Epics of India

Mother Earth was the guardian of the world and the protector of all its creatures, who lived in harmony on the majestic landscapes of her body. Where her hip curved the waves of the ocean cascaded; where her knee bent the canopies of the forest bowed. Humans had always held a special fascination for Mother Earth. Their capacity to feel was unlike any of the other species that roamed her lands, and their lives were colored by a broad spectrum of emotions. She watched their tears mingle with the rains and their joy brighten the rays of the sun. The other creatures of the earth each had their own domain; the lion roams the desert as the monkey swings between the trees of the rainforest, just as the crocodile slips among the reeds of the wetlands and the penguin glides over the icy arctic floor. But humans were found far and wide, living among all the other creatures. They roamed and they settled, and then once more they would be on the move. Mother Earth watched intently as they ...

Jatayu -Divine origin, has taken the form of a great eagle -Wise and spirited -Friend of Dasartha on the battlefield      -“You are the soul, I am the body. We are one.” (page 62) -Watches over Rama and his companions in the forest; a guardian figure -Fights Ravana when he kidnaps Sita and is ultimately slain by the demon -Keeps himself alive until Rama and Lakshmana arrive in order to tell them what has happened An underappreciated character in my opinion! I would love to know more about this wise elder and the roads he has traveled to get to the forest. Jatayu bravely engages Ravana in a fight to the death. Source: Wikimedia Commons Soorpanaka  -Sister of Ravana -An asura disguised as a beautiful woman -Falls in love with Rama in the forest -Disfigured by Lakshmana; he chops off her nose, ears, and breasts When Soorpanaka glimpses Sita, her heart plummets; the overwhelming beauty of Rama’s wife seems to render the possibil...

Formatting Observations The narrator of the text does not remain silent, but rather exists as a presence in the story; there are several instances where the narrator breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the reader, commenting on elements of the story and injecting their own observations. This introduces a new dimension to the text, framing it as a story within a story. This is a stylistic element that I would like to consider incorporating in my retellings. Important Figures of Ayodhya -King Dasartha -Kausalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumithra: wives of the King -Rama, Lakshmana, and Bharatha: sons of the King      -Rama is actually Vishnu in human form! -Sita: Rama's wife -Sage Vasistha: guru of the kingdom Thataka -Born a demigod -Married chieftan Sunda -Two sons: Mareecha and Subahu -Sons and husband were destroyers; they killed animals and laid waste to the land -Agasthya cursed Sunda to his death -She and her sons cursed by Agasthya to live as dem...

Negative Thinking ~ Read here I really enjoyed this little comic. Although it is short and contains very few words, sometimes by saying less you are actually saying more. It contains a very poignant message about how we perceive our circumstances, and how depending on the attitude of our thinking we may have very different experiences. I think the fact that the author uses negative space to illustrate negative thinking is also very clever; they have adapted a concept in art with similar language and used this wordplay to their advantage. I strive to exude positivity in my life, and because I am a visual learner, I will definitely keep in mind how I can actively visualize my attitude through positive and negative space. Make Good Art: Neil Gaiman’s Advice on the Creative Life, Adapted by Design Legend Chip Kidd ~ Read here "Make good art." As Neil Gaiman states, making art is something we alone have control over, and it is a power we can utilize to lift ourselves up ...

The Adventures of Hanuman  After encountering and briefly learning about several of the gods and goddesses these past few weeks, the god that has stood out to me the most is Hanuman. Many of his stories seem to involve epic quests or journeys of some kind; in the comic Guide: Hanuman to the Rescue, he goes searching for a medicinal herb to save the life of Rama's wounded brother. In one of the storybooks that I read, Hanuman believes the sun is a mango and takes a bite out of it, launching an epic saga of events and challenges he must overcome. The idea of Gods and Goddesses being linked to certain animals or animal personalities also fascinates me, and I would like to learn more about Hanuman's association with the monkey. Is his physical being actually part primate, or is the entire idea metaphorical? Why is he typically portrayed this way? Writing Hanuman's adventures sounds like it would be a lot of fun, and I would love to delve further into his wild personality. Re...

There once was a land covered in a majestic forest. The trees rose for miles in every direction, and their bold green leaves absorbed the golden dew of the sun, casting brilliant light across the forest floor. Travelers always observed that the ground spread far and wide as a single velvety layer of earth. It had been worn smooth by dancing feet, for within the heart of the woods lived spirits who loved to dance. At night the spirits took the form of beautiful women, and they would sing sweetly to attract men who might be passing among the brambles. Once these men heard their voices, they had no choice but to follow them; the music of the spirits was irresistible.  When the men arrived to the clearing that was home to the spirits, it looked as if they had stumbled upon a royal ball. The spirits were dancing under the veil of the ebony sky, their beauty illuminated by the stars. Mortal men could not resist this intoxicating scene, and they became caught up in the frenzy of ...

Notes for "Goblin City" Conflict dynamics: -Good vs. evil -Fantasy creatures vs. humans      -Can humans ever best the power of magical beings? In this story, the men who escape their fate as goblin food are the ones smart enough to listen to the warning of their comrade, who is alerted to their situation only because he happens to overhear the activities of his carnivorous wife. Even so, it is a fairy who actually helps the men escape; could they have gotten out alive on their own? -Women vs. men -Powerful females vs. weak males      -The idea of mystical feminine creatures seducing unsuspecting men and killing them is centuries   old. I was reminded of the sirens in the Odyssey, whose singing persuades men to throw themselves into the ocean and causes ships to crash into rocks and capsize. Formatting: I like the use of many short paragraphs. It makes it easier to approach the text, and helps to facilitate the movement of the story. Us...

