|
|
|
|
|
In the battle for cultural mindspace, the portrayal and perception of clouds can be quite revealing. Metaphors of language tend to be geographically determined. In countries closer to the poles, for example, clouds tend to signify bad news. These are cold countries with a cultural aversion to sunless weather and a definite dislike of rain. English originates in England-and little wonder that English used even in India still ends up using the same socio-cultural framework ('a cloud hangs over...' or 'the silver lining is...' or even 'cloudy evidence'), so many years after 1947. The so-called 'Raj hangover'. Warm countries, of course, love rain. They welcome drizzles. They savour clouds. They celebrate the oncoming of the rainy season. The vernacular metaphors mostly speak of clouds as good signs, and this is evident in Hindi cinema---described recently as India's only truly independent industry by a famous writer. Whether it's folk songs or cinema siren calls, clouds are being cheered along in Hindi. Ah, but something interesting has been happening too, as globalisation results in increased cross-cultural influence. Marc Andreessen started a web business called LoudCloud. It didn't get very far, but the Netscape man sure had a positive spin on the idea of the cloud. That's heartening. Then came a famous biopic by Martin Scorcese on this aviation hero---a fellow who saw something no less delectable than women's breasts in the cloud fluffs he encountered at high altitude. Looks like the cloud has made a PR breakthrough. Of sorts. It'll remain controversial, for sure, and for reasons one crazier than the other. Remember the allegation that The Lion King actually had subliminal sex signals in cloud formations? Those were Disney's most exciting days, actually. Just before the creation of DreamWorks.
|
|
Issue Contents Write to us Subscription Syndication INDIA TODAY |
INDIA TODAY PLUS © Living Media India Ltd |
 |
 |
