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| Image Info: Baylor University Logo. Source: Wikipedia. Link. |
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Famous Last Words, Week 6: Let's Go Beat Those Baylor Bears!
I made it through my first midterm- hooray! It was a busy week as we prepared another halftime show to round out our five-game September. This game's show featured the famous Boston Brass on our Earth Wind, & Fire medley. Though I love September, I can definitely go a while without listening to it again! I tried to utilize the Time Management skills I went over at the beginning of the semester in this class, especially the keeping up with things bit-by-bit every day ones and the prioritization tips as well. Saturday was Parent's Day, and though mine were unable to attend, I had a great time selling t-shirts and meeting the parental units of my peers- it's super interesting to see the resemblances, especially after taking Genetics last semester. Course-wise, I just checked my progress against the MLLL grade calculator table, and saw that I need to break 400 points to get an A in the class. This inspired me to do more extra credit as I go along, because any time I save at the end of the semester in this class can go towards studying for PChem, my current academic kryptonite. I'm feeling a little stuck story-wise in this class, especially after my past Sita story. This is because I felt so great about that one that I'm having trouble topping it. Hopefully reading more of the Mahabharata this week can help clear up my writer's block! This week'll be another crazy one, with four midterms in the first two days and then many saxeT week preparations and orientations within the band. It's going to be ridiculously fun (in spite of the ridiculously hot forecast for our uniformed Dallas excursion), but no matter how the game goes (and regardless of whether or not UT is really "back" (spoiler alert: they aren't :)) we'll have a chance to hang at the Texas State Fair with a group of really great friends, and hopefully the freshmen feel extra glad about the section and their decision to do band this year. Though there are many assignments, I hope I can tap into that revitalizing part of this week as we get into the drudgery of the fall.
Tech Tip: Embedding YouTube
This was such a useful tip! I knew how to incorporate hyperlinks previously, but this is a step up and I'm glad to know how to do it now. I especially appreciate Blogger's YouTube search options.
Video Info: Sita Sings the Blues. Link.
Video Info: Sita Sings the Blues. Link.
Reading Notes: PDE Mahabarata Part B
21. The House of Fire- It's a bummer that Prince Vidura can't be king because of his mother...These royals need to learn that ability rather than genetic disposition should determine kingship. Moral: don't judge a book by its cover, be observant rather than flattered. You can see how these epics reinforced the caste system in the way the text totally disregards the significance of the deaths of this poor family in favor of rejoicing that the royal one lived.
22. Bhima and Hidimba: The setting of the banyan tree is beautiful- I hope to include one in my next story. Is the shala tree associated with evil while the banyan is good? The ginger is the villain:( the switch to old english style prose for dialogue is simultaneously disconcerting and humorous, as is the decision to set the knock-down drag-out fight further away in the forest so as not to disturb the sleeping family, tired from a long day of getting carried around I guess.
23. Bhima and Hidimbi: What an unexpected love story! Sister betrays brother, then marries the man she saved. And they name their inexplicably bald child Pothead ahahaha.
24. Bhima and Baka: This fight scene was very well-written and concise. Also I guess it's his thing to break backs. (Kinda like Bane in the Dark Knight movies, if you ask me).
25. Birth of Draupadi: "Tarry a little time for me." Cute alliteration. I want to know a little more about Draupadi's personality, and I could write about what the bards are performing in the delightful carnival-esque setting outside of the kingdom.
26. Draupadi's Swayamwara: Whoa this is crazy stuff. The god with a supposed sense of humor and her request for restored virginity at the start of all five marriages was amusing. The bow through the golden fish is like Mulan! What if I wrote a short about a woman who crossdressed as a man to be with Draupadi, her secret lesbian lover?! Also poor Kama. "like ponderous wild elephants they advanced."
27. Wife of the Five Pandavas: What a marriage week this must have been! I wonder what it was like for the wedding planner- they probably wanted a drink by the end, ha ha!
28. The Story of Nalayani: this goes below: "the people who suffered from evildoing went before the rajah as children go before a father seeking redress" again, the analogies work well!
29. Indraprastha: These dudes just settled down to get married and now they're on the move again? What about Draupadi? Is there like a custody thing for her to do with all five? Monday here, Tuesday there, every other weekend elsewhere?
30. Arjuna and Ulupi: This answers my above question I guess. TWELVE YEARS is so long! Like, Ramayana long! Dudes! Why?? Annnd then he cheats on her with a gorgeous water powered river goddess. They call it an epic for a reason lol.
31. Arjuna and the Asparas: This was a cool, episodic chapter. The alligator's fearsome set-up was well-done, and the way it changed was reminiscent of the rakshasa Viradha in the Ramayana.
32. Arjuna and Chitra: "My hands are strong to bend the bow, but I have never learnt Cupid's archery." I want to see what kinds of pick-up lines this guy can come up with. Story? Is he/she a woman in the beginning? "barbarian boor" sounds Shakespearean and I love it.
33. Arjuna and Subhadra: They made peace. Yes for girl solidarity!
34. The Burning of the Forest: Ah yes, drunken exploits! Entertaining since the beginning of time. This chapter was a reminder to take motivations into account: it was a trade between Agni and Krishna/Arjuna. The imagery of striking rain from the air is striking and "drunk rivers of fat and marrow" sounds gross.
35. Maya's Palace: What a setting! And the humor of the king wandering around clothes-less, mistaking crystalline water and doors for solid crystal and air is perfect! Such a nice breath of comic relief!
36. The Pandavas Victorious: These births are nuts, and they keep getting wilder! Two moms and a jinxed mango! I'm feeling inspired to write a crazy origin story myself lol. Liberty or death! This brief sentence outlines the stakes. Another broken back. Then tax collecting, rajah edition! "deep and smouldering jealousies." Krishna decapitates Sishupala who to be honest was at least somewhat justified in his hatred of Krishna bc Krishna stole his girl (who may have wanted to be stolen/willingly went with him in which case nevermind).
37. The Gambling Match: a loaded dice is Not skill. The majarajah and og Ramayana king need to listen to their advisors more, in the Ramayana's beginning and in this particular instance. There is an effective aside in this chapter which lets the audience know that Yudhishthira knew he was about to be cheated, but continued on anyway.
38. Draupadi Lost: "If my lord, himself a bondsman, then hath staked his queen and wife, False the stake, for owns a bondsman neither wealth nor other's life." He drags her by her hair...this is so cruel.
39. Draupadi in the Assembly Hall: She's been turned into a slave, Leia-in-The Return of the Jedi-style. That could be a fun Story.
40. The Second Match: Thematic tie-in with the hair and her vow.
Bibliography: PDE Mahabarata. Source: Link.
Arnold
Besant
Devee
Dutt
Ganguli
Kincaid
Macfie
Mackenzie
Nivedita
Seeger
Tagore
22. Bhima and Hidimba: The setting of the banyan tree is beautiful- I hope to include one in my next story. Is the shala tree associated with evil while the banyan is good? The ginger is the villain:( the switch to old english style prose for dialogue is simultaneously disconcerting and humorous, as is the decision to set the knock-down drag-out fight further away in the forest so as not to disturb the sleeping family, tired from a long day of getting carried around I guess.
23. Bhima and Hidimbi: What an unexpected love story! Sister betrays brother, then marries the man she saved. And they name their inexplicably bald child Pothead ahahaha.
24. Bhima and Baka: This fight scene was very well-written and concise. Also I guess it's his thing to break backs. (Kinda like Bane in the Dark Knight movies, if you ask me).
25. Birth of Draupadi: "Tarry a little time for me." Cute alliteration. I want to know a little more about Draupadi's personality, and I could write about what the bards are performing in the delightful carnival-esque setting outside of the kingdom.
26. Draupadi's Swayamwara: Whoa this is crazy stuff. The god with a supposed sense of humor and her request for restored virginity at the start of all five marriages was amusing. The bow through the golden fish is like Mulan! What if I wrote a short about a woman who crossdressed as a man to be with Draupadi, her secret lesbian lover?! Also poor Kama. "like ponderous wild elephants they advanced."
27. Wife of the Five Pandavas: What a marriage week this must have been! I wonder what it was like for the wedding planner- they probably wanted a drink by the end, ha ha!
28. The Story of Nalayani: this goes below: "the people who suffered from evildoing went before the rajah as children go before a father seeking redress" again, the analogies work well!
29. Indraprastha: These dudes just settled down to get married and now they're on the move again? What about Draupadi? Is there like a custody thing for her to do with all five? Monday here, Tuesday there, every other weekend elsewhere?
30. Arjuna and Ulupi: This answers my above question I guess. TWELVE YEARS is so long! Like, Ramayana long! Dudes! Why?? Annnd then he cheats on her with a gorgeous water powered river goddess. They call it an epic for a reason lol.
31. Arjuna and the Asparas: This was a cool, episodic chapter. The alligator's fearsome set-up was well-done, and the way it changed was reminiscent of the rakshasa Viradha in the Ramayana.
32. Arjuna and Chitra: "My hands are strong to bend the bow, but I have never learnt Cupid's archery." I want to see what kinds of pick-up lines this guy can come up with. Story? Is he/she a woman in the beginning? "barbarian boor" sounds Shakespearean and I love it.
33. Arjuna and Subhadra: They made peace. Yes for girl solidarity!
34. The Burning of the Forest: Ah yes, drunken exploits! Entertaining since the beginning of time. This chapter was a reminder to take motivations into account: it was a trade between Agni and Krishna/Arjuna. The imagery of striking rain from the air is striking and "drunk rivers of fat and marrow" sounds gross.
35. Maya's Palace: What a setting! And the humor of the king wandering around clothes-less, mistaking crystalline water and doors for solid crystal and air is perfect! Such a nice breath of comic relief!
36. The Pandavas Victorious: These births are nuts, and they keep getting wilder! Two moms and a jinxed mango! I'm feeling inspired to write a crazy origin story myself lol. Liberty or death! This brief sentence outlines the stakes. Another broken back. Then tax collecting, rajah edition! "deep and smouldering jealousies." Krishna decapitates Sishupala who to be honest was at least somewhat justified in his hatred of Krishna bc Krishna stole his girl (who may have wanted to be stolen/willingly went with him in which case nevermind).
