Reading Diary A: Narayan The Ramayana

The first thing that really spoke to me creatively in the Ramayana was the introduction to the setting. Kosala seems like a beautiful, magical place and the descriptions of the countryside are so colorful and vibrant. The descriptions really stand out to me in the R.K. Narayan version of The Ramayana.

1. Dasartha's Four Sons
Also from the beginning of the epic, I really enjoyed the story of Dasartha's four sons. Dasartha is an interesting and likable character who rules over Ayodhya, but he cannot have any children. At the same time, the gods are trying to defeat Ravana, who can only be killed by a mortal man. So in order to kill Ravana, Vishnu decides to be born as Dasartha's son. When Dasartha performs a sacrifice, he is given some rice which he feeds to his wives. After this, they collectively have four sons, one of whom is named Rama. Rama is Vishnu incarnate. This story was very interesting and I liked the plot device of one of the gods being incarnated as a mortal human. This seems like an interesting story that I may want to use for my project.

2. Thataka's Story 
Thataka was the daughter of a powerful demigod named Suketha and when she grew up she married a chieftain, Sunda, and had two children, Mareecha and Subahu. Her children were very destructive and her husband followed their example and destroyed anything he encountered. Agasthya, a saint, cursed Sunda and he died. When his family went to seek revenge, he cursed them as well, turning them into demons. Thataka now lives in the desert, destroying any life she comes across. When she tried to kill Rama, Viswamithra, and Lakshmana, Rama killed her.

3. Ganga's Story
Bhagiratha had ancestors who had been destroyed by a saint after wronging him and so he asked the gods for a way to cleanse their bones so that their souls were no longer trapped. Shiva agreed to help bring Ganga down so that she could clean their bones, but this would be dangerous. He prayed for a total of 30,000 years and finally Ganga descended, but right before she destroyed the earth with her power, Shiva absorbed the impact in his head and the water trickled out of his hair to form the sacred Ganges river. 

Creation of the Ganges by Khitindra Nath Mazumdar in
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists 1914

4. Sita
Sita is the incarnation of Lakshmi, Vishnu's lover. When Rama and Sita see each other, they are instantly in love and long for each other. The only way that Rama can have her hand, though, is if he is able to lift and string Shiva's bow. This was a condition made by her father, King Janaka, because she had so many suitors after her hand. Rama is able to complete the task and they marry in a huge celebration. 

This epic is so interesting and I'm really excited to read more of it!

Week 1: Curation Online

I love bookmarks. I use them all the time and my bookmark bar is absolutely full of folders and sub-folders for just about everything. I use it to organize recipes or stories I want to read or videos I want to watch. I had to start doing this after I lost far too many interesting things online because I thought I would remember them or be able to find them later. After this happening far too many times, my bookmark bar became my life saver. For some of my other classes, online and otherwise, I love making new folders for studying and for papers. They are so handy and so I am fairly familiar with the bookmark system on my web browser. In real life, I'm not a very organized person, but the internet makes it so much simpler to keep everything together and easy-to-find. 

"Organized" photo by Uwe Hermann

Other than bookmarking, I never thought of using Twitter or Pinterest for organizational purposes. I'm kind of familiar with Twitter, but I only use it rarely and never considered using it for any of my classes. My first impression of Pinterest was also that it was just used for arts & crafts, cooking, or decor. That's definitely the stereotype, but I've never used it for long enough to consider it usable for anything else. After browsing it for a little bit, it really does seem like an amazing tool for online organization. I think I might try to use it for other classes as well as this one.

I'm also intrigued by the Known software. I checked out the Known for this class and it seems like an interesting interface! This class has such a fascinating topic that I would love to be able to browse the internet and share information that is interesting and relevant to this class. 

My favorite organizational tool for group work online, though, is definitely google drive. It is the most helpful thing that I could possibly think of when working on a group project. Group work is so hard to schedule because everyone is busy, but with this tool you can just edit and comment on the same document simultaneously and it makes life so much easier. 

Growth Mindset is Genius

After watching this video, I am just amazed at these ideas. I've always thought that the way education is viewed by some is not the way that it should be. Testing, testing, testing, and that's all it seems to be. Personally, I rarely run away from an educational challenge, but failure for me has always been a flaw. I've never seen failure as a learning experience because it's always been a defect or something that I cannot improve because I missed that 'A' and there is no going back to fix it. 

Learning in other aspects of my life has always been fun. I love to challenge myself with new things, be it running, hiking, or even new arts and crafts projects. It's fun to not know how to do something and then to learn how to do it. It feels like an accomplishment. But in educational settings, this has never been the case because I'm being graded on what I know, not my potential to know it. Being judged or graded on my own work has always made me extraordinarily nervous and it makes me terrified of failure because not only do I know I failed, but so does the person who judged or graded me. This video really spoke to me and gave me a new way to look at learning and I honestly wish I could have watched it sooner.

