February 8, 2017

Is Hollywood’s Response to Sexual Assault Coloured?

By DU Beat February 8, 2017

We’re all with familiar with the phrase ‘OscarsSoWhite”, however this year the Oscar diversity drought came to a temporary halt with a sizeable number of black nominations. However, is this just a farce? The tussle between Casey Affleck and Nate Parker makes us think so.

At the Sundance Film Festival last year, Nate Parker’s directorial debut The Birth of a Nation about a 1831 Virginia slave rebellion and Casey Affleck starrer Manchester By The Sea about a Boston janitor promised to make the Oscar rounds. With the coming of 2017, there seems to be no trace or mention of Parker while Affleck has picked up a Golden Globe for his portrayal of the heart broken janitor. So what changed? When Parker’s film released in October, it was overshadowed by the news that back in 1999, nineteen year old Parker and the film’s co-writer Jean Celestin had been accused of raping a fellow student in college. Parker was acquitted on grounds that he had consensual sex with the victim prior to the incident. Amidst the uproar, sexual harassment charges against Affleck resurfaced which allegedly took place on the set of his 2010 mockumentary, I’m Still Here. According to the Guardian, “original allegations included claims that Affleck hired transvestite prostitutes ‘for his personal gratification’ and during filming, referred to women as cows, manhandled her when she rejected his sexual advances and instructed a camera operator to flash his genitals at her.”

The one thing that has particularly galled a number of observers is the profiles of Affleck that make only a mere passing mention of his indiscretions. In stark contrast, when the news of Parker broke out, The Daily Beast says Academy voters said that they won’t even watch the movie while the American Film Institute cancelled a screening. Rev Al Sharpton, the civil rights activist, told the Root , an online magazine of African American culture, “Is the standard now that you can take an almost two-decade acquittal and deny him the Oscars, but it’s all right for others who’ve done crazy stuff to be Oscar material? I just want to know, what’s the standard?”

There is no escaping Affleck’s privilege as Ben Affleck’s younger brother who has one of Hollywood’s most enduring friendships with the influential Matt Damon. There is definitely no escaping the race factor as The Daily Wire rightly puts, “Black man acquitted of a single incident involving one woman 17 years ago, has his entire career destroyed. White man who settled two sexual harassment suits from two separate accusers that involve alleged behavior on a film set just six years ago, is well on his way to Oscar glory.”

This is reminiscent of Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird” where a black man is accused of rape simply because he is black and such violence is attributed to his race. Thus, ladies and gentlemen we observe that Nate Parker has disappeared of the Oscar radar while Ben’s little brother is on an award winning roll.

Image Credits: www.newyorker.com

Anahita Sahu

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DUB Speak

The Showdown to Trump

By DU Beat February 8, 2017

Politicians are a species which is said to possess a pivotal incongruity between what is spoken and what is done. The governance of nations is criticised when the leaders fail to deliver their share of promises when the battle of votes is won; to the extent, the very idea of following-up policies after election seems almost ludicrous. But, the newly elected Honourable President of the United States has defied the majority of precedents by sticking to and staying true to the stream of actions which would be undertaken by the Obama-successor. For, the unfurling of impregnable walls and population bans has set the ball in motion for the term of the newly elected leader of the US.

After the Inauguration Day, President Trump (sigh) signed a series of Executive Orders to begin his term (or rule.) The one order which managed to stun the world collectively was the ‘temporary block on immigrants from Seven-Muslim majority countries.’ However, as the Trump administration refutes, it is not a Muslim ban. The order merely constitutes imposing a 90-day ban for residents of Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen along with the prevention of refugees from entering the country for 120 days. But, the terminology of ‘Muslim Ban’ doesn’t seem to be applicable here, especially when the order was signed on the Holocaust Remembrance Day, does it?

With the world collectively condemning the harsh step taken by one of the leading countries, gestures of opposition have been taken by different sects. Here’s how the strength of unity is endeavouring to make a difference!

United Nations

At a time, which calls for compassion and lending support, a time which has been torn by the ravages of war, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and International Organisation for Migration urged the administration to continue offering asylum to refugees and people affected by the goriness of war. A joint statement was issued by the two agencies, commenting that “The longstanding US policy of welcoming refugees has created a win-win situation: it has saved the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the world who have in turn enriched and strengthened their new societies.” A reversal of such a move would result in the loss of lives of hundreds and thousands of people fleeing war.

Global Leaders

The wave of reprove over the immigration ban was reverberated by the political leaders all across the world, preaching the arguments of humanity and kindness. Nations have released various statements regarding the necessity of accepting refugees and propagating the values of unity and kindness. Former President Obama, issued a statement through his spokesperson, saying, “The President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion.” The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, further highlighted the notions of the Geneva Conventions and the colossal importance of accepting refugees on humanitarian grounds. The political scales have been lifted comically with the release of country-specific videos, mockingly claiming their nations as the ‘second best’ in typical Trump vernacular!