37. The Gambling Match: a loaded dice is Not skill. The majarajah and og Ramayana king need to listen to their advisors more, in the Ramayana's beginning and in this particular instance. There is an effective aside in this chapter which lets the audience know that Yudhishthira knew he was about to be cheated, but continued on anyway.
38. Draupadi Lost: "If my lord, himself a bondsman, then hath staked his queen and wife, False the stake, for owns a bondsman neither wealth nor other's life." He drags her by her hair...this is so cruel.
39. Draupadi in the Assembly Hall: She's been turned into a slave, Leia-in-The Return of the Jedi-style. That could be a fun Story.
40. The Second Match: Thematic tie-in with the hair and her vow.
 |
| Image Info: The cover art for P. B. Kavadi's comic rendering of the Mahabharata. Source: Link. |
Bibliography: PDE Mahabarata. Source: Link.
Arnold
Besant
Devee
Dutt
Ganguli
Kincaid
Macfie
Mackenzie
Nivedita
Seeger
Tagore
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Week 6 Story: Amba's Resolution
As of three days before The Competition, Amba was- quite
literally- a happy camper. After a lovely night of spelunking, s’mores, and a
truly gorgeous sunrise, she snuck back into the palace a newly engaged woman.
Her new fiancée even satisfied the two royal betrothal requirements: a
well-funded title and a Y-chromosome. Amba had never been in love: barring a
hand-holding fling with one of the stableboys at the age of six, men
consistently failed to catch her interest. Unfortunately, this made for a
rather dull adolescence, as her only purpose seemed to be to get hitched and
provide an heir As Soon As Possible. As a teenager, Amba figured her two
sisters could alleviate some of the family pressure to get married, and hoped
to live a happy life on the palace grounds with her tigers and trashy romance
novels, resigned to the fact that love, true love, was even more mythical than
the area’s “flying glass chariot” reports from a few decades before.
This attitude changed, however, once she met her Sal. All
the signs were present: the clammy hands, butterflies in the stomach, gentle-manly
blush, and (borderline unacceptably) lengthy, soulful eye contact. He was bright,
amiable, rich, hot, a good conversationalist, and not twice her age, which, all
told, added up to a major win. Amba just wanted a quick engagement, shotgun
wedding with a jungle priest, honeymoon in Sri Lanka, and the subsequent
advertised life of married bliss. She was in the process of picking the names
of her first five children when her father summoned his three daughters one
morning for a quick chat. Fast-forward past the competition, speed-bethrothal,
veritable kidnapping, begging for freedom, and getting brutally rejected, and
Amba found herself aimlessly high-tailing it out of the city in a palpable cloud of rage.
A few weeks of fasting and waiting for the red haze to clear, Amba took a cold, calculated look at her situation. After three days and three nights, her ruminations determined who was to be held responsible. Amba first acknowledged her own fault in the debacle- her fixation on the alluring nature of her secret affair was what had allowed her to be dragged into the mess in the first place. Though Sal was perhaps the most heartbreaking cause of her unhappiness, he was far from the biggest culprit. That honor went to Bhishma. And so, in righteous rage, Amba called upon Shiva, the Destroyer, to make a demand.
When the god of destruction appeared, Amba was ready for just about any request:
"Throw yourself onto a funeral pyre" Sounds alright!
"Raise an army of vampires and wage war on his kingdom" Sure! I'm prepared!
"Spend years in the underbelly of the crime world and return as an unbeatable masked vigilante" No problem!
"Turn into a man", however, was not on that list. To end Bhishma, Amba was willing to give her body and soul, but the one thing she could not agree to was relinquishing being a woman. And so, she bargained with Shiva some more:
"I'm sorry, O Supreme Being, but I just can't do this as a dude."
Shiva's brow furrowed. "Is the death and humiliation of Bhishma not what you want? If you've interrupted my consulting hours for an average request, I must let you know that the only prerequisite is a few hours of reverent yoga. The price of requests other than death is nothing so drastic as the grueling fast you've subjected yourself to for the sake of my attention."
Amba was quick to correct him. "No, Lord, I still want Bhishma to suffer a painful, brutal end, I'm just- respectfully- saying that I'd rather be the one responsible as a woman, if it's all the same to you."
Shiva's nose wrinkled. "I know not how you can become a fierce warrior as a lady. It'd be almost impossible for you to commit homicide in your current state. When it comes to murder, men are simply superior."
Amba returned to her mental state of pure calculation, deciding that a gentle challenge guised as playing to the god's ego would be her best chance at a boon sans a gender switcheroo. "Oh, but almighty Shiva, if anyone could enable a woman to become a fierce warrior, their image would be known throughout all of India for accomplishing such an impossible feat! Imagine the offerings! The temples! Prime real estate location! Only the most powerful of all the gods could pull it off, and they'd live on in history, popular and worshiped until the end of time."
Shiva heard this request, reflected, and understood where Amba was coming from.
"Fine, woman. I will do as you ask. Together, we will find a way for you to eradicate the source of your ire, not as a man, but as who you already are."
"Sweet" said Amba. "When do we start?"
A few weeks of fasting and waiting for the red haze to clear, Amba took a cold, calculated look at her situation. After three days and three nights, her ruminations determined who was to be held responsible. Amba first acknowledged her own fault in the debacle- her fixation on the alluring nature of her secret affair was what had allowed her to be dragged into the mess in the first place. Though Sal was perhaps the most heartbreaking cause of her unhappiness, he was far from the biggest culprit. That honor went to Bhishma. And so, in righteous rage, Amba called upon Shiva, the Destroyer, to make a demand.
When the god of destruction appeared, Amba was ready for just about any request:
"Throw yourself onto a funeral pyre" Sounds alright!
"Raise an army of vampires and wage war on his kingdom" Sure! I'm prepared!
"Spend years in the underbelly of the crime world and return as an unbeatable masked vigilante" No problem!
"Turn into a man", however, was not on that list. To end Bhishma, Amba was willing to give her body and soul, but the one thing she could not agree to was relinquishing being a woman. And so, she bargained with Shiva some more:
"I'm sorry, O Supreme Being, but I just can't do this as a dude."
Shiva's brow furrowed. "Is the death and humiliation of Bhishma not what you want? If you've interrupted my consulting hours for an average request, I must let you know that the only prerequisite is a few hours of reverent yoga. The price of requests other than death is nothing so drastic as the grueling fast you've subjected yourself to for the sake of my attention."
Amba was quick to correct him. "No, Lord, I still want Bhishma to suffer a painful, brutal end, I'm just- respectfully- saying that I'd rather be the one responsible as a woman, if it's all the same to you."
Shiva's nose wrinkled. "I know not how you can become a fierce warrior as a lady. It'd be almost impossible for you to commit homicide in your current state. When it comes to murder, men are simply superior."
Amba returned to her mental state of pure calculation, deciding that a gentle challenge guised as playing to the god's ego would be her best chance at a boon sans a gender switcheroo. "Oh, but almighty Shiva, if anyone could enable a woman to become a fierce warrior, their image would be known throughout all of India for accomplishing such an impossible feat! Imagine the offerings! The temples! Prime real estate location! Only the most powerful of all the gods could pull it off, and they'd live on in history, popular and worshiped until the end of time."
Shiva heard this request, reflected, and understood where Amba was coming from.
"Fine, woman. I will do as you ask. Together, we will find a way for you to eradicate the source of your ire, not as a man, but as who you already are."
"Sweet" said Amba. "When do we start?"
Author's Note: I was intrigued by the character of Amba in the Mahabarata this week- she is a princess secretly bethrothed to her true love, a prince from a neighboring kingdom. After her father's impromptu competition to sell off his daughters to the fittest in the land, she finds herself having to beg to be set free, for her heart lies with another. Upon her return, however, her fiancee brutally rejects her, and she sets off with the goal-oriented plot to use herself as an instrument of revenge on the prince she feels is responsible for her pain. In the story, the god Shiva agrees to grant her wish, but insists she return as a man to achieve her aim. I considered what would happen if the story were roughly the same, but with the minor tweak of Amba insisting that she can make her dream come true as a woman instead.
Chapters: Bhishma at the Swayamvara, Amba
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Reading Notes: PDE Mahabarata Part A
1. Vyasa and Ganesha: I'm so intrigued by the notion of exploring the story of the storyteller. You kind of don't think about it, but a story needs to be passed down to survive. Maybe a brief character study of the narrator for next Thursday? Hmm...his semen just casually falls out of his flying car? Is this safe driving? Of course the king snags the dude for himself. Poor Satyavati- fishy smell is no bueno- glad she could work through it with borderline prostitution I guess?
2. King Shantanu and Ganga: These are some crazy deals being struck- I'll cast you into the river to drown if you give me an eighth of your power? How do they divvy that up? Like, hmm I'll collect all of the magical energy in my pancreas and bequeath it unto you, dear River Goddess. LOTUSES. I know this was love at first sight, but what if King Shanty maybe noticed qualities other than her skinniness/prettiness. Talk to her dude. Looks aren't everything. Check for the crazy eyes. HECK yes I love that she demands to be treated like an equal you go, Ganga. Dang, good for him for lasting through seven kiddos before questioning her sanity out loud. A good one-shot would be of the first time she chucks an infant into the torrential river.
3. King Shantanu and Satyavati: Literary device: flashback, but with extra detail. Oof fishdad is trying to drive a hard bargain.
4. Devavrata's Vow: whoa what a guy. The flowers falling and the name "Terrible" are quite a contrast indeed. Can the kingdom just be ruled by who's best for it? Three years of war is not something to gloss over.
5. Bhishma at the Swayamvara: AH true love is at stake. A secret affair! The plot thickens! This is an example of the reader knowing something many of the characters do not. I love the imagery of the variety of prince's banners arrayed in front of the three maidens. A patchwork of regional culture. "Never had there been an archer like Bhisma" I felt this could have been set up better- perhaps a one-shot about his continuous practice of archery instead of wooing women.
6. Amba: This king is TRASH. I love that her motivations are crystal clear, though. Her priorities are: 1. Revenge on Bhishma. I wish she didn't have to turn into a man to do it though- perhaps my story for this week can be a warrior training montage for Amba, who refuses Shiva's offer to become a man and insists she'll do it herself.