I have chosen to read Narayan's Ramayana. I prefer to read from print books rather than online text, which is the primary reason why have I selected this version. I also appreciate that there is a reading guide associated with this text, and that I will be able to reference useful and relevant information to dive deeper into the backgrounds of the characters and the meanings of the stories. Comics Guide: Vasantasena, A Dancer ~ Read here The title of this comic caught my eye right away; as a dancer, I am very excited to see how dance plays a role in these stories! I am also intrigued by the description of the plot being reminiscent of a Shakespearean comedy. I think it is fascinating that we can connect the structures and elements of stories written hundreds of years apart, and that different cultures often end up utilizing similar elements in their stories. This speaks to the universal nature of humanity; while we may tell unique stories that resonate with a particular group...

In his article, Thomas Oppong makes the point that completing the most undesirable task of the day first thing gives us a profound sense of accomplishment and sets us up for a more productive day.  I have certainly noticed this trend in my own life; when I stay up super late doing homework, I often skirt around the least desirable work at hand and end up wasting a lot of time perusing the internet. When I force myself to go to bed and get up early in the morning to complete homework, however, I feel refreshed, energized, and better able to complete difficult tasks. I like the way Oppong breaks tasks into the categories of what we need to or don't need to do, and what we want to or don't want to do. Sometimes the amount of work in our lives can be overwhelming, and using this system to categorize tasks and identify how we should approach our work based on its importance seems like a very good time management strategy. Oppong also makes a profound statement about the approach to ...

Technology and I have always had an interesting relationship. While I really enjoy using tools on the internet to explore and create, I sometimes struggle to keep my online presence organized. The fact that all the details of this class are so clearly laid out on different websites is very helpful, because I always know where to find assignments and course information. I am very familiar with bookmarking (I have hundreds of tabs saved so that I can attempt to find things when I need them) and I use pinterest regularly as a sort of online cookbook (I have sections organized based on different food categories). I am very intrigued by the graphics creation and image editing tools. I love playing around with graphic design and formatting pictures in unique ways, and one of my goals this semester is to become more well versed in this. Source: The Blue Diamond Gallery

I am very excited for the readings and the opportunity to write our own stories! It has been a long time since I have been able to do creative writing for a class. Having grown up hearing some stories about the Hindu gods, and being very intrigued by their unique personalities, I can't wait to learn more about them and the tales that have been woven around them. This class is structured very differently than most I have ever taken, because it focuses on the act of learning and exploring material rather than memorizing and regurgitating information. I like the fact that we can pace ourselves individually and fit the coursework into our own schedules. For extra credit I definitely want to take a walk along the wikipedia trails. I really enjoy exploring topics and doing research, and seeing where I can go on a research journey sounds like a lot of fun. I think it will also be very eye-opening in helping me find connections between things I may never otherwise have considered to be r...

Before watching Carol Dweck's videos I was not previously familiar with the concept of the growth mindset, and I am very intrigued by how it can shift our thinking to a more positive and productive place. I agree that we should place focus on the process of learning rather than ranked outcomes; the way in which a student approaches their learning is much more valuable in the long-term than seeing an A on the top of a paper. I try to approach my own school work in this way, putting in the time and effort to effectively engage with knowledge and create meaningful work that I take pride in. However, I have definitely fallen victim to the fixed mindset before, as much as I strive not to obsess over grades and perceived failures. I grew up in a very competitive school district where Bs were practically considered failing; high school was an extremely challenging time of my life because of the pressure I felt to do well and attain those magical As, and I sacrificed true learning in some...

Hello and welcome to my blog! My name is Joni and I am from Rockville, Maryland. I originally came to the University of Oklahoma for the ballet program, pursuing a degree in Ballet Performance. I have been dancing since I was seven years old and I am extremely passionate about it. One of the best parts about being involved in the fine arts department is getting to perform; if you've never ventured to the theatre on the North Oval, I highly recommend seeing a show there! During my sophomore year I decided to tackle a second major in International Studies, concentrating on the Middle East. I took a course called 'Poverty and Inequality in the Middle East' last semester that revolutionized my outlook on the region and how I think about the choices people make in their lives. It was fascinating to analyze the differing perspectives of the history books versus the people themselves. Although having two majors has proved challenging at times, I am very grateful to be able to pu...

Karma: It's Not Just For Breakfast Anymore ~ Read Here This storybook was a humorous take on how karma comes full circle in our lives, and how we can work to understand the events that take place as a result of our actions. I particularly like the witty title, which caught my eye as I was scrolling through the list of storybooks. I am familiar with the concept of karma, and I think that this story does an excellent job of demonstrating how we may not always be aware of how or why certain behavior affects us in the long run. The front page of the storybook features a cartoon that sets the light-hearted tone of the story and offers an inviting visual. The introduction, where we first meet the character of Rob and learn how his world has been turned upside down, is immediately engaging. The blue hues that make up the background offer a visual representation of how Rob has become "blue" in light of recent events in his life. Although the overall layout of the blog was rathe...

Vermont holds a special place in my heart. For the past six years, I have spent my summers dancing and performing  in the town of Johnson with a local company called Burklyn Ballet Theatre.  (Personal image of the view from a hill in Johnson, VT. August 2018) The clear air and blue skies never fail to rejuvenate my spirits - I often sit outside for hours gazing at the horizon and the vast expanse of forest stretching out under the skyline. Sunsets here are painted with the most vivid colors of the artist’s palette, enveloping everything in a hazy golden glow.  About an hour south lies the city of Burlington; it is a metropolitan area renowned for its local businesses and quirky atmosphere.  (Church Street in Burlington, VT. Source: Flickr ) A beautiful body of water known as Lake Champlain stretches along the edge of the city.  The upper shoreline borders Canada, and there is a ferry that connects us to our northern neighbors. The wate...

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