Epics of India

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...