The Importance of Indian and South Asian Representation with Shiv Reddy | As Told By Nomads Podcast
Today, Tayo is joined by Shiv Reddy, a phenomenal cultural commentator, photographer, and an advocate for visual and cultural representation. She’s been taking photos for the past decade, but most of her current projects are commissioned for South Asian weddings and family portraits. Photography first enthralled her because it allowed her to enter a space that wasn’t intended for her. Given that South Asian individuals are rarely portrayed in Western media, as a photographer, Reddy aims to make each of her clients feel like the main character.
Shiv’s passion for representation transcends photography, though. She’s taken to social media to engage with others about diversity in pop culture, and has become rather popular herself in doing so. She goes on to discuss the difference between visual representation and cultural representation in media and why we should always try to achieve the latter. In the media, minority stereotypes and relevant discriminatory undertones are unfortunately still prevalent, so she hopes that her social media creates a safe space for individuals to have discussions, feel seen, and be heard. Online, she often talks about pop culture phenomena and the unique experience of feeling ashamed of your own culture for fear of judgment from those around you. Shiv and Tayo draw this episode to a close by discussing Shiv’s media future, in which she’s ‘taking it one day at a time’.
The Finer Details of This Episode:
How Shiv started her photography career
What it’s like entering a space not designed for you
The importance of making clients feel like the main character
Bridgerton’s inclusivity
The journey from visual representation to cultural representation
India’s wide range of diversity
Assimilating to American culture
Shiv’s future in pop culture
Quotes:
“Few make history by being quiet and well behaved.”
“Because the United States is such a melting pot of cultures, it's really been such a, you know, huge growth for the photography industry to see so many different people enter the space that was not made for them.”
“I have, fortunately, never had to be on dating apps, but I know that as a darker skinned Indian woman, I probably would have faced a lot harder of a time…I would be in groups of women that were Indian women that were fair skinned, and I was never looked at twice. And it's not that I need the validation of men to know that that's a thing. But it's something to note.”
“For a very long time, people of my generation have been running from their culture, and I can say that for myself as well, because we have been trying to decide what parts of our culture we keep with us, and what parts we’re assimilating into American culture.”
“A lot of immigrants deal with that naming thing where they almost feel ashamed of the name. I know I went through that for a long time before I took my name back. And I think seeing people that look like you feel proud about their heritage gives you that permission to do the same.”
“When you follow your passion and you embrace who you are, you know, things find you, and you find things.”
“I want people to feel seen in spaces that they are not.”
Links:
Shiv’s TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTdbHGUYY/
Shiv’s Instagram: / shivalry_inc
Connect with Tayo Rockson and the As Told By Nomads Podcast on:
Personal Website: https://tayorockson.com
UYD Management: https://uydmanagement.com/
UYD Collective: https://tayorockson.com/uyd-collective
Linkedin: / tayorockson
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast
Twitter: / tayorockson
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