Thursday 20 March 2014

Funzoa will Never Beat Reality

To be honest before I start opining about Funzoa, I’m not a technophobe. The modern trend decrees that we must be techno savvy, but- rather like a robot or a device without any originality, we are ever becoming a soulless fad-albeit the fact that it supplies us with gadgets, widgets and apps to distress us from monotony. The funzoa currently leads the funny videos in our smart phones andlaptops - Youtube.com/FunzoaTV with the catchy, colourful songs that cater to friends, families and mostly kids. Most obviously, the Funzoa Teddy appear very cute with eye-catching appearance, super speed acrobatics cum percussion skills thereby creating hilarious sight for the onlookers evoking light hearted comedy. The realm of Funzoa Teddy is a regular feature in birthday or anniversary bashes or any occasion for that matter creating immense amusement for people. A teddy bear perhaps has become a universal life tool as it fosters a great sense of well-being. Unarguably the healing power of the velvety soft teddy bear with a gentle approach is synonymous with a positive effect for people of all ages.

The perception of adulation or ‘Super Hero’ concept now has its origin in the Funzoa fantasy Teddy. Comprehending the gravity of the current trend, it would be suffice to say that teenagers and kids mostly are motivated to maintain their social nexus with the funzoa characters. Maybe it is due to a lack of social connection pertinently lacking in the so called busy life of modern day. They try to compensate by creating a sense of human connection with non human agents when they feel isolated or lonely in parental absence or if in a depressed state; this process of anthropomorphizing non human agents occur in lonely individuals perhaps leading to dehumanization as well as social exclusion.
However, the avid followers of Funzoa Teddy will surely refute my opinion. “You and me Chuddy Buddy” and “Dilmera stupid Hai” followers lilting with these phenomenal lyrics are lost in the meaningless, often incoherent syllables in an incredible world of fun and enjoyment. I do agree with them that these humorous videos do relieve us temporarily from stress and provide light hearted melody. But my evaluation points out to some fascinating tangents. Humans are clinging more to inanimate objects thereby transferring their bond to a teddy bear which transports one from reality. This obsession I fear, may lead to impending threat of dehumanization or a visceral attitude which may be misleading.
Undoubtedly, myriad of community projects world- wide have applied the healing therapy of the Teddy bear concept in ancient as well as new age approaches to recover traumatic kids and the sick. Dr. Mira’s The Teddy Bear Guide To self Healing exemplifies this therapy. Human beings rely on other social beings in nearly every realm of their lives and in all stages therefore developing a fundamental emotional need to belong. We seek companionship and derive comfort in it. This search for identity often leads us to hang on to non human agencies when isolated or depressed. Creating social connection through inferential reproduction sometimes subtly malign effects of the virtual world. Though technology has improved and compensates for human company, it can perpetuate a kind of fatal social exclusion mitigating pro- social behaviour. And, beyond the fact that real interaction and bond with humans are vastly tactile, carry positive emotions and can have personal associations lead to enduring relationship or genuine friendship. This form of addiction in children might propel and fuel fearful dreams, harmful figment of imagination or psychological disorder. Films like ‘Who Killed The Teddy Bear?’ mitigates feeling of terror in young minds thus distorting actuality. Such children become socially dysfunctional and in addition lead to cognitive decline as they perceive readymade entertainment without actually channelizing their creativity. Gone are the days when people celebrated their birthdays, weddings or auspicious occasions with gifted singers or musicians performing with gaiety or recital by a prodigious talent.

Lastly, we live in an age with our values gradually depleting. So it does come as a surprise when We watch youngsters graduating towards meaningless tunes, gestures and nonsensical lyrics which makes me wonder whether the human race has elapsed the aesthetics of Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Keats, Tagore or other stalwarts- the sublime aura of their verses that has traversed all ages. The ludicrous, often grotesque portrayal of these songs and gestures remind me of Mark Twain’s famous representation of the ‘Duke and the King episode’, a burlesque of Shakespearean play that elicited negative response. Such obnoxious parody definitely disseminates social progress and my earnest advice is to uphold our heritage and society from going visceral.       

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