Tag Archives: Censorship

Nipple Brooches Against Censoring

The #FreetheNipple movement is growing bigger and bigger after numerous online and other kinds of protests against the censoring of female – or what appears to be female – nipples on social media such as Facebook and Instagram. A big debate has been sparked, concerning whether women’s nipples are something that must be considered a “private” part of their bodies, or should be displayed freely as it practically doesn’t differ from male nipples – or the nipples of people socially read as men.

The limits between what is acceptable and what not are arbitrary and fluid, and many feminists feel that censoring some breasts and their nipples, and allowing some others, based on few and not always distinguishable differences, makes no sense.

After an Instagram account sharing really close-up pictures of nipples so that it would be rendered really hard to tell to what body they could belong, another initiative started last spring from a group of three friends, who decided to make DIY felt brooches that look like nipples and people can wear on their clothes.

The project (#girlpower16) has felt nipple brooches in all shades of pink. Creators say:

We decided it’s time to involve everyone into our discussion about equality. So we made a felt brooch to wear, to be proud and to express our opinions and protest to others! We also decided to stay out of natural skin tones and stick strictly with shades of pink. Since it’s such a stereotypically ‘girly’ color our wish is to show everyone that despite of our style, gender, race we all can still rock any color we want to!”

Many might argue that this initiative is purposeless, or might not get its point across, but in my humble opinion these felt nipples look really cool and pretty as a fashion statement, and if I had enough money I would order a pair – or three! Nothing says couture like raising a few eyebrows!

India Censors Approve First LGBT Music Video

India’s Censor Board of Film Certification has approved an LGBTI music video for the first time — and without seeking any edits.

The song Head Held High is performed by Friends of Linger – a band of professional musicians with amateur singers, all friends freed by the equations of gender, sexuality and the emotions of music.’

Screen Shot 2015-04-23 at 16.24.27

The video, can now be aired on Indian TV, though it was given a parental guidance rating for children under the age of 12.

This song covers the journey of any individual’s struggle to understand his or her sexuality conditioned by society’s norms, the realization and the joy that comes with that, as one seeks nothing but love from the world around them”

The video features nine people from different walks of life, two of whom are from the LGBT community.

Director Payal Shah said in a statement,

The very idea to work around this concept was a big thrill as it reflected my inner self — free-spirited and comfortable in my own skin. Acceptance, judgment, norms, society etc are constricting formats and this video aims to break through these very layers and emerge liberated. I feel even more empowered today! Empowered and liberated.”

 

India Censors Ban Lesbian Film, Saying it Will ‘Ignite Unnatural Passions’

India’s Central Board of Film Certification has banned a lesbian film – claiming would ‘ignite unnatural passions’ in viewers who watched it.

Unfreedom is the story of a young woman who resists an arranged marriage to be with her girlfriend. The film contains nudity and lesbian sex scenes, which promoted the CBFC, to render much of its content too controversial for general audiences and therefore banned it from major release in India.

The movies Director, Raj Amit Kuma, recently spoke to Bangalore Mirror about the film

“The two stories are juxtaposed and the film challenges the idea of religious fundamentalism and questions its connection with homosexuality, which is a biting reality of India. They plainly told me that after watching the film, Hindu and Muslims will start fighting and will ignite unnatural passions. I was aghast as my film is not provocative.”

The film shifts between New York and New Delhi, one tale follows the Muslim terrorist who kidnaps the Muslim scholar in order to silence him, while the other charts the travails of a young woman whose devout father tries to force her into an arranged marriage, which she resists because she is secretly in love with another woman. The four characters come face to face with gruesome acts of violence in battles of identity, sexuality, religion, love, and family.

unfreedom-02

Kumar, who is based in Florida, told the Mumbai Mirror that the film was rejected by all three committees of the board — the Examining Committee, the Revising Committee, and even the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal. When a film fails to clear these three hurdles, it is considered banned, unless the filmmaker moves court.

He appealed to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, but was denied a certificate, so is trying to launch a crowd-funding campaign to finance a release in India via alternative methods.

The filmmaker appealed to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, but was denied a certificate.

“I’m making an appeal in the High Court now as the censor board cannot tell a filmmaker what to make and what not to.”

Raj Amit Kuma, Director

Earlier this month, Indian censors muted the word ‘lesbian’ in the film Dum Laga Ke Haisha, sparking cries of homophobia.

Homosexuality was criminalized in India in 2013 and incidents of rape have been escalating. In addition, for more than a decade, India has been mired in the politics of religious violence between Hindus and Muslims.

Unfreedom is a hard-hitting attempt to show the intertwined relationships of religion, violence, sexuality, and intolerance. The film will be released in around the world in May.

Indian Censors Mute The Word ‘Lesbian’ From Film ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’

Last month, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) cause controversy when it a issued a list of English and Hindi swear words that were to be banned.

Now the CBFC has asked the filmmakers of Dum Laga Ke Haisha to mute the word ‘lesbian’ from their new movie.

The word was supposed to be said in a court scene where a young boy asks, ‘Mummy, is older sister turning into a lesbian?’

More: Bollywood embraces gay couples in new video

However, the CBFC ruled that it was ‘not appropriate’ for a child to say lesbian and muted the word, as well as deleting four Hindi words.

Director Sharat Katariya said he was amused when censors first objected to the word lesbian and asked,

“[they] said you are removing gaalis (swear words) but lesbian is not a gaali, why are you removing it? So they said the fact that a little kid mouths it, it is not appropriate. And they didn’t find it (the context the word was being used) humorous. But otherwise “lesbian” word can be used. I didn’t argue too much as there wasn’t much scope anyways.”

Sharat Katariya

Director and censorship board member Ashoke Pandit condemned the decision as ‘shameful’ on Twitter with the hashtag ‘freedom of expression.’

https://twitter.com/ashokepandit/status/566176730088370177

“This entire thing makes no sense. To mute the word ‘lesbian’ as though it is a swear word is to disrespect the feelings of the entire LGBT community and this decision doesn’t seem to be in accordance with any rules of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, which is followed by the examining committees who rate the film.”

Ashoke Pandit

The romantic comedy stars Ayushmann Khurana and Bhumi Pednekar in lead roles, featuring Kumar Sanu in a cameo.

Dum Laga Ke Haisha 02