Traditional Values collides with Western Lifestyle- Indian Fashion and Bollywood
Tanvi G. and Tricia C.
The western lifestyle has made a rapid ascent into Indian lifestyle today. The traditional values and culture have been moved aside to make room for the popular American culture. With British rule in India for more than 100 years, indians have become accustomed to western ways. This a very important topics, because it discusses the societal problems present in Indian and American culture today. It affects me (Tanvi) everyday, because I face there problems with my own family and friends.
Because of this westerization and moderization of india that comes with the growth of India'e economy, india has changed a lot from its traditional culture to one that is more accomodating. In terms of modesty the interaction of men and women is more restrained than in Western culture. In Indian culture, for the most part, men socialize with men, and women with women. Men never touch women in public, either. These hindu principles are being overlooked so that the western lifestyle and behavior can be accomodated.
In terms of displaying affection, married couples in India do not hug, hold hands or kiss in public. Even hugging at airports or train stations is considered immoral. In western culture, women do not have as much modesty as the traditional indian women, also men and women associate more openly in western culture than in indian culture. In this school for example, there is a lot of kissing and hugging and that would definitely not be acceptable in india, becuase hugging and kissing have a more powerful meaning there than here.
Bollywood is mostly made up of traditional love stories, but through the years it has become racy. These video clips show the differences that have occured throughout the years. The first clip is from a classic Indian love story, "Devdas", while the second one is from a newer movie "Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena".
This issue is a tug of war between modern American lifestyle and traditional Indian culture, because now 2nd generation Indians in America are forgetting their moral values. They are tugging away from, the traditional values of India. They are dressing less modest and forgetting their values of staying true to their culture. The second generation is also forgetting their principles toward marriage. In Indian culture there are arranged marriages set up and now in the United Sates, the second generation is starting to go out and date and move away from their original values. The second generation is also not using hindi as much to communicate with their family and friends, they are using english as the dominate language. Thus causes the tug of war.
vs.
In "Devdas" classical Indian dancing is shown and the dressing style is very modest and traditional. It is also sung in Hindi and the music is more traditional.
The second clip displays how bollywood has incorporated English words and unmodest clothing in an attempt to make music videos more "Hollywood".
In this video the influence of Hollywood is apparent. The clothing is suggestive and the dancing stlye is very western club-ish. The music is in an American style and the intimate interaction between males and females would not be tolerated in old bollywood movies.
Changes in Sari:
Sari is the traditional formal apparel of the indian women. This is how the sari traditionally looks. It covers the arms and hardly any skin is showing. It is elaborate and classy.
This is now how it has been changed in the moden society. The arms are less covered and low cut blouses and open backs are becoming more popular. The elaborate style has also changed so that more jewelery can be worn with it.
Regular street attire has become:
While the traditional salwar kameez is slowly becoming archaic.
Dialogue between 1st generation Indian Mother and 2nd generation Indian-American Daughter:
(friday morning before school)
Mother: Shreeya!! What are you wearing!?!?!?
Daughter: Well, Mother. I'm wearing a skirt and a shirt.
Mother: Yes i see that but, look how revealing they are.
Daughter: But..Mom..this is what eEVERYONE is wearing...if i wore indian clothes or not-in-style clothes liek these, I would wear i would get made fun of.
Mother: What did you just say?? You are saying that modest clothes are not in style? where has your purity and modesty gone?
Daughter: I did't mean that to be mean, but the traditional Indian dress is very bland and not exciting. Plus I live in america and no one wears indian clothes here. It is summer and it is hot outside and i dont want to be covered up all the way.
Mother: But that dress is apart of our culture. Why don't you go change into some less revealing clothes.
Daughter: Fine, ill be right back.
(10 min later..daughter comes down in jeans and a sweatshirt)
Mother: Much better, now what are you planning to do this weekend?
Daughter: I'm planning to go to the movies with some of my friends. Why do you ask?
Mother: Well..are there going to be boys there or is it just girls?
Daughter: Well.. I'm going with 3 girls and 2 boys.
Mother: Ooo...what are you plannig to do with these boys?
Daughter: We are just going to go see a movie..Geeeze!
Mother: Ok..Just don't do anything that i wouldn't want you to do, and don't sit next to the boys!
Daughter: I promise I won't.
Mother: So what movie are you going to go see?
Daughter: I'm going to go see a Horold and Kumar.
Mother: Is there going to be any bad content in it? oo kumar that sounds indian.
Daughter: I am not sure i have not see it before!
Mother: Why don't you go see a traditional Indian movie?
Daughter: They don't have Indian movies at the theater!
Mother: Well they should..it's good to learn about your culture, and movies are a efficent way plus you'll learn hindi by watching more hindi movies...whatever...your going to be late for school..hurry off!
Daughter:Bye!
This clip shows an insident of a 2nd generation indian american fight for the right to wear what she is wearing with her parents.
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