Category: Current Issues

COVID WISH – POEM

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I made a wish last night,
for this last time, let lovers reunite.
Let souls touch each other as eyes shut dead,
warm bodies gripping hand in hand,
not enough to be said.

Outside in the world, the war must go on.
For out of our indolence, this pandemic may be born.
Hearts wrenching, chanting to faith one last time,
wailing walls holding on to memories,
for when did sanatoria birth into thou holy shrine.

Homely halls still welcome you tonight.
Staying in might spare a life.
Youthful flowers withering in,
no air breathable,
lungs failing thin.

Unbearable pain losing what was thine,
no goodbye,
not this time.
Masked faces, we take on the plight,
for this last time, let lovers reunite.

-VARINI

I wrote this poem as I reflected upon the global pandemic. Our lives have changed immensely over the past year, and this poem is a collection of things I have observed around me. While life in Singapore has slowly started to return to the “new normal,” other places in the world are immensely suffering, including my home country- India. This poem serves as a reminder for me to be grateful and how my words have shaped my understanding of the world.

This is what social media does to you period.

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Got you.

You must be wondering if this is another post bombarding social media. So no, it is not. Being born in the age of this “vicious beast” I too am a heavy user of this commodity and a victim to its undeniable charm.Which is what drove me to share today, my views  why social media is a neutral platform to communicate and share experiences.

Starting off with why we think social media is hurting us- Incase you HAVEN’T NOTICED YET ,there is so much pressure to look perfect.

what if i was as pretty as her ? what if i was accepted in this society as who i am …what if i could move around the city without having to smear makeup all over myself so that people don’t tag me as ugly ?what if botox wasn’t the answer to everything ? what if people didn’t judge me on my apparel and appearance ? what if having perfect lips and a perfect waistline wasn’t so perfect after all? what if i could say what i had on my mind all day, everyday without thinking about the criticism i’d face ? what if i could say no without hesitating ?what if i could be my own self? what if …

You see this? it gives birth to issues like anxiety, depression and could possibly lead on to suicides due to deteriorating self worth.

So now the question arises- what’s the cure ?SORRY.THERE ISN’T ONE.

There is no way one can avoid using social media; it’s like asking a chain smoker to give up cigarettes immediately or asking a seven year old to trash their favourite ice cream- next to impossible isn’t it ?

However to get out of this circle, one can practise safe usage of social media. You can set up screen down times where apps would be blocked for the time span chosen, which would give your mind a break and refresh.Be aware of what you upload on the platform because it may be used against you at some point.Pick up a constructive hobby and devote a major chunk of your time to it which you normally wouldn’t.

Finally, get off the device you’re reading this on and see the world:))))

 

Encouraging AI to immortalise actors ?

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Today, we live in a world ruled by machines – where our mornings start off with a buzz from our mobile to our signing off at night with the same buzz on the device.  We’re so dependant on technology be it at work to check some papers off or at school to access the online learning platform that our physical efforts have taken a back seat. We’ve made a technological breakthrough in every single field and creativity ? things are surely changing at breakneck speed, it wouldn’t be long until the artificial intelligence replaces the only art form which requires tremendous human effort- acting. You heard that right! Directors of today are coming up with mind boggling ideas to revamp the traditional filmmaking methods with something fresh and sophisticated , the all powerful AI.

As we all know, world renowned actress Audrey Hepburn passed in 1993, but in 2013 she featured in an advertisement for Galaxy chocolate bar when she was shown riding a bus along the Amalfi coast in Italy.This was clearly a trick pulled off by the AI to show the world what technology was capable of. However this also evoked a fear  that propagandists and reporters  would  use AI to develop videos in which political figures would speak controversial things.Earlier this year, a video was created by BuzzFeed, a news website, showing  Barack Obama supposedly saying:

“We’re entering an era in which our enemies can make it look like anyone is saying anything at any point in time,”

This makes us question if AI is worth it or not ?

On the brighter side, technology helps bring ideas to life- everyday we see the same design team spending hours to master one sketch as art can only be improved over time but with this kind of tech, the speed at which work is produced is a miracle.it Al gives birth to new kinds of creative  roles within the industry.One would notice that the marketing arena is now a newly created heaven for all creative armada. It would also give a chance to the “fashion and beauty” influencers to show off their talent into creating beautiful technology to walk the red carpet.Directors would have more freedom to play with stunts and roles without having to worry about the risks involved while performing certain acts.

All in all, if humans were to be immortalised by the AI, it would definitely be a breathtaking moonshot for us to explore, learn and create.