Consumerism And Soft Erotica On OTT The Modern Mantra
The audacious portrayal of sexuality in present-day Indian television may astonish you especially if you come from the 90s era where the combatting flowers meant a kiss.
One of the biggest taboos in India, sex, is being sold like hot cake. Maybe the Indian consumer is changing with time and gaining acceptance towards sexual content. Or are the families with a shared TV time still changing channels at every uncomfortable scene?
The India we knew is changing towards making more relatable and local erotic content. A compilation of stories that root in the rural and urban, both. An epoch that shares the story for the masses. One of the recently popular modes of entertainment, the OTT, has provided an unhindered platform for its audience. The OTT platforms have revolutionized the content consumed locally by the people.
The availability and accessibility of the internet are much better in the present technologically advanced era. The addiction to these web series is growing with time. And the pandemic has only played its role in amplifying the demand for it tremendously.
The Oxymoron Of Cultural Shift
It has been observed that people are inclined toward watching adult content. It has nothing to do with what is being produced in entertainment otherwise. The streaming platforms in India are now engaged in offering, distributing, and producing prominent web series with titles like Open marriage, Gandi Baat, Love in Lockdown, etc. Such content has become a voyeuristic source of pleasure for millions of online consumers.
In the times when a monthly membership of an OTT platform costs an approximate INR 200, several of these offer their mobile subscriptions at just INR 49 per month. It is almost like watching soft porn at throwaway prices. Platforms like ALT Balaji or MX Player have boasted of consumers who have subscribed for the maturity of the content they show. These platforms independently believe that the country is gradually moving towards this genre and no more needs to be under shields for erotic or explicit content. It is a sign of acceptance and breaking the barrier of treating sex as taboo in our society.
The content type in these web series talks a lot about where we stand as a society. It reveals a lot about undermined desires, social traces, mental health, and factual ignorance’s long-term damage. Also, it shines a light on stories birthing heavy in rural India, the ones experienced by many but talked about by none.
Significance Of The Rise Of Easily Accessible Content
The visual medium has been the source of tracking the change of pace, conveying a message, bending or predicting consumer demand, etc. So, what could be the significance of the rise of adult content on OTT platforms? The answer to this question is the reason for many arguments, hurting religious sentiments, cultural differences, gender gap, and uncovering several unsaid emotions and reactions.
The question is the difference between who we claim to be and what we like to watch as consumers. Nevertheless, there have been several discussions on the commodification of women in visual media’s representation of her sexually or as a weaker gender. And it becomes more prominent when there is an underpinning of erotica, a need for glamour, etc. Innumerable feminists try hard to draw a line between portraying a female as weak and submissive compared to confident and in control.
The erotic depiction only is not helping the feminists create the friction they need. They do not stand against it; they stand against the idea of focusing only on it. If these platforms want to bring mature content to consumers, they might have to change the narrative, add new stories, and give a global standard to the depiction of adult content.
What’s On The Cards?
Revenue generation is the main focus of this new tide of entertainment; the focus is ferociously coached to adult content. There is no two-way in comprehending why adult content has seen a rise on the OTT platform because of the revenue it brings. It is a cakewalk to amplify viewership and grab attention. And hence the sudden inclination of consumer-driven web series portraying an increase in subtle voyeuristic stories from the forgotten lanes of India.
Primarily because the censorship norms aren’t too stringent yet, this looks like the best time to exploit the virgin minds of the virtual viewer. The OTT platforms are working hard to ensure that the web content reaches only the eligible viewers.
For most of these OTT platforms, there is no scarcity of viewership. The demand for erotic content does not seem to be going down anytime soon, so the future looks bright. It is a well-paved path that has changed the meaning of entertainment for many. As ironic as it may sound, the stereotypical country of patriarchs loves female glorification without any objection.
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