Week 4 Lab: Ted Storytelling

Before watching The Danger of a Single Story, I recognized the name. After watching it for about a minute I remembered it from last semester. We had watched the video together in my Native American Music class last semester. I was fascinated by the stories that she told about her time in Nigeria and how the stories that she told were shaped by the stories she read. The more that I think about this phenomenon, the more it makes sense. It can be applied to this class and story telling out of this class because you will naturally employ elements of writing that you have seen before in the stories you have read. Because of this, the stories that you read shape how you tell your own stories. As the presenter started to read different literature, she was able to expand her view of what a story could include and what techniques or ideas that could be used. Reading many different stories from different sources can help you in avoiding a singular belief in how a story should be conveyed. 

Imaginary Friends and Real-World Consequences: Parasocial Relationships was really interesting. The Harry Potter hook was fascinating and puts into perspective how influential those books are and how influential fiction is. Parasocial relationships are particularly cool because they wouldn't be possibly without the advent of mass media and shows how technology is also shaping our psychology. I can see this interaction with fictional characters is real thing that has affected me when a character that I really enjoyed is killed off or the TV show ends after years of seasons. This end of the character would affect me and others as we don't get to see them anymore. I think that these relationships are very powerful as we can escape our world and go into theirs or find comfort in our fictional relationships. Dr. Barnes discusses fictional grief as I did and looked into the physical impact on people due to this grief. Seeing that people don't care about the real person as much as the fictional one was interesting but also very believable. 

If you can read many different types of storytelling, you can incorporate different elements and give an accurate story. With this accurate story, powerful characters can be created and those characters can create a parasocial relationship with the reader. Then hopefully these characters can have a positive real world effect.

Working in the Lab

Pixabay

Reading Notes: Ramayana D

The story of Hanuman leaping across the sea and burning down Lanka were also in the comic book that I read two weeks ago. Hanuman seems to be slightly impulsive as he easily burns down Lanka and thought that Ravana's other wife was Sita.

Vibishana sounds like he doesn't want to be with Ravana and has a softer heart.

Seems like people have a prejudice against monkeys or maybe it's just Rama. Could incorporate hate of monkeys in the Vali story.

The actions of Vibishana are confusing to me. He tells Ravana that Ravana is still his chief, but goes to Rama and gives him all of Ravana's battle plans.

Pushpak vimana the flying chariot makes an appearance. I might be using this later for storybooks. It appears that Ravana may also be slightly fearful of Rama as he puts on full body protective armor and uses his chariot. He is going to pull out everything to win.

The chariots are like fighter jets in the sky sending all sorts of weapons at each other. Rama would ten recognize a weakness in Ravana's jet. Apparently these chariots are huge.

The Pushpaka Vimana

Wikimedia Commons

Bibliography

The Ramayana by R. K. Narayan

Tech Tip: Countdown Widget

I decided to add a countdown widget, but not a countdown to a fun event. The MCAT is my biggest hurdle this semester so naturally I wanted to constantly be aware of how far away it was. So check out the MCAT countdown and see the time dwindle down.

Tick-Tock the Crocodile

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Reading Notes: Narayan's Ramayana Part C

The Story of Vali and Sugriva

Interesting dynamic between Vali and Sugriva. It seems like they are similar to Rama and Lakshmana as they are family and loved each other. However their bond must have not been as close and they didn’t trust each other as much as Rama and Lakshmana did. Those brothers would have waited for each other and been confident in their abilities to return back from the cave safely so they wouldn’t have listed to the counselors and elders. Could make a similar story with a different setting or be able to flip Vali later when Sugriva and Vali fight. Maybe an origin story for how Vali became so twisted. I can create a character for Mayavi and have Vali become dark while inside the cave. Must use the dialogue of Mayavi to change him.

Now Vali is very stubborn and defensive, this is shown in his dialogue with Tara and when he first emerges from the cave. This brashness ultimately lead to his death and was shocked that Rama could have pierced him.

Vali is also hypocritical which Rama points out. Perhaps he has a hate/disrespect of the Gods now because he has gain as much as he can from them.

Churning of the Ocean

Wikimedia Commons

Bibliography

The Ramayana by R. K. Narayan

Topic Research: To Battle We Go

Earlier this week I had come up with an angle for story telling regarding the Epic Battles topic. I am still kind of interested in doing something with the creation stories but not sure what it would be yet. For Epic Battles, my thought was that I would somehow incorporate these epic battles into modern day or other historical battles. Maybe I would futurize the battles that happened in the Ramayana or bring modern day technology back to Rama. Another thought that I had was to bring the characters from these epics into the historical battles. There are still some other ideas swirling around in my head but those were a few interesting ones that have popped up. I read a little bit about the Vimana which you mentioned in your notes last week. My thought was that it would be cool to incorporate flying chariots into the modern day because no military general has seen a flying chariot. I also read a few stories from Epic Indian Battles and thought that showing the battles through the eyes of a common soldier was a good twist in the first story. The author used different ways to depict the battles in each story which could also be a good way to test different ideas.


