By Manisha Singh
In 1974, Yugoslav performance artist Marina Abramović carried out one of the most haunting social experiments in modern art. Her performance, titled Rhythm 0, took place in a gallery in Naples, where she stood still for six hours beside a table laid out with 72 objects. The public was invited to use any of them on her in any way they wished. Some were harmless—a rose, a feather, a piece of bread. Others were dangerous—a razor blade, a metal rod, even a loaded gun.
The artist vowed she would not react, no matter what happened. She became, in her words, “a passive object.” What unfolded was both predictable and horrifying.
From Curiosity to Cruelty
At first, the audience was hesitant—offering her flowers, taking photos. Then came the first cut. The clothes were shredded. The rose was used as a weapon. Her skin was pierced with thorns. One man even placed the gun in her hand and guided it to her head.
And still, she did nothing.
When the six hours were up and Abramović moved again—becoming human once more—the crowd scattered. Not out of fear, but out of shame. They could not face what they had become.
What happened in that gallery nearly 50 years ago was not just performance—it was a mirror. One that showed how quickly human compassion can vanish when we believe there will be no consequences.
A Modern-Day Mirror
In today’s digital world, Rhythm 0 is being reenacted every single day. Except now, the gallery is virtual. And the audience? All of us.
The internet—especially social media—has become a playground of consequence-free behavior. Behind anonymous profiles and viral hashtags, people unleash cruelty with no thought of the human being on the other side. What once took six hours to unfold in a gallery now happens in seconds, on screens.
We are witnessing a crisis of conscience in real time.
Case in Point: Anurag Kashyap
Recently, noted filmmaker Anurag Kashyap drew widespread criticism for making an extremely offensive comment during an online spat, stating he would “urinate on Brahmins.” The backlash was swift: legal notices, online outrage, and public condemnation. He later apologized, admitting he had spoken in anger and “forgot his limits.”
This wasn’t just a slip of the tongue. It was a symptom of a larger disease—one where digital platforms give people a false sense of invincibility. When applause follows insults and provocation is rewarded, decency becomes collateral damage.
Case in Point: Shyam Meera Singh
In another incident, YouTuber Shyam Meera Singh uploaded a video containing serious allegations against spiritual leader Sadhguru and the Isha Foundation. The Delhi High Court found the video defamatory and unverified, ordering its immediate removal.
But by then, the damage had been done. Millions had already viewed the content. The very system that should reward truth had instead enabled slander, turning public discourse into a spectacle.
What We Lose When We Stop Seeing Each Other
What links both these incidents—and countless others—is a growing culture of dehumanization. People are reduced to avatars, ideologies, or enemies. Empathy is replaced by rage. Dialogue is replaced by dogpiling.
We are not just abandoning kindness—we are forgetting accountability.
If Rhythm 0 revealed what happens when an individual gives up control, our society today is revealing what happens when everyone does.
The Road Back
If we are to restore civility, dignity, and truth in public life, we must act now:
- Legal frameworks must evolve to combat cyber defamation and online harassment effectively.
- Social media platforms must be held accountable for the content they allow to spread.
- Public figures must recognize the weight of their words and the influence they wield.
- Citizens must learn digital empathy—remembering that behind every screen is a human being.
Final Reflection
Abramović once said:
“If you leave it up to the audience, they can kill you.”
She wasn’t exaggerating. She was warning us.
The question is: now that the performance has gone global, will we be wise enough to step away before the final curtain falls?