Priceless Lessons

          Indeed I have learnt a lot of things from MMC classes. if not, this blog wont exist and i will get zero mark

         The most important thing that I realized is - in order to get high assignment mark while relaxing, we should join an assignment group which is made up of pros. Why? Because doing so, you don't really have to do too many things; the pros will settle. They are pros. For sure, their works won't be disappointing. I learnt to come out with the mantra - "Assignment group filled with comfort? Invite me! Invite me!"

          Okay, joke aside. but it is true though It cannot be denied that I have learnt many things from MMC classes. The first thing is - censorship. Just like state in my previous post, originally I do not really like censorship. From my point of view, censorship is a restriction; somebody else is controlling what we can and cannot watch and know from the media. In my opinion, this is totally not fair. Who the hell are them to decide? We have our own rights to decide what we want to watch. We will not be a homosexual person all of a sudden just because of watching a gay scene; we will not take the axe to chop our friends' head all of a sudden just because of watching a violent scene. We are adults. I do admit that such content is not suitable for younger ones, but the authorities can just have the content rating system or the age limit thingy instead of banning the shows entirely.

          Anyway, after having MMC classes, I realized the benefit of having censorship too - censorship helps the censored things to become more prestigious. Just like stated in my previous blog post, I bet nobody will know Fahmi Reza if it weren't for censorship. He has become well-known because of the tough times he went through (being jailed, charged, arrested).

          Another vital things I learnt from MMC classes is - we should think first before judging anything or anyone. Just like what I said in the first MMC presentation, my first impression towards the artworks in the Ilham Gallery can be concluded in three letters - WTF. That was my first time visiting an art gallery. It is a shame and I hate to admit but, I did not manage to understand a single thing. Yet, after Dr Carmen gave out her careful explanation on the artworks, my new impression towards the artworks can be concluded in one word - amazing. The artworks, indeed, have their own (hidden) meaning. Not only that, the way the artworks were placed had meaning as well. What impressed me even more is that - Mr Mark Teh asked us if there is any suggestions on the placement of the artworks. Only then I realized the arrangement of the artworks can be altered to create new meaning! Wow! How amazing it is!

          I wonder if I have taken it too far or what, but I learnt that we should not simply judge anything or anyone. I know I stated this in the previous paragraph but... whatever. "You know my name, but you don't know my stories" is the new thing I learnt. Just like the saying, we can see the physical appearance of the artwork; we can check the date it was created and the materials used to create it from the wall text. Yet, the content and context of the artwork...are another things we should consider and do research on (before you judge it as shitty work). Just like artwork, the same principle applies to humans as well. You laugh at a big man for crying but you do not know his mother passed away yesterday; you laugh at an old man who has difficulty to walk but you do not know he fought for the country when he was young; you call an adult who points at the sky happily as 'naive' but you do not know he has just recovered from being color-blind. So, stop judging others if you do not know their back stories! Anyway dr carmen you can judge me for sure if not i will get zero mark hahahaahah

Cesnorsihp iz aviway You censo him He sencor her She csneor them They censor their catz

       


          Indeed, the way I see censorship now has changed after doing the group project. If it doesnt this blog wont even exist and i will get 0 mark

           Initially, I was not really aware of 'censorship'. No offence but, what I know is that - our media are constantly censored, sometimes in a reasonable way but sometimes in a ridiculous way. If not mistaken, our beloved country has the strictest censorship rules in the world (probably). Yes, I do admit that inappropriate content such as swearing, violence (especially scenes which contain gross figures such as blood), and porn should be censored.  but who doesnt like por  Yet, some censorship done by our authorities is just...not that acceptable. For example, the movie, 'Beauty and the Beast', is not allowed to be in the cinema due to the reason of 'containing gay scenes'. Why should you censor it? I can be sure that nobody will change him or herself to a homosexual person just by watching the scenes, will them?

          It cannot be denied that I kinda hate censorship thing because I think it is hardly fair - some unknown people censored or removed things which they themselves think you should not watch or see. Why should it be so? We ourselves for sure can determine what we want to watch! If we thing some scenes are pleasant, we ourselves will skip it or even close our eyes in the cinema!

          Anyway, now, I think censorship isn't a bad thing, at least not utterly a bad thing. Just like what Fahmi Reza said when we interviewed him, censorship somehow can help the censored things to become even more well-known. When asked how he knows if his artworks are effective or not, Fahmi replied, 'If it is not effective, the authorities won't even bother me. Just because they are effective, they tried to censor them.' As the saying goes, 'the more you resist, the more it persists.' Just because the authorities censored Fahmi's work, the more the public wanted to know about the censored work. Also, if i weren't for censorship, I guess nobody will know the name 'Fahmi Reza'. He's got famous because of being charged, arrested and jailed.

          Actually, my perception of censorship was already shown in the short drama during our screening of MMC documentary - censorship takes place in everywhere. It can happen in your office, your school, the street outside your home and even in your home. In your office, your boss censors and controls you. During your school time, your lecturers controlled you and limited what you can or cannot do in the class. In the street outside your home, a policeman can control you. In your home, your parents censor and supervise you. And you...if you don't have any children, you can unleash your anger, stress and tension by censoring your pet! I mean...why not?