7. Dhritarashtra and Pandu: dang this must be a seriously scraggly dude. When other people's negative reactions towards you manifest physically in their children you know you have issues. What must it have been like to meet this secluded mountain man with the knowledge that you are to give birth to his children?
8. Kunti and Her Son: "she ministered unto him faithfully by serving food at any hour he desired" Hey I'm craving pizza rolls. Ok babe brb. Write a one-shot about the making of celestial earrings? "The child had the eyes of a lion" very striking description. It's crazy that she would give up a baby Moses-style rather than live as a single mom. I'm so glad he went to a loving home!!
9. Pandu and His Wives: Swayamvara. Deer play an important role in that Ramayana scene as well. Dang this was like XXX. Like the Ramayana, death is rarely used as a verb: "gave up the ghost" is used here for the brahmin.
10. The Sons of Pandu: Five total demigod sons seems almost excessive- what a power pack, honestly. What qualities in the moms were so attractive to the gods? Was this so common that many people wandered India with mythical parentage?
11. Gandhari and Dhirarashtra: HECk yes blind king is ruling despite his disability. And his wife using a blindfold to be on his level?! Legend. (Literally). Also, a hundred kids?! Extreme. "Duryodhana's death was ill-omened." I love how this sets the foreshadowing up- I've previously underestimated the power of italics, and hope to use this method in a future story. The folly of parents, to love too much. Parental favor hecks things up on an individual and familial level.
12. Pandavas and Kauravas: These boys must have had so much fun growing up together in the grand palace- the cattle-branding sounds like it was quite the adventure. "with the bearing of young lions" "and could behold the whole universe as if it were a plum in the palms of their hands". This really sets up how powerful these lowly-at-first-glance hermits truly are. Putting something as vast as the universe into the context of fruit really puts things into perspective.
13. Bhima and the Nagas: Describes the aftereffects of poison as "fell into a big swoon". The poisons COUNTERACT?! what a lucky dog!! Two wrongs do, in this case, make a right. The city of serpents in the underworld sounds like such an interesting setting. Would it be dark? Warm? Crowded? I want to know more.
14. Drona: Prudent. Preceptor. Both a warrior and a scholar, emphasizing the importance of both for success. A kid named because he cried like a horse- many characters are named after features/actions. Perhaps a short story OC could be named in this fashion. It is so saddening that he believed their friendship was weaker than social status. Upset.
15. Drona Trains the Princess: YES princess training. This was too glossed over. I want more deets! Perhaps a supplemental short story can help.
16. Ekalavya: It is a recurring theme in this story to justify separation by social class. Here it happens when the highwayman/cattle-lifting descendant want to learn archery and is turned away. Good for him for learning on his own, but it's a shame his earnestness cost him (note: prevailing qualities come at a price?). He cheerfully severed his own thumb?! Also it's cool that it became custom in the region to draw a bow that way. I love when stories explain origins of characteristics and mannerisms.
17. The Contest Ooo yes the return of the PDE rhyme scheme. "girded loins". "ponderous maces". Of course there has to be a tournament.
18. The Arrival of Karna: Gentle trash-talk. Serious, but respectful. Adds to characterization. "His eyes flashed fire" shows emotion without dialogue. Good skill to use. This must have been so terrible for their mom, goodness.
19. Drona's Revenge: Oof using your students to do your dirty work:( This has to go against some sort of warriors code. "consumeth". elephants as big as mountains. Glad to see them friends again, but the road there seemed rather excessive. Perhaps this makes it seem more epic for the reader- like anything worth having comes at a price/is worth fighting for?
20. Duryodhana's Jealousy: "Added fuel to the flames of Prince Duryodhana's hatred." Later his revenge is- get this- fire. Also what a cliffhanger. I really hope they don't die! Spacing out the plotting and making the audience wait for any resolution is so effective from a storytelling standpoint.
Bibliography: PDE Mahabarata. Source: Link.
Arnold
Besant
Devee
Dutt
Ganguli
Kincaid
Macfie
Mackenzie
Nivedita
Seeger
Tagore
2. King Shantanu and Ganga: These are some crazy deals being struck- I'll cast you into the river to drown if you give me an eighth of your power? How do they divvy that up? Like, hmm I'll collect all of the magical energy in my pancreas and bequeath it unto you, dear River Goddess. LOTUSES. I know this was love at first sight, but what if King Shanty maybe noticed qualities other than her skinniness/prettiness. Talk to her dude. Looks aren't everything. Check for the crazy eyes. HECK yes I love that she demands to be treated like an equal you go, Ganga. Dang, good for him for lasting through seven kiddos before questioning her sanity out loud. A good one-shot would be of the first time she chucks an infant into the torrential river.
3. King Shantanu and Satyavati: Literary device: flashback, but with extra detail. Oof fishdad is trying to drive a hard bargain.
4. Devavrata's Vow: whoa what a guy. The flowers falling and the name "Terrible" are quite a contrast indeed. Can the kingdom just be ruled by who's best for it? Three years of war is not something to gloss over.
5. Bhishma at the Swayamvara: AH true love is at stake. A secret affair! The plot thickens! This is an example of the reader knowing something many of the characters do not. I love the imagery of the variety of prince's banners arrayed in front of the three maidens. A patchwork of regional culture. "Never had there been an archer like Bhisma" I felt this could have been set up better- perhaps a one-shot about his continuous practice of archery instead of wooing women.
6. Amba: This king is TRASH. I love that her motivations are crystal clear, though. Her priorities are: 1. Revenge on Bhishma. I wish she didn't have to turn into a man to do it though- perhaps my story for this week can be a warrior training montage for Amba, who refuses Shiva's offer to become a man and insists she'll do it herself.
7. Dhritarashtra and Pandu: dang this must be a seriously scraggly dude. When other people's negative reactions towards you manifest physically in their children you know you have issues. What must it have been like to meet this secluded mountain man with the knowledge that you are to give birth to his children?
8. Kunti and Her Son: "she ministered unto him faithfully by serving food at any hour he desired" Hey I'm craving pizza rolls. Ok babe brb. Write a one-shot about the making of celestial earrings? "The child had the eyes of a lion" very striking description. It's crazy that she would give up a baby Moses-style rather than live as a single mom. I'm so glad he went to a loving home!!
9. Pandu and His Wives: Swayamvara. Deer play an important role in that Ramayana scene as well. Dang this was like XXX. Like the Ramayana, death is rarely used as a verb: "gave up the ghost" is used here for the brahmin.
10. The Sons of Pandu: Five total demigod sons seems almost excessive- what a power pack, honestly. What qualities in the moms were so attractive to the gods? Was this so common that many people wandered India with mythical parentage?
11. Gandhari and Dhirarashtra: HECk yes blind king is ruling despite his disability. And his wife using a blindfold to be on his level?! Legend. (Literally). Also, a hundred kids?! Extreme. "Duryodhana's death was ill-omened." I love how this sets the foreshadowing up- I've previously underestimated the power of italics, and hope to use this method in a future story. The folly of parents, to love too much. Parental favor hecks things up on an individual and familial level.
12. Pandavas and Kauravas: These boys must have had so much fun growing up together in the grand palace- the cattle-branding sounds like it was quite the adventure. "with the bearing of young lions" "and could behold the whole universe as if it were a plum in the palms of their hands". This really sets up how powerful these lowly-at-first-glance hermits truly are. Putting something as vast as the universe into the context of fruit really puts things into perspective.
13. Bhima and the Nagas: Describes the aftereffects of poison as "fell into a big swoon". The poisons COUNTERACT?! what a lucky dog!! Two wrongs do, in this case, make a right. The city of serpents in the underworld sounds like such an interesting setting. Would it be dark? Warm? Crowded? I want to know more.
14. Drona: Prudent. Preceptor. Both a warrior and a scholar, emphasizing the importance of both for success. A kid named because he cried like a horse- many characters are named after features/actions. Perhaps a short story OC could be named in this fashion. It is so saddening that he believed their friendship was weaker than social status. Upset.
15. Drona Trains the Princess: YES princess training. This was too glossed over. I want more deets! Perhaps a supplemental short story can help.
16. Ekalavya: It is a recurring theme in this story to justify separation by social class. Here it happens when the highwayman/cattle-lifting descendant want to learn archery and is turned away. Good for him for learning on his own, but it's a shame his earnestness cost him (note: prevailing qualities come at a price?). He cheerfully severed his own thumb?! Also it's cool that it became custom in the region to draw a bow that way. I love when stories explain origins of characteristics and mannerisms.
17. The Contest Ooo yes the return of the PDE rhyme scheme. "girded loins". "ponderous maces". Of course there has to be a tournament.
18. The Arrival of Karna: Gentle trash-talk. Serious, but respectful. Adds to characterization. "His eyes flashed fire" shows emotion without dialogue. Good skill to use. This must have been so terrible for their mom, goodness.
19. Drona's Revenge: Oof using your students to do your dirty work:( This has to go against some sort of warriors code. "consumeth". elephants as big as mountains. Glad to see them friends again, but the road there seemed rather excessive. Perhaps this makes it seem more epic for the reader- like anything worth having comes at a price/is worth fighting for?
20. Duryodhana's Jealousy: "Added fuel to the flames of Prince Duryodhana's hatred." Later his revenge is- get this- fire. Also what a cliffhanger. I really hope they don't die! Spacing out the plotting and making the audience wait for any resolution is so effective from a storytelling standpoint.
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| Image Info: Famous artwork rendering the Mahabharata. Found on the DNA India website. Source: Link. |
Bibliography: PDE Mahabarata. Source: Link.
Arnold
Besant
Devee
Dutt
Ganguli
Kincaid
Macfie
Mackenzie
Nivedita
Seeger
Tagore
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues: Part B
The break-up sequence has such beautiful, breathtaking collage art. So much work went into it and it's so awesome of Nina Paley to allow public access.
The brief Laundromat background was really fun- perhaps an ordinary place like a Laundromat or a McDonalds or something would be fun to write in (McDonalds are everywhere- I'm sure the jungles of Ancient India had them too).
Animated pregnant Sita is so cute.
