I've finally started to read the Ramayana and can't seem to put it down, a big problem considering I already have exams in all of my other classes. Every time I read it I remember how my parents use to force me to watch Indian TV on Sundays because they'd have dramas that would recreate the Ramayana and Mahabharata (another major Indian epic). Of course I spent most of time laughing at the cheesy special effects and terrible acting, but I did manage to pick up the basic plot of each epic. I suppose my parents realized that this day in age it's easier to let the television set do most of the teaching. But I suppose its safe to say that by reading this book I can finally start to understand what I was forced to watch years ago, and this time actually appreciate the actual story's poetic and thematic qualities. I'm glad that I'm finally reading it at a time in my life when I will actually understand it.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Finally my first post...
Finally my first blog post. First things first I'm really glad to be taking a fun class for once, and getting to be in another class taught by Tanglao. It was so refreshing and inspiring Freshman year to be taking Asian cinema with him, I have no doubt this class will be even better. Plus when he talks about a sense of community he means it. I still talk to people from my freshman seminar, who I only worked with one semester compared to kids I've been in classes with for the past 3 years but barely know their names. It will be interesting to see how things develop as the class gets closer to performing the final performance at the end of the semester. Initially I was a little annoyed about having to start a blog, considering I always swore I'd rather eat dirt than start an online blog. Well regardless here I am starting one for class, being "required" and blaming it on Tanglao makes it a little easier.
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3 comments:
I really wish I had the benefit of seeing cheesy Ramayana television specials, because I feel like that would contribute more to my appreciation of reading it in novella form. It would make it more special, and more personal, even if the televised versions were really crap.
Yeah, I understand how you can't put it down! I was surprised at how beautiful I find the piece, even though in a lot of ways the writing is very simple (at least in this version). I like to use it as a productive "study break" in between some of my heavier subjects. That way I'm resting but getting work done!
The Ramayana was so good. I almost feel like the experience is halved when you don't get to see the televised version afterward just to see what it's like on the screen. And I agree with Eddie in that I'd want to see it even if it was bad.
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