What's Eating Mehak Mathur?

  From the Vault: Xavier's Khandala Trip  Hey Blog,  30th June 2024 - It's been a year since I wrote the below article. I was clearing my drafts and suddenly I saw this post. I hope for some people it brings some sweet memories of our time at Xavier's Institute of Communication, Mumbai. This post was written exactly a year ago, today.  Pre Workshop Thoughts:  7th June 2023: I am beyond nervous about our upcoming trip to Khandala. The thing is that it has been three or four days so far into the programme. I haven't interacted much with my classmates. My close friends have been nothing but super supportive. I am actually desperate to meet them too. But our schedule has been so tight that I haven't gotten a chance to catch up on some sleep or a breather. Anyway, so far I have narrowed down which bag I would take to the trip. But that bag is too big for a one-day sleepover exertion. I wish someone I would have shared this experience with someone from school or coll...

  Hello Blog,  Welcome to Mid-week Conundrum!  About Mid-week Conundrum:  Every week, I'll dive into our curious conversations – the ones that spark a thought, make you wonder, or shift your perspective. In a jist, it is a snapshot of the world through the lens of everyday talk. It’s the mid-week breather you didn’t know you needed, with a twist of insight, curiosity, and reflection. ___________________________________________________________________________________ My Take On Marriages   Carrie Bradshaw has been my muse this week. Her ‘research’ methods—if you can call them that—drive me to write this blog daily. Today, I conducted my own research, and here are my findings. Someone at work asked me who my favourite actor was. Simple enough, right? Until I realized all my old favourites are now either unattractive, aged, or embroiled in scandal—yes, I’m looking at you, Leonardo DiCaprio. I knew my answer would be judged, and while I could have said Vicky Kaushal...

 Hello Blog,  Today's a break from the office - a very well-deserving break from all the clutter and chaos. I am finding some solace in reading some good articles, and watching some advertisements, and movies. Here are my top favourites. I hope you enjoy reading this thread.  _________________________________________________________________________________ Must Watch Advertisement:  An activity I thoroughly enjoy in the office is Monday matinee - a 45-minute long break from office work to review case studies and ads. I learnt so much, from such good work done by various agencies.  My top pick for this week is:  AD Campaign: The First Speech  Agency: INNOCEAN BERLIN  A three-part thought-provoking ad campaign centred around the idea of 'promises leaders of Russia, Turkey, and Venezuela made when they were first-elected into power'. These leaders throughout their run transformed the political atmosphere in their respective countries to an authoritar...

Succession, Media Conglomerates, and Democracy  Hello Blog,  I was deeply inspired to write this piece after finishing HBO’s  Succession . While at first glance the show might seem to focus on four siblings vying for their father’s approval and control over the family business, the series actually offers a profound critique of media conglomerates and their influence on shaping not just national but global narratives. Succession  reflects a theme central to Noam Chomsky’s work on media and public opinion. For those unfamiliar, Chomsky’s arguments—particularly in his book  Media Control: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda —explore how the public forms opinions about their country’s welfare. Are these opinions shaped by independent, well-reasoned thought, or are they influenced by the media's carefully curated narratives? Chomsky’s key argument is that the media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion. Every headline, every story, every news segm...

Digital protest in a digital-first nation!  The Bengal rape case has gripped the country, shocking every citizen and prompting difficult questions for the government. Amidst the awakening to the need for stronger women's rights, Generation Z has transformed the face of activism. (This is an opinion article.) In 2012, a woman was raped and brutally murdered in the country’s capital. This was followed by a botched investigation and a years-long court battle to hang the culprits. In 2024, a trainee doctor was raped and murdered in her own office while resting after a long day (a thirty-six-hour shift)! During the initial “Reclaim the Night” protest in the region, a small group of men disguised as protesters stormed into the hospital vicinity, attempting to destroy evidence present at the crime scene.  (Source) . Bengal is culturally and socially different from the rest of the country. In the Bengali dialect, there is no gender. In Bengali society, women have command over the hous...

Notebooks, Notes, and Some Thoughts on Journaling.  Hello Blog, As someone born in the digital age, I found comfort in pen and paper. I have a vivid memory dating back to when I was five years old; I would find my way into the scrapyard of my house in Delhi NCR and fetch some old paperwork once belonging to my parents. I would act like a teacher and proceed to correct them. I am a true Kayasth, a label I always love to be associated with and proud of. I am always with my pen and paper. The art of journaling has been passed down to me by my late grandfather. I have access to some of his diaries but have never read them. I believe that his thoughts should be left alone, even though the weight of these thoughts now on paper is eternal. Quite honestly, I can't comprehend his writing—it is too cursive. I have been journaling since I entered sixth grade. As of today, I have journaled through some seven diaries, and reading some of my old diaries has always been a treat for me. "Sudh...

  Hello Blog, Disappointed with the streaming services, I am out of it...  In the winter of 2017, my brother came into the living room and downloaded an application on our smart TV. He said it was going to change the way we watched television. I certainly did not anticipate how much his words would become a reality. I was excited to get my hands on this new thing called Netflix. As a kid who grew up watching the elusive world of Ekta Kapoor, who produced those annoying 15-minute soap operas (with significant time spent on advertisements), the fact that I could watch a show or movie at any time, anywhere, and an entire season all at once was something I never imagined possible. My world is entirely different now. Today, I am that greedy audience member who is never satisfied with any media content I consume. As most of you are aware, I am always on the lookout for more and more interesting formats of content. I recently watched Netflix's Wild Wild Punjab. I have to admit, I abs...