Yes to Shades of Gray and No to Joyland: Mapping the Complex Moral Landscape of Pakistani Viewers' Responses to Taboo Media

Abstract

A qualitative study was executed useing thematic analysis based on focus group discussions uncovered social hypocrisy in media consumption, the role of censorship as a political tool, generational shifts in media perception, and the influence of social media-driven outrage as the major themes. The results illustrate that Pakistani viewers are both the consumers and the makers of their own privacy, as it is usually observable that videos are being watched and then at others' snaptime, besides age, providing a way to avoid any undesired consequences from the authorities. Moreover, the finding that censoring does not stop the curiosity of the audience, in fact, it might lead to a greater number of underground viewers is the conclusion of this research. The paper enriches media psychology with an analysis of cognitive dissonance, moral panic, and social conformity in the configuration of media engagement in conservative societies. It also gives an account of the new technology' platforms as a growing entity in reshaping the taste of the audience in a scenario where the traditional censorship models get challenged and the transformational ones are dominant. As the newer generation becomes more familiar with the international story, the fate of Pakistan's media is hanging on a thin thread that represents the struggle between freedom and new austerity. This report is a testimony to the necessity for societal dialogues around topics centering on media use, moral policing, and diversifying cultural norms in Pakistan's cinema industry.