Post-breakup Nina is an excellent parallel for devastated post-exiled Sita.
Sita's jazz number with the peacocks where she sings about being blue is so applicable and innovative in the context of the story. The movie poster I selected for this post's accompanying image describes the Ramayana as "The Greatest Break-up Story Ever Told", and I love how this is dramatized throughout the sequence.
"Duty first, Sita last". The lyrics and accompanying music to Sita's boys' singing of the Ramayana is ingenious, and shows how fun it could be to write the events of the epic poem into a different, more concise poem for comic relief.
Again, I'm just digging how well the jazz/blues numbers fit in the story.
I want to know more about the orange-robed, beard-clad side character with the violin!
Mother Earth reappears from the very beginning, her presence-though wordless- ties in a small sense of continuity from start to finish, and the slo-mo into a brief battle scene pause and recap are all very effective story devices. In the next action scene I write I may take from this and incorporate a pause where the positions of every character are briefly recapped- this both updates the reader on events and increases the sense of dramatic tension.
Whoa glad Rama could muster a single tear for the woman he needlessly scorned for years and years.
HECK YES he's rubbing her feet now I DIG IT.
"Everything else, unless otherwise specified: Nina Paley". Beautiful. The humor in this film was so top-notch. I loved the modern take on the Ramayana and seeing Nina's story- especially the end connection that she, the inside character, would go on in her narrative to make the movie being watched. Fun!
Bibliography:
Paley, Nina. Sita Sings the Blues. 2008. Link.
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| Image Info: Movie Poster for Sita Sings the Blues. Source: Link. |
Paley, Nina. Sita Sings the Blues. 2008. Link.
Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues: Part A
The introduction portion does an excellent job of setting up the scope of the characters amidst a celestial background, as well as showing how Sita, despite being as beautifully animated as Rama, is stuck rubbing the knots out of his feet. The music is beautiful.
The transition to Present Day is well done: In future stories, I plan to use a simple tag in between transitions (e.g. Honolulu, 1998).
I love the contrast between animation style and background.
The cat provides so much humor to the scene- in my writing perhaps I'll add an animal sidekick for a moment or two of comic relief.
The arguing of the narrators is reminiscent of the three muses of Hercules. Perhaps adding an omnipresent narrator could spice a story up.
The movie does a great job of visually associating characters with names, so that the reader understands who is who as the story goes on.
"Brave boy, embodiment of an ideal man" to "Don't let the door hit your a** on the way out" LOL
"I cannot live without you" into the first jazz number. I love the incorporation of music! The animals flying in time and the upbeat nature of the song make watching it so much fun. Maybe in future stories I can choose a specific song to write to.
The duality of Ravana's character is presented in that "he's a good king" but also the villain.
"Big round fat juicy LOTUSES".
The second musical number with the background dancing butterflies is so cute!
"Your a** is grass" and the following use of sound effects to underscore how emphatic Sita is in her devotion to Rama is hilarious.
The following song's showing of the passage of time is creative and ingenious. In a story I hope to try new ways showing time going by. In a similar way the passage of distance is shown, with the Indiana Jones-esque airplane flight.
"Ooo There's Knocking at my Door" in conjunction with the rakshasa battle and blood going everywhere also makes for a funny scene.
Gosh the cinematography with Rama's arrow was NICE.
In the next jazz number, a lot of time is given to the background monkeys- a reminder to look into side character backstories as well?
The beautiful rainbow is a reminder to give some acknowledgement to the settings of stories.
The intermission is a well-timed break to give the audience a moment to breathe.
Bibliography:Paley, Nina. Sita Sings the Blues. 2008. Link.
The transition to Present Day is well done: In future stories, I plan to use a simple tag in between transitions (e.g. Honolulu, 1998).
I love the contrast between animation style and background.
The cat provides so much humor to the scene- in my writing perhaps I'll add an animal sidekick for a moment or two of comic relief.
The arguing of the narrators is reminiscent of the three muses of Hercules. Perhaps adding an omnipresent narrator could spice a story up.
The movie does a great job of visually associating characters with names, so that the reader understands who is who as the story goes on.
"Brave boy, embodiment of an ideal man" to "Don't let the door hit your a** on the way out" LOL
"I cannot live without you" into the first jazz number. I love the incorporation of music! The animals flying in time and the upbeat nature of the song make watching it so much fun. Maybe in future stories I can choose a specific song to write to.
The duality of Ravana's character is presented in that "he's a good king" but also the villain.
"Big round fat juicy LOTUSES".
The second musical number with the background dancing butterflies is so cute!
"Your a** is grass" and the following use of sound effects to underscore how emphatic Sita is in her devotion to Rama is hilarious.
The following song's showing of the passage of time is creative and ingenious. In a story I hope to try new ways showing time going by. In a similar way the passage of distance is shown, with the Indiana Jones-esque airplane flight.
"Ooo There's Knocking at my Door" in conjunction with the rakshasa battle and blood going everywhere also makes for a funny scene.
Gosh the cinematography with Rama's arrow was NICE.
In the next jazz number, a lot of time is given to the background monkeys- a reminder to look into side character backstories as well?
The beautiful rainbow is a reminder to give some acknowledgement to the settings of stories.
The intermission is a well-timed break to give the audience a moment to breathe.
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| Image Info: Cover photo for Sita Sings the Blues DVD. Source: Link. |
Monday, September 17, 2018
Week 5 Story: Sita's Secret
Sita the Rakshasa
When King Janaka found a literal baby
in his backyard, his first thought wasn’t who it belonged to or how it got
there. It was whether he could conceivably distract or reroute his wife in the maybe
ten seconds before she caught up to him and insisted they expand their nursery.
His efforts were futile, however, as the queen had eyes as sensitive as a hawk
and ears even more so. The baby became theirs, left alone in a ditch with no
indication of her origins. Rumors circulated on the outskirts of the kingdom
that she had been gifted to the royal couple by the gods themselves, as part of
a great destiny she had yet to fulfill. As Sita grew older, her ethereal good
looks served only to reinforce the notion that she had been given a divine
purpose, so it came as no surprise when that purpose revealed itself to be
marrying the legendary Rama.
- - -
- - -
When she was kidnapped by Ravana in exile, Sita was taken to an isolated island in the middle of the sea, where she had only various plants and many rakshasas for company. Surprisingly, the demon-women received her well, and they gossiped over flower crowns and self-defense sessions throughout the time od her imprisonment. On the night of her rescue, the rakshasas saved her life, barely stopping Ravana from abruptly ending it in his wrath. Their insistence that her death would tarnish his victory, though believable on the surface, was a guise. As they told her after, they were really trying to keep Ravana from unknowingly murdering one of their own. Sita took the nature of her true parentage quite well, all things considered. As a child, she had never considered the possibility that she was the monster people would tell their children hid under their bed at night. As an adult, she took it in stride, only cried a little, and accepted the locals' offer to teach her how to use her newly discovered horrifying monster powers to shapeshift into a gardener (they decided to start with the least threatening thing they could think of- a fire-breathing dragon was at least a Level 2 on the Shapeshifting Scariness Index).
- - -
- - -
After the rescue and subsequent exile of his beloved, Rama’s
reclusiveness became a topic of gossip among the king’s subjects.
“He misses her, and can't bear a life weighed down by the knowledge of her betrayal” said one.
“He misses her, and can't bear a life weighed down by the knowledge of her betrayal” said one.
“He is torn between duty and love”
countered another.
“No” said a third. “He’s just
really passionate about his unhealthy number of horticultured houseplants.”
They met the incredulous looks of their company with evidence:
They met the incredulous looks of their company with evidence:
"I really don’t know how he has
room in his chambers to move, there are so many. Almost every day I see the
poor gardener tasked with bringing him another. That man is overworked, but
at least it pays well…yesterday I saw some pricey looking jewelry under the lotus flowers in his arms."
Author's Note: I was alternately confused and incensed with the ending of the Ramayana and how Rama and Sita's relationship changed after he rescued her from Ravana's clutches. I was also surprised to see that Sita was found abandoned as a baby. I feel this story answers two big questions: A. Why were the rakshasa ladies so nice to Sita on the island?, and B. Why did Rama reject Sita a second time after she literally survived a trial by fire to prove her innocence? Perhaps he discovered a secret that would politically destroy him politically if it were to get out. Like that his beloved, the beautiful Sita, was born a rakshasa and raised unknowingly in the world of man. Thus, her exile would be necessary to ensure his reign's longevity. Despite his unwillingness to see her go, Rama is a man of duty and honor, and would feel compelled to keep his position for the good of the people, even at the expense of his own happiness...unless some newfound shapeshifting powers were put to good use.
Works Cited:
PDE Ramayana:
Author's Note: I was alternately confused and incensed with the ending of the Ramayana and how Rama and Sita's relationship changed after he rescued her from Ravana's clutches. I was also surprised to see that Sita was found abandoned as a baby. I feel this story answers two big questions: A. Why were the rakshasa ladies so nice to Sita on the island?, and B. Why did Rama reject Sita a second time after she literally survived a trial by fire to prove her innocence? Perhaps he discovered a secret that would politically destroy him politically if it were to get out. Like that his beloved, the beautiful Sita, was born a rakshasa and raised unknowingly in the world of man. Thus, her exile would be necessary to ensure his reign's longevity. Despite his unwillingness to see her go, Rama is a man of duty and honor, and would feel compelled to keep his position for the good of the people, even at the expense of his own happiness...unless some newfound shapeshifting powers were put to good use.
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| Image Info: A photo of a Lotus, which in Buddhism symbolizes purity of mind, heart, and body. Perhaps something a local gardener would bring by the palace... Source: Mythologian.net. Link. |
PDE Ramayana:
- M. Dutt. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20MNDutt
- R. Dutt. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20Dutt
- Gould. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20Gould
- Griffith. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20Griffith
- Hodgson. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20Hodgson
- Mackenzie. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20Mackenzie
- Nivedita. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20Nivedita
- Oman. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20Oman
- Richardson. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20
- Ryder http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20Ryder
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Famous Last Words: Week 4 and the Iowa State Game
This past week was a
whirlwind (I’m getting a sense of déjà vu- I think I started last week’s famous
last words with that same statement). It was all building up to the Iowa State
game- I signed up and was fortunate enough to make it on to the pep band for
Saturday. This game is one I’ve been looking forward to all semester, as Iowa
is my summer home. I’ve lived two hours from Jack Trice Stadium since the
fourth grade, and going meant there would be a possibility to see friends and
family. Fortunately, there weren’t any high school competitions or anything
going on on Saturday, and my two high-school aged siblings were able to make it
to Ames with my mom, who I was so happy to see at least once before I make it
back for Christmas (it’s an 11 hour drive, so home trips aren’t frequent).
