the dramas aired on Star Plus)
Psychologically, the negative approach taken by the fair sex of our country is trying to
pick up the wrong means of communication and relationship building. Programs and
drama serials showing illicit relations and promoting friendships which to an extent are
prohibited in our religion comes at an intersection with the religion and culture followed
by those of the Hindus. This leads to an increased confusion in the already pathetic state
of teenage identity crisis.
I recommend a ban on this network especially on Star Plus which is debilitating and
deviating the minds of our younger generation from creativity to cynicism. As a nation
we should stand upright against such television networks whose main aim is to mislead
the youth of our nation which is indeed the most valuable asset to be lost at the hands of
entertainment.
Sulaiman Dawood
Department of Psychology
University of Karachi