Business-sector

A show of solidarity was poured by the business arena of the country, with leading companies like Apple, Mircrosoft, Google, Facebook, Uber writing a joint letter to oppose the travel ban on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries. Moreover, the global coffee retailer, Starbucks’ announcement regarding the hiring of 10,000 refugees came as a bridge of harmony. They would focus on hiring immigrants “who have served with U.S. troops as interpreters and support personnel,” thus, seeking to protect those who branched out to help them. The ideals of global integration and humanity endeavour to be restored in the midst of an order aiming to isolate a ravaged community.

Entertainment

The world of art and entertainment isn’t fair behind in demonstrating their despair. Producers like Joss Whedon, Dan Harmon, and Danny Zuker and other took part in a protest at LAX, along with a unified platform for speaking at the SAG Awards in January. With an outrage on social media platforms and members of Hollywood expressing their bafflement over the move, the cry is coming from far and wide. This was further reverberated by the brilliant Ellen DeGeneres, who on her show drew the compelling analogy between Dory’s world and that of today.

Image Credits: ABC

Saumya Kalia

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DUB News

The Dalai Lama graces Jesus and Mary College

By DU Beat February 8, 2017

7th February marked a startling day as we witnessed an entire auditorium brimming with women all around, each of them more captivated than the next, completely engrossed in the sweet words of his holiness, the 14^th Dalai Lama, Lhamo Dondrub who with his tranquil saffron robe and delightful chuckle instantly put the audience at ease.

Before we set out to describe how this event was and always will be one for the serene and prestigious walls of Jesus and Mary College, it is important to reiterate why the Dalai Lama seems to bring metaphorical peace doves with him and fill a feeling of awe in everyone’s eyes. Tibetan Buddhists believe him to be the 14th reincarnation of the original Dalai Lama, a spiritual leader who was born in 1351 and who was said to be the reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara, Buddhism’s Bodhisattva of Compassion.

The Commerce Department organised this event almost effortlessly with security and sanity both intact despite the over imposing crowd of college students and faculty. The sole objective of this Talk was to enlighten the audience on Compassion, Mercy and Universal Responsibility in a way that opens up your mind and does not leave you feeling intimidated. All our eyes and senses were open as the Dalai Lama spoke about how everyone’s ultimate desire is happiness and our devotion to god and segregation based on religion has nothing to do with that ultimate goal. We live in such cushioned environments that the only grief that reflects in our eyes is from the Television channels. His holiness gave a befitting example of how proud Punjabis are and their need to display their beliefs which sent the audience in raves.

The Dalai Lama collaborated his energies to make us envision a world of ‘Oneness’ and ‘Compassion’ because human beings are social animals and their first instinct is to be compassionate and we need to train our minds to bring that out more. The only solution to mould our minds it to further educate ourselves and to remember that affection in turn brings affection back to you.

The World’s individual identities must be put aside to focus on global issues like global warming where someone’s faith or religion does not need to interfere with one’s notion to do good for themselves and for others. He spoke about how institutions like various colleges in Delhi University have blossoming potential to produce compassionate human beings because that is what you are remembered for, he then went on to express his undying adulation for Mother Teresa and her devotion to society. He was particularly peeved by how there are segregations and various excuses for violence even within religions like in Islam even though the religion is based on one Quran.

He believes that there are scientific approaches to meditation that facilitate you in moulding your minds to exude more compassion and prevent the overflow of emotions which is when people take imbalanced decisions.

“We must utilise logic and so we must investigate, we do not accept easily, why? And how?” said the Dalai Lama on his scientific approach to expanding your mind. Questioning is a part of the key pillars on the path to a sound mind.

There were without a doubt various questions raised by the audience including some by both keen students and members of the faculty. As a response to a question on militancy, his holiness asked us to tap into our intelligence and not rely on negative actions and bullying as a coping mechanism, he touched on relations between China and India and stated that they needed to trust each other and above all “De-militarize”. He urged the millennials present there to maintain their moral principles no matter what profession one might choose because each professions fills a vital place in the world.

He concluded by cementing a belief of responsibility in each of us through analytical meditation and quietness which is where we tend to open up to our realisations more. Teachers and students must have a cooperative and open relationship where there is a lot of room for dialogue and that is how students can be steered to the right path, through trust. If one’s mind is peaceful and smiling then physical ailments can go away because such is the power of the mind.

Feature Image: Mehak Dhawan, Jesus and Mary College

Baani Kashyap

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