School-wise, I was scrambling to get ahead as the week progressed, and though I
had my assignments done by Wednesday, I had to rush to get them printed for
class on the days they were due. My first test is this Friday and I am anxious,
but not as anxious as I am for the PChem quizzes/test coming up a week after. I
had the harrowing thought that Texas week, which typically marks the middle of
the semester, is three Saturdays from now. *mind blown*. It’s Week 5 already
and the fall is flying by. Hopefully the weather follows and drops a few
degrees, as the games have been rather taxing in the heavy uniforms (I love it
though! Hydrate or diedrate!). I’m excited to put more work in on the Indian
Epics Project, having decided to do a Portfolio, and I’m loving the way I’m
going with it- focusing on the women of the stories we read. Hopefully this
week goes well!
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| Image Info: A personal photo of my younger sister Erin, who I got to see at the Iowa State game this weekend. December, 2015. |
Tech Tip: Browser Bookmarks
Prior to this class, I had never used the bookmarking feature on any personal computer, and now, four weeks in to the semester, I don't know how I did it! I have all of my online homework platforms bookmarked now, and I'm loving how easy they make it to access assignments quickly, without fear of forgetting urls and various site names. This Tech Tip imparted upon me the wisdom of how to create a Bookmark folder, which is very valuable information as I've been making up for lost time by going pretty "gung ho" on the feature. I'm grateful for the shortcut and for the additional organizational features, and am so glad to have taken this class (for many reasons, but especially for a sense of tidiness in an unrelenting sea of online homeworking).
Comment Wall
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| Image Info: The cover of a book retelling the Ramayana from Sita's point of view. Source: Tara Books Publishing. Link. |
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part D
The Bridge: serenely vs weltering billows. Like in The Incredibles- "I'd like to help you, but I can't...I'd like to tell you that the phone number you're looking for is 7428975938- but I can't. Sorry" the ocean says he can't be forded b/c ancient law but gives them a contact for a bridge.
Rama Attacks: Foreshadowing of war/big event: raining blood, earth shook. "wrought, as it were, of mind rather than matter". Sita knows when she's being fooled! Positive! Counterfeit.
Indrajit: This chapter does an excellent sensory job, sharing sights, sounds, and smells, which tend to be forgotten when writing stories. To keep from reiterating "Rama and Lakshmana", they were referred to as "the brothers" and "the sons of Dasharatha". Useful. This chapter was perhaps the lowest point in the epic: the protagonists appear slain, their army is beaten, and Sita remains in the villainous clutches of the foul vulture, but help from an ally appears as a light in the dark, and everyone's hope/vitality is restored. Their cause is so noble that death cannot harm them.
Kumbhakarna: "He's retired now, but in his former days he *casually* terrorized the universe." He defeated INDRA?! What a track record. Flaming arrows are the weapons of choice, it seems.
Hanuman and the Mountain: No time is wasted on the search for the herbs: he thinks outside of the conventional story box and just grabs the entire mountain. This is really cool. The Brahma-weapon...sounds like it was maybe "forged in the heart of a dying star". The bears are called upon. "Heart-shaped herb?"
Lakshmana and Indrajit: Family member of protagonist vs antagonist fam. When Ravana is ineffective trying to physically get Rama's head, he goes for mentally getting inside his head, perhaps an even greater battlefield than the one of the past few chapters.
Ravana's Lament: I love that one of Ravana's many art-depicted weapons is a book. Humanizing him: he weeps for his lost son and is kept from killing a woman, as it would "pollute his fame". Also girl power: rakshasa "dames" still protect Sita even though she is human because she is a woman too.
Ravana and Lakshmana: "The love of a wife or friend is easily won, bfut the love of a faithful brother is rarely found in this world of illusions."
Indra's Chariot:"Gods assist the brave and true!" Steeds celestial- what's their story? Also how are the gods watching this conflict? On a big heavenly tv or in cushy armchairs in the clouds? What if their satellite dish stops working?
Battle of Rama and Ravana: The sun, greater than all. I love the imagery of the gods appearing to watch in person. (perhaps the tv wan't exciting enough).
Ravana's Death: Though the head and heart are equals, the heart was targeted for Ravana's ultimate death (parallel with his son dying being a crucial blow?). Dang it's raining flowers again this happens quite a bit. It says celestial music was played and I immediately thought of the song Celebrate! by Kool & the Gang.
Mandodari's Lament: To quote Hamilton and paraphrase Newton: Every action has an equal opposite reaction. The death of Ravana does impact on others: particularly his eldest wife. "Nations perish for a righteous woman's woe."
Sita and Rama: He doesn't want to see her until she's taken a bath?!?! w. o. w. dude it's been months I thought she was important to you ok. He RENOUNCES HER WTF
Sita Tested: I dunno if she's bluffing (at the beginning) but I applaud this she's taking zero craps from her husband today.
Pushpaka: I like the style of backwards remembering storytelling- sort of abbreviated/listy because of the full scope of it (humorous). It's different from the rest and kind of epiloguey.
Rama and Bharata: AHA the classic time crunch for Rama to return in time for Bharata not to uphold his suicidal vow.
Rama Crowned King: ethereal. Beautiful, fancy spectacle. Worth the wait? Seemed too short.
Valmiki's Heritage: I am SO UPSET he sent her away. Of course mystery children oldest trick in the book. Again, what's the horse's story?
Sita Departs:
Rama Departs:
Bibliography:
Ramayana:
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| Image Info: An older Hindu religious painting/artwork depicting Rama proposing to Sita. Source: Pinterest. Link. |
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part C
Sugriva and Hanuman: The beggar trope is utilized almost immediately. Disguised as a beggar, the side character presses the protagonists for information. Extolled. Sugriva given credibility as "high-souled, heroic, and virtuous". Sugriva and Rama have in common exile and loss of a wife.
Sugriva's Story:This section begins with a bit of a description: "Whereupon this best of monkeys told Rama how it had come to pass that Vali, his elder brother, should have behaved so badly.' I liked this method of preface and intend to use it in storytelling at some point this semester. This chapter also shows how there can be multiple sides to every story.
Sugriva and Vali: Good characterization of Rama:
"To his foes resistless Rama is a lightning from above,
To his friends a tree of shelter, soul of tenderness and love,
"Dearer than his love of glory is his love to heal and bless,
Dearer than the crown and empire is his hermit's holy dress
Sugriva's Story:This section begins with a bit of a description: "Whereupon this best of monkeys told Rama how it had come to pass that Vali, his elder brother, should have behaved so badly.' I liked this method of preface and intend to use it in storytelling at some point this semester. This chapter also shows how there can be multiple sides to every story.
Sugriva and Vali: Good characterization of Rama:
"To his foes resistless Rama is a lightning from above,
To his friends a tree of shelter, soul of tenderness and love,
"Dearer than his love of glory is his love to heal and bless,
Dearer than the crown and empire is his hermit's holy dress
Vali's wife attempts to dissuade him fighting with his brother but in his pride he fails to listen.
Vali's Death: "Like the sun and moon in conflict" sets the stage well for two evenly-matched yet different foes, epicizes the conflict. Rama only wins by a covert poisoned dart. Kinda sneaky/dishonorable.
King Sugriva: To me, Sugriva crying over the death of his brother (with which he was directly involved) was reminiscent of Gamora's tears over her adoptive father Thanos after stabbing him in the recent Infinity War movie. It gives characters more depth to show the emotional fallout of their actions. Succession is immediate: no power vacuum here.
The Rainy Season: Trapped and impatient in the forest outside the city, Rama experiences a bout of seasonal depression, lamenting over the loss of Sita and fantasizing about their reunion. This fantasy in particular illustrates how deeply he feels her loss.
The Armies: The king forgot his promises to Rama after getting what he wanted, but of course when threatened sends four armies out in the four cardinal directions. I love the romanticized notion that all of the corners of the earth will be searched if they but look north, south, east, and west.
Sampati: The monkeys wait at the ocean looking at the limitless expanse and mourning their failure when (trope) a helpful neighbor overhears and gives them what they need to continue their quest.
Sampati and Jatayu: The intro to this was super interesting because though he talks about the inconceivable scope of the general universe, he goes on to talk about how a tiny, insignificant amount was the world to him. It's a tale of closeness and sacrifice.Resplendent.
Hanuman's Leap: "The boon of choosing his own death." I also found this interesting, as one wouldn't typically associate a positive gift with the negative concept of death.To preface Hanuman's extraordinary deed a brief history of his extraordinary background was provided which both generates anticipation and gives credibility. Moral of the story: mind and body are needed to accomplish big things, COMMIT. Impetus.
Hanuman in Lanka: How cool setting-wise that Hanuman compares the city of Lanka to the shape of a woman. Sita's characterizing devotion helps in the search for her. Embraced each other.
The Ashoka Grove: Alliteration: peerless princess, loved and lost, saintly Sita, cruel..crossed.
Sita and Ravana: The artwork depicting Ravana with a donkey head due to his stubbornness had me considering giving characters animal aspects to represent integral traits in future stories. Ugh she cries again oof.
Hanuman and Sita: Ring was a nice touch. Grr she could escape now but for modesty.
Hanuman Captured: Overdoing something is what causes it to fail (moral?). If he hadn't vindictively gone around setting things on fire he could have already been on his merry way.
Hanuman and Ravana: The Pirate's Code! Parlay!
The Burning of Lanka: "saved by her own virtue" even the villains adhere to a strict code of conduct, interestingly enough. They're not complete anarchists.
Ravana's Court: Holds council for what to do next. Meanwhile the protagonists set up camp and plan.