Being at OU has taught me that I over-prepare when it comes to studying. I'm so nervous that I'm going to fail, that I study far more than I should. In most cases, this is a good thing because I am learning a lot more and retaining it better, but I've been doing it for the wrong reasons. I think employing the thought process of "Growth Mindset" is going to help me immensely this semester, particularly in some of the classes I'm more worried about. It will help me think of things as more of an opportunity to receive feedback and grow and improve and learn, rather than as judgement and failure. 

I really enjoyed reading through some of the Growth Mindset challenges and am hoping to try some of them out over the semester, particularly the writing challenge one. Finally, to close out this blog post, I'm sharing my favorite meme from the Growth Mindset Memes blog. This made me laugh, but it also (it's going to get cheesy) made me want to try harder.

Meme created by Laura Gibbs

I mean, look at that cat. One way or another, it's going to get that food and it's going to learn something along the way. 

Storybook Favorites

1. The first storybook that caught my eye was Law & Order: The Shape-Shifters Unit.  The title was very creative and definitely gave the reader a sense of what the story was about. I am a huge fan of the different Law & Order shows, so I was very interested to look into this storybook. After reading the introduction, it's interesting to see how the author ties the stories together and places the characters into a setting similar to that of Law & Order. Another thing I found interesting was how they worked the stories into a case file format. I thought that was very interesting! I think I might like to use some kind of creative format similar to this idea.

An image of Hanuma, one of the characters
appearing in the storybook above: found on Wikimedia Commons

2.  The next storybook title that interested me was Indian Horror Story. I love to read and watch scary things and so this title definitely appealed to me. The introduction really hooked me because it opened just like most horror stories where the audience is thinking, "No! Don't buy that house! What are you thinking?!". It also offered enough information that I became attached to the story, but not so much that I knew where the story was going. The use of images throughout the storybook also added to the spooky nature to which the title alludes. The final thing I found interesting about this particular storybook project is the creativity the author used. Not only were the characters placed in a different setting, but their stories were also molded to fit the story more believably. Overall, I found this one very interesting. 

3. The final storybook that I read was Demon Anger Management and it had a slightly different format than the other two. I thought it was very creative to take on the voice of a well-known talk show host in the introduction. It was a fun and interesting way to truly introduce the characters in a way that felt natural. Taking the voice of each of the characters was a creative way to integrate all of them in the story and it really made the characters "speak for themselves" which I thought was an interesting take on the project. This storybook used a different color scheme, opting for white and red, which fit the tone of the storybook better. Overall, the introduction made me want to continue reading and I liked the techniques they used in their storybook.

Indian Epics Overview

I'll admit that I know very little about the epics and culture of India, but have always been fascinated by it nonetheless. The little that I do know comes from movies, television, and the occasional world news story. Recently, I watched a show called Sense8 and so I learned a little bit about one of the gods in India, Ganesha, because a main character would go to the temple to pray to him. For that reason, I chose this image for my blog post because I'm hoping to learn more about this deity.

A photo of Ganesha from Wikimedia Commons

Otherwise, I know very little about Indian mythology, but that is why I took this class. I'm very excited to learn more because I love mythology from other cultures. I've never taken a formal class on mythology, but I've read books on Egyptian, Celtic, and Greek mythology and I think it is so interesting to see how other cultures interpret things. It's one of the reasons that I decided to be an anthropology major!

After reading over the information for this semester, I'm definitely interested in some of the more contemporary versions of the epics we will be reading for this class. I'm not sure if I would choose just the graphic novels or the animated film, but I think that I may use them to supplement the actual texts during the semester. They seem very interesting!

I'm also excited to listen to some of the music of India because I really love music. This semester I'm also taking a World Music course, so I'm hoping that, in addition to the music offered as course resources, I may get the opportunity to listen to some Indian music in my World Music course and study it more in depth. 

An Introduction

Hi, my name is Natalie and I'm an anthropology major. I actually have had two other majors before this, first a Chemistry major and then a Criminology major. Taking Organic Chemistry my freshman year kind of killed my love of chemistry and criminology just wasn't for me, but I'm fascinated by other cultures and took an amazing archaeology class, so that led me to my current major! I'm also minoring in French and I hope to study abroad there before I graduate. 

In my personal life, I really enjoy travelling and hiking. There's just something about seeing the top of a mountain that makes me want to climb it! Living in Oklahoma makes it a little difficult, but the Wichita mountains are enjoyable and nature walks are a great substitute.

A personal photo of my sister and I hiking in Red River, NM: March 2015

I also am a huge music enthusiast and will basically listen to anything and everything. I played piano for several years off and on, but I could never really commit to making it a focus in my life. Instead, I listen and appreciate from the sidelines. My French minor has also led me to several French artists. A recent favorite is Fondu au Noir by Coeur de Pirate. I've linked it if you would like to listen. Also, I recently got to see my favorite band in concert in Chicago and it was incredible. 

A personal photo of Marianas Trench
at the House of Blues in Chicago, June 2015

While there, I also had the opportunity to visit the Field Museum and it was fascinating. I could have spent weeks in there appreciating all of the exhibits. I love the atmosphere in museums because it's so relaxing. My all time favorite museum, though, is the Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. I visited there as a kid and am absolutely dying to go back. 

