Instagram has really revolutionised the way we take pictures. Now, the minute you post a ‘normal and casual’ picture, you are immediately deemed boring and old fashioned. These days it’s all about the the various poses one can do to make their Instgram profile look eye-catchy and stunning. And clearly, celebrities are taking charge! The feeling of deja vu sets in when you see a trending pose emulated by someone. From the Migraine pose, the Mannequin (made popular by Kim Kardashian) pose, the Manspread (by Rihaana), the Bootie fie (by Kendall Jenner) to The Barbie legs, bizarre celebrity poses are taking the social media by storm. Talking to youngsters in the city, we found out more...
Mandakini Menon, a city based film-maker, feels bootie fie demands a lot of confidence. She says, “The Bootie fie is something that I have never heard about. I am not very comfortable doing it myself but I find it encouraging when I see girls do that and put it out there. I very shy and reserved therefore I wouldn’t be comfortable.”
Georgy K Alex, a student feels the such Instagram poses are just a passing trend. They are here one day and gone the next. He says, “I have heard of the migraine pose before and I think it did not deserve the backlash it got. Having said this, I don’t think I would want to do such poses as I am more into candid pictures. I think the main reason such a pose became popular is because of the celebrities who emulated the trend. Like the Bravo dance, which was made popular by Bravo. Similarly, the migraine pose too will pass when a new one comes along.”
Neha Soans, a music student, feels that the The Mannequin pose seems very un-natural. She says, “I have seen and read about this pose before, I am not really sure why people would want to pose like this. This pose exudes a lifeless and creepy feel. I would do it if challenged but still wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it.”
Expert quote: Sociologist Dr Sudeshna Mukerjee says, “Hero-worshiping is pretty high in our country. Previously, celebrities were only visible when their movies released once in six months. But now with the amount of visibility they are getting through news channels and social media, they have commodified themselves because otherwise their movies or what they are doing wouldn’t sell. I feel that the absence of productive work is what prompts people to indulge in such inane acts or poses for that matter. And due to the huge fan following, youngsters fall prey to it.”