Vibhishana: Impious
Vali's Death: "Like the sun and moon in conflict" sets the stage well for two evenly-matched yet different foes, epicizes the conflict. Rama only wins by a covert poisoned dart. Kinda sneaky/dishonorable.
King Sugriva: To me, Sugriva crying over the death of his brother (with which he was directly involved) was reminiscent of Gamora's tears over her adoptive father Thanos after stabbing him in the recent Infinity War movie. It gives characters more depth to show the emotional fallout of their actions. Succession is immediate: no power vacuum here.
The Rainy Season: Trapped and impatient in the forest outside the city, Rama experiences a bout of seasonal depression, lamenting over the loss of Sita and fantasizing about their reunion. This fantasy in particular illustrates how deeply he feels her loss.
The Armies: The king forgot his promises to Rama after getting what he wanted, but of course when threatened sends four armies out in the four cardinal directions. I love the romanticized notion that all of the corners of the earth will be searched if they but look north, south, east, and west.
Sampati: The monkeys wait at the ocean looking at the limitless expanse and mourning their failure when (trope) a helpful neighbor overhears and gives them what they need to continue their quest.
Sampati and Jatayu: The intro to this was super interesting because though he talks about the inconceivable scope of the general universe, he goes on to talk about how a tiny, insignificant amount was the world to him. It's a tale of closeness and sacrifice.Resplendent.
Hanuman's Leap: "The boon of choosing his own death." I also found this interesting, as one wouldn't typically associate a positive gift with the negative concept of death.To preface Hanuman's extraordinary deed a brief history of his extraordinary background was provided which both generates anticipation and gives credibility. Moral of the story: mind and body are needed to accomplish big things, COMMIT. Impetus.
Hanuman in Lanka: How cool setting-wise that Hanuman compares the city of Lanka to the shape of a woman. Sita's characterizing devotion helps in the search for her. Embraced each other.
The Ashoka Grove: Alliteration: peerless princess, loved and lost, saintly Sita, cruel..crossed.
Sita and Ravana: The artwork depicting Ravana with a donkey head due to his stubbornness had me considering giving characters animal aspects to represent integral traits in future stories. Ugh she cries again oof.
Hanuman and Sita: Ring was a nice touch. Grr she could escape now but for modesty.
Hanuman Captured: Overdoing something is what causes it to fail (moral?). If he hadn't vindictively gone around setting things on fire he could have already been on his merry way.
Hanuman and Ravana: The Pirate's Code! Parlay!
The Burning of Lanka: "saved by her own virtue" even the villains adhere to a strict code of conduct, interestingly enough. They're not complete anarchists.
Ravana's Court: Holds council for what to do next. Meanwhile the protagonists set up camp and plan.
Vibhishana: Impious
Bibliography:
Ramayana:
- M. Dutt. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20MNDutt
- R. Dutt. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20Dutt
- Gould. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20Gould
- Griffith. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20Griffith
- Hodgson. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20Hodgson
- Mackenzie. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20Mackenzie
- Nivedita. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20Nivedita
- Oman. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20Oman
- Richardson. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20
- Ryder http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Ramayana%3A%20Ryder
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| Image Info: The title screen on the Metropolitan Museum of Art's webpage on the Ramayana. Source: https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2010/epic-india |
Sunday, September 9, 2018
Famous Last Words: The End of the Beginning of the Semester
This past week was pretty hectic, despite being perpetually
rainy and academically only four days long. I managed to (seemingly) get ahead
on homework by Tuesday, but Thursday came rolling around and I was scrambling
to get through the Reading, which I anticipated taking less time (and it
probably could have, if I had been willing to take fewer notes on the short
Ramayana chapters). One great thing came of it though: I had an absolute blast
writing my Story for the week (though the Project research was fun too). I chose to
re-write a chapter of the Ramayana and supply backstory rendering the otherwise
supporting character Sita as a confident butt-kicking warrior woman. Due to
Labor Day, we didn’t have a chem lab last week, and the open Thursday morning
provided an excellent opportunity to finish some assignments and grab some gas
on the way to class, as an eighth of a tank wasn’t going to go much further.
Because of the rain, every single marching band rehearsal this week was relocated inside
for the first time in history, following up last week’s first of taking our
jackets off in the stand to avoid heatstroke (which even with the precaution
still caused multiple hospitalizations). Contrastingly, yesterday's game was grey and overcast,
perfect stadium goldilocks weather which left our sunglasses and our sweat
solidly in the memories of the week before.
I knew going in to this semester
that my classes were going to be a lot- two English, two Spanish, two Chem,
this one, and three ensembles, but I thought I could keep up with it pretty
well. Unfortunately, I’m quickly learning that I need to be spending every free
minute getting ahead to avoid getting schooled by school early this semester.
Lab reports are the worst and most time-consuming, but hopefully I can sort out
some calculations with my TA. It’s the lack of foresight into assignment
due-dates that could eventually do me in, as I just had a twenty minute
presentation dropped on me with less than a week’s notice, as well as multiple
quizzes and the ever-growing cloud of apprehension that is Physical Chemistry. Our online
Spanish assignments threw me for a loop when the submission time was changed,
but I’m trying to be chill about it and utilize my Growth Mindset as a reminder
that the experience is an opportunity to stay more on top of it all next week,
as I hastily crank through assignments in an effort to be all caught-up before
the Friday departure of the marching band pep trip home to the Iowa State game, where I'll hopefully get to see my mom, friends, and littlest brother (hype!).
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| Image Info: I'm cheating a little bit and using a graphic I found while researching more about Growth Mindset- it's from the Atrium website and simply (and adorably) reminds the viewer of the power of positive thinking. Source: Link |
Growth Mindset: 6 Bad Habits to Break
"No matter how much talent or experience you possess, if you can't gain control of your mind, you'll never achieve great things."
This article grabbed my attention from the get-go with the above sentence, and how much it rings true. Regardless of past efforts and time put in, it's still possible to fail completely when you can't get your head in the game. As a person who has done band-related activities since 2009, I've had my fair share of auditions and playoffs, and many of them didn't go as well as they could have because I allowed myself to get nervous by indulging in the habits below.
Habits to Break:
1. Making Excuses
2. Catastrophizing the Future
3. Seeking Audience Approval
4. Believing Self-Doubt
5. Putting Yourself Down
6. Second-Guessing Yourself
As I re-read the article, I came to the conclusion that these habits all seem to have something major in common: CONFIDENCE. It's easy to brush off compliments and your own pride in something as untrue or flattery, but not having enough self-worth bleeds over into everything you say and do. A person who puts in the time and effort should have nothing to be afraid of that they can control, and the power of positive thinking and a more gracious inner attitude could contribute to a confident, successful person who doesn't need to apologize for the work they've put in. This is the mindset you need to exercise self-discipline from a mental standpoint, and get yourself into a positive brainspace for maximum potential in future endeavors.
Article Source: Morin, Amy. 6 Bad Mental Habits That Sabotage Your Success. Link
This article grabbed my attention from the get-go with the above sentence, and how much it rings true. Regardless of past efforts and time put in, it's still possible to fail completely when you can't get your head in the game. As a person who has done band-related activities since 2009, I've had my fair share of auditions and playoffs, and many of them didn't go as well as they could have because I allowed myself to get nervous by indulging in the habits below.
Habits to Break:
1. Making Excuses
2. Catastrophizing the Future
3. Seeking Audience Approval
4. Believing Self-Doubt
5. Putting Yourself Down
6. Second-Guessing Yourself
As I re-read the article, I came to the conclusion that these habits all seem to have something major in common: CONFIDENCE. It's easy to brush off compliments and your own pride in something as untrue or flattery, but not having enough self-worth bleeds over into everything you say and do. A person who puts in the time and effort should have nothing to be afraid of that they can control, and the power of positive thinking and a more gracious inner attitude could contribute to a confident, successful person who doesn't need to apologize for the work they've put in. This is the mindset you need to exercise self-discipline from a mental standpoint, and get yourself into a positive brainspace for maximum potential in future endeavors.
Article Source: Morin, Amy. 6 Bad Mental Habits That Sabotage Your Success. Link
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| Image Info: A simple word graphic from an Aida article detailing the importance of positive thinking. Source |
Tech Tip: Canvas Dashboard
I am SO GRATEFUL for this Tech Tip because I've had old classes stuck on my dashboard for the past two years and my past efforts to get rid of them have been unsuccessful...until today! Clicking on Courses, scrolling down to All Courses, and then choosing which classes show up by clicking the star icon on the left was embarrassingly easy and fantastically fast. In addition, I'm glad I learned how to use the sideways ellipsis in the upper right of the course cards to enable/disable color preferences- the new look on my dash is so much better than the ochre/hot pink/dismal grey it was rocking until today. The ability to change course nicknames was also super nice, as three of my courses start with the prefix CHEM and it can be difficult in a pinch to pick the one I'm going for. This was a stellar tip and my dashboard has benefitted immensely from it, both aesthetically and organizationally.
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| Image Info: The feeling of finally being able to do some spring-Canvas-cleaning! Source: Getty Images. Link |
Friday, September 7, 2018
Learning Challenge: Getting Better About Binge-Watching
Article: Neighmond, Patty. National Public Radio. Get Off the Couch Baby Boomers, Or You May Not Be Able To Later. Link.
New: I am surprised that the percentage of disability caused by five or more hours of sitting remained unchanged regardless of other physical activity. Even if these adults hit the gym, prolonged periods of sitting had a measurable and inarguable negative effect on their mobility.
Curious: I'm curious as to how this has been hitting my dad health-wise, who (after his recent retirement) has definitely succumbed to the bad habit of streaming shows for hours on end. (It's been driving Mom nuts). I plan on sending him the link to this article so he can face knowledge of some of the consequences of his binge-watching actions.
Do: The article recommended getting up at least every thirty minutes spent staring at a screen. I know this is aimed mostly towards older people, but I'm going to try to put this advice into effect so I can minimize the negative impact of leading an electronics-focused student life. I also am going to refrain from watching more than four episodes of anything in a row (as more of a personal resolution than anything else). This will hopefully help me both health- and productivity-wise!
