Famous Last Words: Week 2

With Monday being a holiday this week started off slow but quickly flew into overdrive. I spent Monday afternoon at lacrosse practice, watching my boyfriend coach. I would like to forget that while at practice I had a couple spiders crawling on me…NOT COOL. I contemplated screaming at one point because there was a giant one closing in on me, but having 24 high school boys look at you like you are crazy didn’t seem worth it. Then learning that that’s our home field…I’ll be investing in some bug spray for sure. Aside from that the weather was perfect.

 

(Personal photo: My view of practice; January 2015)

Concerning this class, I think my best writing was my storytelling post. I enjoyed telling the story without any dialog. Which was definitely an experiment but a success in my opinion.  I would like to try it again, along with a piece with a lot of dialog. Aside from those two styles I am unsure of others. Any know of where I can find info on this? Maybe a website with examples?

My design classes are what sent this week into overdrive. I had projects due that I was super confused on but in the end I think they came out well. Then I learned of new assignments that we will be working on while still needed to make minor corrections to those projects we turned in. In typography we get the opportunity to design our own font.  I am not even sure how to begin but that’s why it’s a learning opportunity.  Right?  History of Visual Communications is finally getting to an interesting point. Hopefully that only continues.

Even though tomorrow is Monday I am looking forward to the week. Hoping I can get ahead in this class so that I can make the trip to Texas for the teams first lacrosse game in a couple of weeks!

-Shelly 

Possible storybook topics!

I am always super indecisive, so when it came to narrowing it down to 4 different topics it was tough. I basically went with the 4 topics that sounded interesting right off the bat. Those would be Animal Characters and Gods and Goddess.

The two animal characters I chose are Hanuman and Sampati

The two Gods and Goddesses are Vishnu and Shiva

I am interested in the animal characters topic because who wouldn’t want to hear animals side of the story. Like having my dog tell about her day living with us…I think there could be some interesting commentary. My interest in the Gods and Goddess stems from the magic and the mythical elements that could give a story amazing detail.

Anyways on to Hanuman

When first research Hanuman all I knew was he was a monkey and that he was in the story Ramayana.  What I found interesting from the Wiki is that Hanuman is he is a shape shifter, which I was unaware of. It seems like finding info on this character would be pretty easy and that he has several journeys that I could tell about. From meeting with Rama, to finding Sita, Shape shifting and other incidents about him that would lead to a great story.

(Hanuman from the wiki page)

In regards to Sampati what I found interesting was that although he was a bird, after competitions with his brother his wings got seared off by the sun. Which would be really interesting to retell from an inner monolog point of view. I knew very little about him before I researched this topic.

Vishnu is such a broader topic then the 2 prior, only because he is a popular Hindu deity. I knew a little about Vishnu before researching from art history. By viewing the wiki page I noticed that it just had places/that Vishnu was mentioned. There wasn’t any info leading to a quick read about the character.  I am sure with more research this would be a viable topic.

Shiva, again like Vishnu this is a much broader topic, and I knew a little bit about him from my art history classes. Probably more from an art perspective though and less about the stories he was involved in. I was totally unaware that he had a weapon or trident. Which could be an interesting way to tell the story through the tridents perspective.

I think in the end I would go with one of the animals or Shiva. Glad I don't have to decide today! 

Storytelling Week 2: Visvamitras journey to the King.

Late one afternoon the Sage Visvamitra knew he could wait no longer to visit the king. He needed the King to allow his son Rama to join him on a journey. You see Visvamitra needed Rama’s help battling demons. Like any wise man, Vishvamitra was worried about how the King would react when he found out why Rama was needed on this journey. Like any good father he knew the King would want to protect his son, and not send him out to battle for any old reason. Vishvamitra was worried, he had no intention of upsetting the King. He had to decide the right way to tell the king.

Should he just come right out and say it as soon as he laid eyes on the king? Or should he indulge in a bit of small talk and then lay it out. Visvamitra struggled with this decision the whole way there. What if the king said No! Then the demons would continue to disrupt the holy sacrifices. He couldn’t think that way. Once he had made it past the guards and to the door of the palace he knew he had to make a decision.  He just couldn’t decide, but he knew the king was waiting!

 

(Taj Mahal: What I envision the palace to look like)

Once inside he and the King had a brief conversation. Luckily he was able to convince the King that he desperately needed Rama’s help. The King even mentioned that his other son Dasaratha had never been away from Rama and asked if he could join them on their journey. Of course Visvamitra said yes!

As they left the palace Visvamitra begin to thank about how the odds were more in their favor because Dasaratha was joining them. Although he knew that Rama could defeat the demons on his own. That saying many hands make light work fit in this situation.  Support and encouragement from a family member never hurt either. In this case Dasaratha would be there to support and encourage Rama through this battle in a way that Visvamitra couldn’t because the boys spent so much time together. He knew he could encourage Rama with thoughts of wisdom, but that doesn’t compare to the underlying support of someone you are close with. In any case, he knew they at least had to try to defeat the demons. Sacrifices needed to return to normal. Rama and Dasaratha was their only chance for this to happen.

Authors Note: I chose to tell about Visvamitras journey to the King. 

This is an addition to the story The Ramayana by Narayan, R.K. 

Reading Diary B: Meeting Bharata

While reading the second portion I realized I have already grown to love these characters, just like you do with any good book. I am already beginning to understand why this is one of India’s most popular epics.

The thought of Rama going to exile is tragic. Then Rama disappears and his father dies. This is just so much to handle…I admit I put this book down for sometime after this but I had to come back because I had to know what happened!

Learning of Ramas brother Bharata and getting this visual of them from the reading guide was a great help! I am a visual learner, so this put everything in perspective. 

(Screenshot: Bharata and Rama)

 I am confused by the forest of demons and want more info! Like if I go into said forest, will the demons try to get me? The fact that Rama is in a forest is distressing. I want Rama and Sita back together for the sake that, I love happy endings and love stories. 

So many questions that I need answers too! 

Reading Diary A: Rama and the journey

To start this reading diary I want to include the struggles I faced. This was one of those books where I wasn’t sure how to say a large portion of their names so I did the best I could and went with it…. I think this is something we have all done. With the names being of Indian decent this was a big struggle! I think hearing how they are really pronounced would be beneficial…Is there anything online that I can make this happen?

All together I really enjoyed what I have read so far. Learning who Rama was, and how protective his father was being , and wanting to send the siblings together was something relatable.  Since my brother and I are 10 years apart, and I am the baby…this is something my parents would do.

(Personal Photo: My brother and I; May 2014)

 I found it interesting that Vishvamitra was once a king, but then became a sage. I learned that a Sage is someone who has, or shows great wisdom…no wonder Dasaratha knew his boys would be safe on their journey.

I enjoyed the storytelling within the story.  How many things do you read, that the characters tell you a story…its almost like inception.

I was not expecting a love story to be involved! Rama and Sita and then Rama becoming Dasharatha’s successor…I wasn’t anticipating that either. 

I want to read more, but then again I want to reread to catch the things I missed…the struggle.

Happy reading! -Shelly