i seem to have a personal disliking to sensasi the channel these days, heh. one after another. but setting the mind to anything goodness this month and sensitive to anything negative*, one particular trailer in sensasi caught my critical attention.
*negative here as defined by my own personal conviction.

a little bit background, there’s a number of ‘not so new’ dramas coming up at sensasi, which features the younger generation, dramas like Kami and Dunia Baru, the likes of Gol and Gincu drama. i have nothing against the dramas, other than it being a bit too modern in terms of lifestyle AND the way they dress, i do not deny that there are some message the dramas trying to convey, like independence, confidence, friendship, loyal and importance of education. but these have become the end product of modernity rather than a tool towards knowledge and living values. but today’s not the day to share about changes and what modernity is.

back to the dramas! so dramas about young pretty girls and young handsome guys, maintaining friendships, relationship problems and whatnots. so sensasi see the need to have a trailer to ‘promote’ these dramas (heh, maybe because most of us have watched these very dramas on malaysian tv, 2-3 years back, we don’t want to have to watch it again).

so the trailer starts “Generasi S!” “Generasi S mestilah….”. what does “S” stands for? first and foremost it mentioned:
SEKSI – ok in how they dress literally, and attracting attention nonetheless
STYLO – what’s is stylo? i don’t know. it’s a vague and non-malay word
Sibuk – sibuk with what?
….and i can’t remember one term.

it definitely sounds superficial. now we can all say seksi doesn’t all mean short skirts and shorter shirts with much make-up on. but that’s exactly what it shows on tv and mainstreamers already have a mindset what seksi would mean.

you know what sticks to mind when young people saw this trailer? they will understand that they are the now generation which is suddenly labeled generasi S, and being in this S generation, you must be this and this- referring to the criteria listed above. young people learn fast, and sensasi is doing a ‘great’ job in doing it. from my own personal conviction, it sounded negative and tak membangun langsung.

and just like what ‘muslimah anggun’ competition brought buzz on “why use the word anggun?” i want to ask “why use the word seksi?”

but these are for entertainment and media purposes. i’m not interested in talking about that business. but my concern was, tv are already ‘sanctifying’ the very characteristics we see everyday among our youth. what would be non-mainstreamers definition of Generasi S? in a mix of languages, i’m trying to list out what could S possibly stands for.

S= Solat, Sabar, Smart, Spiritual, Sporty, Sharp, Sensible, Steadfast, Strong

please, if you have more suggestions, tag them on.

let generasi S be quality generation, modern but wise, of physical health and spiritual strength, of knowledge and tradition.

just my two-cents. i’m not doing this alone.

was just browsing through friends’ blogs and one blog caught my attention, because it also reminded me that i was supposed to be blogging about it as well. out of request.

now you see, there was this ‘lampu’ launching of Bazaar at geylang. held at the carpark between tanjong katong complex and malay village. it was called Sensasi Aidilfitri? it’s not even ramadhan yet, and they are already thinking about Raya~

now honestly, i didn’t want to be there. but i was. for the sake of one person who so wanted to meet with popular indonesian sinetron’s actor/actress : Teuku Wisnu and Shereen of Cinta Fitri.

but why there is nothing sensasi about it. here’s a list.

1. the almost 5 hours wait for really, a mere 10 minutes appearance of Farell and Fitri! and it was obvious right from the start, the crowd were looking forward to seeing these two persons than those other lame performances! and there were old grandmas coming to watch. imagine, if young people like my siblings can’t stand the standing, what more the elderly people?

2. for people who work in the entertainment world, the organizers doesn’t seem to have much intelligence organizing this event. for one thing, the arrangement of the stage and area for audience. the stage was at almost the centre of the carpark, more towards the Village, facing the Market, a big area of the parking space has rows of seats for, apparently the VIPs (there was SM Goh and some MPs), and a number of empty rows for i don’t know the heck who’s supposed to be sitting there.

so basically, there’s no seats for the audience. none at all. and what’s worst, the stage and the seats were cordoned off with fences. FENCES. the crowd stands outside these fences, and technically already a bit too far from the stage. you can’t even see the faces of the artists clearly. granted, they put up two stupid screens near the audience.

3. we have no idea why the organizers ‘lokek’ sound system. you don’t hear a thing. YOU CAN’T HEAR A THING what the people onstage were talking. not even when SM Goh, was going to launch all those lampu-s.

4. the two MCs, nurulaini and huda, despite having experiences hosting, they don’t present well that night. such a disappointment. well, it couldn’t be much their fault, when people CAN’T HEAR A THING!

5.Let’s not talk about performances, for they were unnecessary redundant dances. the by 9 pm, the crowd are too restless and really, if it wasn’t for the occassional shots of Farrell and Fitri on screen, there would have been a fight. stoopid dances and stoopid acts of comedy, there’s this silat performance which was supposed to be funny, too bad, nothing funny about it. Like an uncle behind me was saying “asyik lawak gaduh jer, ingat melayu ni gangster ke?”

6. and some local comedians came onstage to bring some laughs. but they didn’t. because people CAN’T HEAR A THING, what they were blabbering about on stage. and you can’t hear the singers well. Adil’s acostic performance went totally unheard. didicazli tried hard to sing loud. only zaleha hamid managed to cheer the crowd, by bringing SM Goh onstage. and performers kept looking to their left- to the audience, instead of the VIPs and not so vips.

7. and when Farrell and Fitri did came up. Again, you CAN’T HEAR A THING. you don’t even see them clearly. not on stage, obviously, not even on screen, because of poor lighting.

but what heal the disappointment was when Farrell and Fitri went down to meet the crowd. only, from people’s talk of those in front, they mentioned that when Farrell wanted to meet closer to the fans, one of the event staff who’s with Farrell were pulling his shirt to stop him from getting closer. but the hero pushed him away and walked on straight to the fans!

whatever. but when asked most of the people, especially the aunties, which channel did they watch Cinta Fitri? surprisingly, their answer was SCTV. NOT sensasi.
so sensasi, don’t think you’re popular yet.

and with how unpleasant the whole thing goes. It’s a big disappointment. they wanted protocol? i don’t think our SM minded that much if the crowd was placed much closer. come onlah, our MPs and PMs are People’s People!

it was all wrong to start with. and i noticed so many people. mothers in tudungs, wth tattooed sons and uncovered daughters. groups of young girls who don’t seem to feel ashamed being looked at by uncles and fathers with their short skirts and shorter shirts. groups of young men smoking and looking all proud to be spewing swears. parents who look too young to be holding babies and toddlers. older parents who looked like they are the VERY REASON why their children looked like them.

they were there for? i was there, but i’m not proud to admit that. but i was there to be taught about the real world. and what ramadhan means to these people?
and when the host was saying something like, “semua puasa tak nanti? kalau tak puasa, tak boleh raya!” ceteknya ilmu..

so end of story: NOTHING SENSASI ABOUT IT. NOTHING.

Mainstream Ramadan- shopping, late night dinners, and best part, glamour of hari raya. it’s not Aidilfitri at all.

but i’m not from the mainstream. i’m from the Elite. not’elites’ of the community. i don’t care if i’m not among them. i need to be an elite spiritually.

but only Allah knows better how much i wanted this. Lord help us all.