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| Image Info: The article's featured graphic, which contrasts a sedentary aged man with mobility-challenged older men and women. Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/09/04/547580952/get-off-the-couch-baby-boomers-or-you-may-not-be-able-to-later?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social |
Wikipedia Trails: Enchanted Rock (Texas) to the Common Buttercup
To start my search, I looked through the class Twitter stream, where I found an interesting tweet for Folklore Thursday regarding a rather spooky state park.
Starting point:
Enchanted Rock
Made of pink granite, Enchanted Rock is a mountain situated about a half-hour south of Llano, Texas. The state's 2017 Best Campsite, Enchanted Rock is famous for more than an abundance of hiking opportunities: local Indigenous Nations have long attributed magical and spiritual qualities to the area, resulting in its name. The site is home to archaeological finds dating back over ten thousand years, and is designated as a prime bird-watching destination. It is also the largest pink granite monadnock in the U.S., leading to the next article:
Monadnock
Also known as an Inselberg, this is the geological formation of "an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping plain". The African word for this is koppie, and it can also be called a bornhardt (if composed of granite). Typically formed from erosion-resistant bodies of rock, these mountains spring from a relatively flat surrounding area. The term monadnock is exclusively Native American in nature, derived from the Abenaki language from the words for smooth and isolated mountain. Onward!
Abenaki
The Abenaki are a Quebec/New England-situated First Nation, one of the five participating Wabanaki Confederacy nations. The region they historically inhabited they called Wabanahkik, or Dawn Land. English settlement in the late 1600s forced many of the Native Peoples to migrate northward to Canada, where many became allies of France in the Anglo-French wars. Contrarily, Nescambuit, a Maliseet war chief, was eventually knighted for his contributions to the fight against France. The Abenaki are also associated with the ethnobotany of sniffing the leaves of Ranunculus acris to improve headaches.
Ranunculus acris (Common buttercup)
Found in Europe and Eurasia, the Common/Meadow/Tall/Giant buttercup is a bright, recognizable flower which presents many problematic costs for the New Zealand dairy industry with its developing resistance to herbicides. In Native American culture this plant has many uses, from a poultice for abscesses (Cherokee) to a root infusion for diarrhea. Though originally from Alaska/Greenland, the plant has been frequently introduced as a non-native weed and now can be found around the globe.
Starting point:
Enchanted Rock
Made of pink granite, Enchanted Rock is a mountain situated about a half-hour south of Llano, Texas. The state's 2017 Best Campsite, Enchanted Rock is famous for more than an abundance of hiking opportunities: local Indigenous Nations have long attributed magical and spiritual qualities to the area, resulting in its name. The site is home to archaeological finds dating back over ten thousand years, and is designated as a prime bird-watching destination. It is also the largest pink granite monadnock in the U.S., leading to the next article:
Monadnock
Also known as an Inselberg, this is the geological formation of "an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping plain". The African word for this is koppie, and it can also be called a bornhardt (if composed of granite). Typically formed from erosion-resistant bodies of rock, these mountains spring from a relatively flat surrounding area. The term monadnock is exclusively Native American in nature, derived from the Abenaki language from the words for smooth and isolated mountain. Onward!
Abenaki
The Abenaki are a Quebec/New England-situated First Nation, one of the five participating Wabanaki Confederacy nations. The region they historically inhabited they called Wabanahkik, or Dawn Land. English settlement in the late 1600s forced many of the Native Peoples to migrate northward to Canada, where many became allies of France in the Anglo-French wars. Contrarily, Nescambuit, a Maliseet war chief, was eventually knighted for his contributions to the fight against France. The Abenaki are also associated with the ethnobotany of sniffing the leaves of Ranunculus acris to improve headaches.
Ranunculus acris (Common buttercup)
Found in Europe and Eurasia, the Common/Meadow/Tall/Giant buttercup is a bright, recognizable flower which presents many problematic costs for the New Zealand dairy industry with its developing resistance to herbicides. In Native American culture this plant has many uses, from a poultice for abscesses (Cherokee) to a root infusion for diarrhea. Though originally from Alaska/Greenland, the plant has been frequently introduced as a non-native weed and now can be found around the globe.
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| Image Info: An illustration of Ranunculus acris, the Common Buttercup Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_acris |
Feedback Strategies
As someone who hopes to understand more of how I can better give/receive more constructive feedback, this assignment was useful and informative in how to best tweak methodology and facilitate the best possible results for both the giver and the recipient of feedback.
Articles:
Grant, Adam. How to Give Feedback Without Sounding Like a Jerk. Link
.This article grabbed my interest from the get-go by outlining the "feedback sandwich", a positively bracketed slice of suggestion which many people default to in order to buffer the negative aspects of their feedback. I definitely abuse this method, and it was very informative to see where it can go wrong. The better methodology was as follows:
1. Explain the WHY. "I'm giving you these comments because I have very high expectations and I know that you can reach them.
2. Hop off the pedestal to level the playing field: I've benefited from others doing this/studying effective managers/let's both give each other suggestions.
3. Allow them ownership by ASKing first. "I've noticed a couple things and wondered if you're interested in some feedback."
4. Transparency >>> Manipulation.
Kohn, Alfie. Five Reasons to Stop Saying "Good Job!". Link.
The points this article makes about the inherent manipulation of regulating how often kids hear that they're doing a good job is incredibly valid. To encourage reliance on parental platitudes lessens the value children put on how they feel about their work: even if a kiddo feels they've done well with something, the positive feeling they naturally get from having pride in their work can be lessened or even disregarded when parents or overseers fail to offer a "good job!" after doing so for every other project, making them self conscious and decimating their confidence. These types of environments are creating approval addicts rather than self-aware artists, as the agreement of a teaching figure is valued over the integrity of the project. Interest in topics and creative endeavors should be internally motivated rather than externally.
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| Image Info: A picture of multiple "thumbs-up" hands from a website offering business leadership advice. Source: http://www.peterspann.com/positive-feedback-3/ |
Thursday, September 6, 2018
Topic Research: Mythological Horses
Potential Story Sources:
A. The Uchchaishravas is mentioned many, many times throughout various forms of folklore, including the Bhagavad Gita, Kumarasambhava, and the Devi Bhagavata Purana. The white coat of these horses is their most recognizable physical attribute, marred once the time two goddesses made a bet over the color (white or black) of the tail, and to win one used tiny snakes to cover it and render it temporarily black, forcing the apparent loser to become her handmaiden. I believe this tale could be retold in many different ways. The Uchchaishravas was also born out of a sea of milk, which is a setting/scenario which could be expanded upon in a story.
In the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Lakshmi is struck by how beautiful the Uchchaishravas is when she sees her brother arrive astride it. Because of her lack of focus she misses a question from Vishnu, who in retaliation cursed her to be a mare in her next life.
With some digging, I came across this stanza in the Kalidasa:
"The war-horse, though unguided, stopped
The moment that his rider dropped,
And wept above the lifeless head,
Still faithful to his master dead."
I don't think this is about the Uchchaishravas but I thought it really spoke to how valued and symbolic horses are on the battlefield as well as at home. It's something I'd like to either write about or include in a story.
B. Hayagriva is Lord Vishnu's horse-headed form. There are so many stories and they're so reverent towards this particular avatar. In one story, Hayagriva dismembers two Veda-stealing villains (Madhu-Kaitabha) into twelve pieces which become the planet's tectonic plates. This is excellent material and I would like to write about it.
This horse character- out of all of the mythology I've touched on thus far- is more wrathful and ferocious than the others, even in more Buddhist mythology:
"Hayagriva, the Wrathful Heruka, is the "Incredible Hulk" emanation...he is chief among the wrathful emanations, representing dharma and speech in its ferocious form- signified by the screaming neighing horse head bursting out of his fiery hair." Link
C. More digging will be required to get some more information on Kalki, but I am interested in writing about him, though he is only mentioned once in the Mahabarata, the Garuda Purana's description of him as ending the chaos of the Kali Yuga by wielding a rider with a fiery sword sounds like a heck of a story. He's also a feared warrior and can re-start time. This is a super-powered stallion.
The Farasi Bahari interest me- they're green and almost hippocampus-esque, living in the setting of the sea rather than on land.
Idea 1: An original story combining the experiences and abilities of the mythological horses into one giant race. The winner becomes the mount of Vishnu. This story could be told in multiple chapters: A. The horses are found and recruited to be in the race, and have to escape/take leave of their current situation. In many cases, the horses are either a form or have since changed form from a deity, and some will thus have to undergo some change to be in the proper shape for the race.
B. The selection of the jockeys, the horse's thoughts on the jockeys, and a walk down memory lane as they rest in the stables the night before the big event.
C. Lining up in the starting blocks and sharing tales of other meetings and endeavors throughout mythology. Some stories are told in an attempt to brag and psych the opponents out, but some are genuinely reflective, a summation of the path which led to this moment and this race.
D. The actual race. Which horses come out on top or start fast/slow and whatnot depend on story content and on how well I think they'd all stack up. Is there any foul play at hand? The gods/goddesses may want to rig the race for themselves or to save their bets in event of an underdog.
Idea 2: (Inspired by the River goddess Ganga project): You're vacationing in India and come across a small stable across the street from your hotel. Having taken lessons as a kid you venture in and ask if you can help out in exchange for a ride. While you spend time there you find yourself meeting many horses, and they tell you their stories of time spent in the company of gods and nobles long ago. The Uchchashraivaa takes you for a ride around the countryside, like a trip back in time, and shares what it was like from a horse's-eye perspective in the old days of myth and legend.
Bibliography:
Sushmajee. Horses in Hindu Mythology. http://www.sushmajee.com/stories/topics/horse.htm
Uchchaishravas. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uchchaihshravas
Khalidasa:Shakuntala. The Birth of the War God. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sha/sha16.htm
Devi Bhagavata Purana. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devi-Bhagavata_Purana
Hayagriva. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devi-Bhagavata_Purana
Dr. D. Sridhara Babu. Hayagriva. https://archive.org/stream/hayagriva014842mbp#page/n3/mode/2up
Kalki. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalki
A. The Uchchaishravas is mentioned many, many times throughout various forms of folklore, including the Bhagavad Gita, Kumarasambhava, and the Devi Bhagavata Purana. The white coat of these horses is their most recognizable physical attribute, marred once the time two goddesses made a bet over the color (white or black) of the tail, and to win one used tiny snakes to cover it and render it temporarily black, forcing the apparent loser to become her handmaiden. I believe this tale could be retold in many different ways. The Uchchaishravas was also born out of a sea of milk, which is a setting/scenario which could be expanded upon in a story.
