Skip to main content

Cinema, TV and Food

Cinema. A place where people go to watch a film and eat popcorn. I remember listening to a comedian (don't remember which one) making a satire on the film industry. Is the whole "cinema" experience an elaborate set up to just sell popcorn? Can you imagine yourself eating popcorn in any other situation other than while watching a cinema?

I don't understand this habit of eating popcorn when watching a movie, especially in the theatres. And why popcorn? It doesn't satisfy your hunger, it doesn't even taste that good.

Although it was just a sarcastic comedy routine, I got to thinking about it. Of course, cinema is not an elaborate set up to sell pop corn. But it's not entirely insane to suggest that some corporation/ profit seeking organisation has successfully linked popcorn with watching movies.

After thinking for a while, I realised that most TV sitcoms are based in cafeterias, restaurants - i.e, places where people eat. Seinfeld and his chums spend most of their time in "Monk's Cafe". The "F.R.I.E.N.D.S" are always hanging out in "Central Perk". 

It is not unusual for a person watching a sitcom to feel hungry. In fact, I myself have felt this many times. Now is it really outlandish that the food industry in the US has some kind of a deal with the broadcasting corporations to show a lot of food? People feel hungry, order some food (pizzas, burgers, chicken buckets - McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut).

The food industry gets a lot of customers, the broadcasting corporations get money from the food industry. Everybody is happy. Except the viewers, of course. The viewers not only spend a bucket load (pun intended) of money, but also are consuming unhealthy food.

Food industry, I bow to you.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Dastoor

As one might have observed from my recent posts, I have been listening to or reading a lot of poems from poets in Pakistan. I promise that my intention behind this is not to receive that treasured 'anti-national' tag. One poet that I have developed a special liking is Habib Jalib. A compatriot of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, who has received more global fame, Jalib was an avowed champion of the people. He was a staunch opponent of Ayub Khan and Zia-ul-Haq, both army generals who overthrew the elected Pakistani government. However, he also spoke out against state oppression. It is reflective of the sad state of affairs that India is in today that most of Jalib's poems seem to be very contextual. I have already posted one of his poem's, "Zulmat ko Zia" in a previous post. (http://amritkosaraju.blogspot.in/2016/02/zulmat-ko-zia.html) Another of Jalib's famous poems is called "Dastoor", which can be translated as constitution. Here it goes... Dastoor ...

Zulmat ko Zia

I have always had a fascination with the Urdu language. Having lived in Hyderabad my entire life, I have found this language to be very beautiful and having a natural poetic sound to it, the way Italian supposedly has. Due to this fascination, I have taken a liking to songs, ghazals and qawwalis that are sung in Urdu. Naturally, I have come across numerous Pakistani artists. One such artist is Habib Jalib, the "poet of the people". One of my favourite poems of Jalib is "Zulmat ko Zia". When Zia ul Haq seized power via a coup, Jalib wrote this poem. The word "Zia" in Urdu means light. Using this, Jalib writes, "How can I call this darkness as light?" Over the past month or so, due to obvious reasons, this poem has become even more dear to me. I shall post the lyrics and translation of the poem. Pakistani band "Laal" adapted the poem into the form of a song. I shall also post a link to the song. Lyrics "Haq baat...

Kuch Ishq Kiya, Kuch Kaam Kiya

The following is a poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. I don't really know why (maybe it's my sweet spot for Urdu), but I like it very much. Kuch Ishq Kiya, Kuch Kaam Kiya Woh log bahut khush kismat thay Jo ishq ko kaam samajhte thay Ya kaam se aashiqui karte thay Hum jeete’ji masroof rahe Kuchh ishq kiya, kuchh kaam kiya Kaam ishq ke aa’re aata raha Aur ishq se kaam ulajhta raha Phir aakhir tang aakar ham ne Dono'n ko adhoora chhor diya Translation: Fortunate were those people Who thought of love as their work Or were in love with their work I was busy my whole life I loved a little and worked a little Work came in the way of love And love interfered with work Finally, fed up I left both incomplete