Some other things I enjoy are the typical categories of movies, books, TV shows, and video games. My favorite movie that came out this year (because I can't choose a favorite of all time) is Mad Max: Fury Road. I also can't choose a favorite book, but the one I'm reading right now is a book of Celtic myths and folklore and it's very interesting. My new favorite TV show is How to Get Away with Murder and my favorite video game is The Last of Us. 

Finally, I have an amazing family who lives in Oklahoma City. I only have one sister, but I also have a half brother and sister who are quite a bit older than me, so I have three nieces and two nephews. I also have a cat named Scarlett who I got on my eighteenth birthday, but she can't stay with me because my apartment doesn't allow pets. So, I miss her, but I can visit her when I go to visit my family.

Personal photo of Scarlett, August 2015

So, that's kind of a summary of my interests and hobbies. I've never blogged before, but I'm enjoying it so far! Feel free to ask a question or leave a comment.

Week 1 Storytelling Post: The Old Man, the Witch, and the Turkey

The old woman raised a wrinkled hand towards the approaching girl. As the man stared on in horror, a crack sounded from the sky, striking the lane. Where the girl once stood, a giant cloud of dust and smoke rose in tendrils towards the pair.

“No!” the man shouted, staring at the spot where his daughter once stood. He dropped to his knees, his crutch lay forgotten on the ground.

He looked at the woman now, knowing what she was and what she could do. However, his love for his daughter made him abandon caution.

Standing up on his crooked leg, he looked the witch in the eye, “Why did you have to kill my daughter? Your quarrel is with me, not her!”

The witch threw back her head, laughing. She said, “Oh, darling, she’s not dead! See for yourself.”

At this, the man looked back down to where his daughter once stood. As the dust cleared, the outline of a small creature became sharper, until the form became that of a small bird.

He turned back toward the witch, brows furrowed in incredulity, “Why would you do that? I told you I could pay you back once I had the money.”

Image of a witch silhouette by inky2010

Again, she laughed, eyes twinkling with glee. “I know. The deal still stands. Now you just have more incentive to return my money in a timely fashion.” She looked back at her work before continuing, “Besides, now you have another option: you can either pay me back or you can catch her and bring her back to me.”

The hopelessness the man had been feeling began fading at her words. ‘How hard would it be to catch his own daughter? Even with his leg, his daughter would not run from him,’ he thought.

He looked towards his daughter, now a turkey, on the path. She seemed to be pecking around in the grass, searching for food. Maybe she would run from him, if her mind had become that of an actual bird, but he had to try. This was his best chance of saving his daughter and himself, for a farmer would have to work for years to make the money necessary to pay the witch back.

Without looking behind him, he began hobbling down the hill, toward the faint “Gobble, gobble” coming from the road. As he approached, the turkey that had once been his eldest child began gobbling more insistently, before scurrying down the road.

Hobbling faster, he remembered his abandoned crutch at the top of the hill. He could not turn back and risk losing sight of his daughter. He would not rest until he reached her and brought her home.

Author’s Notes

ORIGINAL NURSERY RHYME

“The girl in the lane, that couldn't speak plain,

Cried, "Gobble, gobble, gobble."

The man on the hill, that couldn't stand still,

Went hobble, hobble, hobble.”

After reading this nursery rhyme, the only thing that I could think of was ‘Why would this girl sound like a turkey?’ so the next logical step was that she was a girl who had been turned into a turkey. The rest of the story just seemed to flow together because now the man cannot stand still until he catches up to his daughter.  I just made up the third character because I needed a means for the girl to have been transformed into a turkey. Also, because there is a witch in this story, the title is kind of a play off of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. This rhyme can be found in The Nursery Rhyme Book, edited by Andrew Lang (1897). I had fun with this story and this assignment!

My Favorite Places: Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon

I've just recently visited these places, but they quickly made it to the top of my list! 

Yellowstone National Park- I visited this park in late June on a road trip and it was one of the most magnificent places I've ever been.

Personal photo of a nesting ground for water birds that I took in Yellowstone National Park  in June 2015

The weather was perfect and, even though it was the end of June, it was actually a bit cold in places, particularly the mountainous areas. I love forests and mountains, so the diverse landscapes of the park were a dream come true. 

 This personal photo was taken near one of the many hot springs in the park in June 2015

Although I love mountains, the hot springs and wildlife were my favorite parts of the area. It's truly a gorgeous place!

The Grand Canyon- This is a place that I also first visited this year during a road trip and it was spectacular. I only spent two short days there, but I am already planning to return because it quickly became a favorite location of mine.

A personal photo taken on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in July 2015

I'm not much of a morning person, but each morning I got up around 4 am to watch the sunrise over the canyon. It was truly breathtaking! We were not there long enough to hike to the Colorado River, but I've put that on my bucket list.

The Milky Way over the Grand Canyon: Flickr

I will say, my favorite part of the Grand Canyon was the view of the night sky. I was unable to get a clear photo, but this person captured it beautifully!

Comment Wall

Go ahead and leave me some fun and interesting comments to read, if you don't mind!

Welcome Sign photo found on Pixabay

Test

This is a test post for my Epics of India blog.