In the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Lakshmi is struck by how beautiful the Uchchaishravas is when she sees her brother arrive astride it. Because of her lack of focus she misses a question from Vishnu, who in retaliation cursed her to be a mare in her next life.
With some digging, I came across this stanza in the Kalidasa:
"The war-horse, though unguided, stopped
The moment that his rider dropped,
And wept above the lifeless head,
Still faithful to his master dead."
I don't think this is about the Uchchaishravas but I thought it really spoke to how valued and symbolic horses are on the battlefield as well as at home. It's something I'd like to either write about or include in a story.
B. Hayagriva is Lord Vishnu's horse-headed form. There are so many stories and they're so reverent towards this particular avatar. In one story, Hayagriva dismembers two Veda-stealing villains (Madhu-Kaitabha) into twelve pieces which become the planet's tectonic plates. This is excellent material and I would like to write about it.
This horse character- out of all of the mythology I've touched on thus far- is more wrathful and ferocious than the others, even in more Buddhist mythology:
"Hayagriva, the Wrathful Heruka, is the "Incredible Hulk" emanation...he is chief among the wrathful emanations, representing dharma and speech in its ferocious form- signified by the screaming neighing horse head bursting out of his fiery hair." Link
C. More digging will be required to get some more information on Kalki, but I am interested in writing about him, though he is only mentioned once in the Mahabarata, the Garuda Purana's description of him as ending the chaos of the Kali Yuga by wielding a rider with a fiery sword sounds like a heck of a story. He's also a feared warrior and can re-start time. This is a super-powered stallion.
The Farasi Bahari interest me- they're green and almost hippocampus-esque, living in the setting of the sea rather than on land.
Idea 1: An original story combining the experiences and abilities of the mythological horses into one giant race. The winner becomes the mount of Vishnu. This story could be told in multiple chapters: A. The horses are found and recruited to be in the race, and have to escape/take leave of their current situation. In many cases, the horses are either a form or have since changed form from a deity, and some will thus have to undergo some change to be in the proper shape for the race.
B. The selection of the jockeys, the horse's thoughts on the jockeys, and a walk down memory lane as they rest in the stables the night before the big event.
C. Lining up in the starting blocks and sharing tales of other meetings and endeavors throughout mythology. Some stories are told in an attempt to brag and psych the opponents out, but some are genuinely reflective, a summation of the path which led to this moment and this race.
D. The actual race. Which horses come out on top or start fast/slow and whatnot depend on story content and on how well I think they'd all stack up. Is there any foul play at hand? The gods/goddesses may want to rig the race for themselves or to save their bets in event of an underdog.
Idea 2: (Inspired by the River goddess Ganga project): You're vacationing in India and come across a small stable across the street from your hotel. Having taken lessons as a kid you venture in and ask if you can help out in exchange for a ride. While you spend time there you find yourself meeting many horses, and they tell you their stories of time spent in the company of gods and nobles long ago. The Uchchashraivaa takes you for a ride around the countryside, like a trip back in time, and shares what it was like from a horse's-eye perspective in the old days of myth and legend.
Bibliography:
Sushmajee. Horses in Hindu Mythology. http://www.sushmajee.com/stories/topics/horse.htm
Uchchaishravas. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uchchaihshravas
Khalidasa:Shakuntala. The Birth of the War God. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sha/sha16.htm
Devi Bhagavata Purana. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devi-Bhagavata_Purana
Hayagriva. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devi-Bhagavata_Purana
Dr. D. Sridhara Babu. Hayagriva. https://archive.org/stream/hayagriva014842mbp#page/n3/mode/2up
Kalki. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalki
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| Image Info: Art depicting Soorya, a sun god with a chariot pulled by seven horses: one for each of the seven colored rays. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya |
Week 3 Story: Sita and Viradha
The fair Queen of the noble Rama was anything but a
trophy wife. Before she was the beauteous betrothed of the one true king, she
was Sita, a small, scrawny tomboy mucking about her family’s considerable
estate, riding horses bareback, playing pranks on her big brothers, and
wondering if she’d ever grow out of her unfortunate unibrow. The daughter of a
nobleman, she learned from a young age the importance of self-defense: in a
world of magical curses and creatures she never knew when she would be next in
a long line of victimized damsels, and worked tirelessly every day to secure a
future as a strong, independent woman capable of Shiva-worthy destruction with
her mighty roundhouse kick.
At five, her
parents caught her acting out a valiant rescue effort with the neighborhood
boys, whom she’d forced to play the part of the rakshasa lest she tell their
mothers about the time they ripped their dress clothes climbing over the fence
to her family’s estate (this secret had been kept by the promise of favors and
by Sita’s reluctant needlework training).
At twelve she narrowly escaped punishment for
listening in on her brothers’ lessons in military strategy and warrior arts by
agreeing to take classes in being ladylike.
At seventeen
she was growing into a young woman of enviable looks, and thus had to boster
her skill in hand-to-hand svarakshākalā
to match the increasing (and increasingly deaf) number of suitors and their
ill-fated attempts to take her hand in marriage.
And when she did offer her hand in marriage she made
sure it was to a man worthy of her affection. Rama’s unquestionable integrity
and strength of character made the decision to wander abroad easy. Sita had
made a promise, and though she knew she was perfectly capable of living out a
long, productive, happy life without any man, she also knew that Rama was worth
the wait to live in civilization again.
And so, after a few snags, they were on the road.
(The snafu with the wardrobe switcheroo wasn’t as it had appeared: sure, a bark
sari would be uncomfy, but the real reason behind Sita’s tears was a ploy to
prevent having to give up the glorious pockets of her nicer garb and the
opportunity for concealed weaponry they provided. If there’s anything she’d
learned from siblings and the streets, it was that A. anything is weaponizable
(e.g. tears) and B. the biggest advantage of all is how much people underestimate
her).
It was but a few weeks into a fourteen year exile,
yet things were looking up. The birds were singing, the sun was shining, and
flowers intermittently rained over the path of the three travelers, until a
giant ugly monster materialized in front of them and moved as if to try the
oldest trick in the book: the damsel in distress. Observant of the
ever-approaching clawed monster meathook on her six, Sita repressed a colossal
eye-roll and considered her options as time seemed to slow around her. First,
the facts: they were facing a cursed rakshasa with an imperviousness to
weapons. The scenarios played out in her head as she considered them:
Option 0: Allow the monster to grab her and watch
helplessly as her knight in shining armor valiantly fiughts for her rescue
while twiddling her thumbs and offering the occasional teary scream for
encouragement. Veto.
Option 1: Jump the hand. Duck to avoid ensuing mad
grab by the opposite arm. Tuck and roll, coming up brandishing previously
concealed lower-back daggers. Eviscerate. Wait. Curse prevents evisceration. On
to:
Option 2: Jump arm. Clamber up to the monster’s
enormous humped back. Snag low-hanging vine. Fashion noose. Utilize. A quick
glance reveals no satisfactory shrubbery. Next:
Option 3: Deftly reach into elbow pouch for world-feared
monster-level ghost pepper-spray. Shake before use. Apply liberally to
cataract-ridden inflamed demon eyeballs. Incapacitate.
In a blink, Sita had processed the information and
come to the conclusion that it would be a day to have some fun. Time returned
to its normal speed as the claws came closing in. Sita leapt, using the beast’s
scaled forearm as leverage to propel herself into the air, reaching up to grab the
twin blades concealed in her ornate hairpiece and issuing a formidable battle
cry as she dove directly into the belly of the beast. Rama and Lakshmana
exchanged a beleaguered look and shouldered their weapons. By this point they
were used to being benched by the formidable warrior woman.
Sita explosively emerged from the creature’s chest
cavity a moment later, clad head-to-toe in guts and brandishing the heart she
had quite literally ripped from its body. She turned to the dying demon to
offer one final comment: “You can let the curse-giver Kubera know that a woman
of virtue is by all means as deadly a weapon as any man can create by hand.”
With its dying breath, the monster replied: “When I
was originally cast into this form and given the terms for my release, I was
told the great spirit OF Rama would
be responsible for my freedom and ascension. I see now that I misheard. Prepositions
can be tricky in the old tongue. The great spirit WITH Rama, the capable Sita, was the true lifter of my curse. Thank
you, noble woman, for fulfilling the role of the clever warrior needed to save
me from this monstrous existence. I am forever in your debt.”
It was but a few weeks into a fourteen-year exile,
yet things were looking up. The birds were singing, the sun was shining, and
flowers intermittently rained over the path of the three travelers, cheerily
regaling each other with tales of what might be next to come. The fair Sita sat
watchful, content to converse yet ready to whoop the booty of the next hellion
that dared mess with them.
The End
Author's Note: Perhaps it's the budding 21st century feminist in me, but as I read parts A and B of the Ramayana I grew increasingly exasperated with Sita's characterization (or lack thereof). Seriously, her only qualities are her looks and devotion to Rama. She goes the majority of the reading without saying anything, just hovering in the background like a delicate flower, taking breaks to alternately cry, complain about her wardrobe, and play a damsel in distress. I decided I wanted that to change, and this story was the result. In the PDE Ramayana, this chapter begins with our three main protagonists happening on a cursed shapeshifting demon named Viradha, who promptly takes Sita as a damsel and reveals that he cannot be harmed by the crude weapons of man. In the chapter, Sita doesn't speak and is relegated to a wallpaper role. In my story, I kept the invulnerability of the beast but tweaked it a bit and omitted Rama's clever ending in favor of some good ol' fashioned feminist butt-kickery and a fun Sita backstory to give her more depth of character.
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| Image Info: The cover of Samhita Arni's retelling of the Ramayana from Sita's point of view. Illustrated by Moyna Chitrakar. Source: https://houseofanansi.com/products/sitas-ramayana-hc |
Bibliography: PDE Ramayana: Viradha. http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/pde-ramayana-viradha.html
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