Another idea that I had was instead of involving the original characters, I could simply take the characteristics and events of the battle and shift them into a different time period. For example, the battle at Rama’s hut in the woods where he eventually injuries Shoorpankha could be represented by two knights fending off dragons and wizards or something, just a little brainstorming :)


If I had to make three possible stories I guess they would be:

1. Ravana’s Sister from the reading guide for Narayan’s Ramayana. The story would go similar to what I described above.

2. I assume that Rama and Ravana will fight at some point and that battle could be used for a story where I could use other viewpoints or place the battle in a different time.

3. There must also be a battle in the Mahabharata, so I could use that to add one of the other elements that I discussed earlier.


Finding resources for these kinds of topics and twists would be nice to see how I could incorporate these elements. I’m not exactly sure what I should be looking for in resources that could help me.

Ravana's city on Lanka

Wikimedia Commons

Feedback Strategies

Giving Creative Feedback - A Guide for Those Who Aren't Creative was the one of the first articles that I saw and instantly said, yep that's me! I wouldn't say that I am the most creative person out there, but basing something off of other things I have seen or comparing their uniqueness makes it easier for me to understand if something is creative. The article mentions this thought process and that it can help to give feedback if the piece resembles something familiar. The main points from the article that I would focus on are the probing questions and looking for red flags. It seemed like these two could be easily be practiced in the class and maybe even in all kinds of feedback. Some of the other advice didn't seem as relevant to what we are doing but would be great in a different situation, but of course that's me.

My other article was The Trouble with “Amazing”: Giving Praise that Matters and I really agreed with the points. The author discusses how we have to describe what was done well when giving praise and I think that is a great thought. Now when I think about when people give feedback it is a much greater feeling when someone mentions how they liked this specific detail you incorporated. Knowing that something paid off when you intentionally put it there is a better feeling than the overall, it was great. Learning to give directed praise is a good skill so that people know that their specific efforts are being appreciated and worthwhile. I think that it is important for effort to be recognized, and the author agrees.

Someone giving the feed, back to the camel.

Pixabay

Week 3 Story: The Twisted Brother

As Lakshmana watched Rama and Sita ride away, he knew that this couldn’t stand. Rama had convinced him earlier to give up his malintentions toward Kaikeyi and Dasaratha, but he only listened out of love and respect for his brother. Lakshmana roared, “14 years! …. 14 whole years! Rama’s place is on the throne, to lead the people of Ayodhya!” Of course family knows best so Lakshmana decided to do what he thought was best and take matters into his own hands.

If Rama did get anything through to Lakshmana, it was that violence was not the solution. So he headed off towards his father’s kopa gruha thinking about what Rama had said, “A word given is like an arrow it goes forward. You cannot recall it midway…”

“Bah! Maybe my father cannot take about his arrow, but how about I snatch it directly from the air!” Lakshmana muttered to himself. When he arrived at the kopa gruha, Lakshmana was adamant on convincing his stepmother, Kaikeyi, to reconsider he banishment and dethroning of Rama. By whatever means necessary, except for the area of violence which he could not let go of yet because of Rama.

Lakshmana burst into the room and said “Kaikeyi! I demand to discuss my brother’s banishment.” At this he noticed Dasaratha lying on the floor in too much sorrow to speak.

“What is there to discuss? Your father gave me his word for a boon many years ago and now I have requested it.” Kaikeyi calmly replied.

“You cannot send him away for 14 years! Just see reason, allow him to stay in Ayodhya. He doesn’t even need the throne.” Lakshmana pleaded.

“I loved Rama too and it pains me to see him forced into the forest, but it must be done.” Kaikeyi said, sadly.

“But he is already deep in the forest! No doubt surround by Rakshasas and asuras every step of the way.”

At hearing this Dasaratha fell into deeper pain, and after a few moments imagining Rama and Sita alone in the forest, he succumbed to his thoughts and died. When Lakshmana saw this, he threw peace and pacifism out the window and decided to instead, snap the arrow in half.

“All of this tragedy is because of YOU!” and with this, Lakshmana spun around, and in doing so, drew his blade. In the blink of an eye, Kaikeyi lay bleeding on the ground. Before her last breath, she whispered, “The gods… will not… look kindly on this.” With this, Yama punished Lakshmana with an unstoppable bloodlust.

Soon after, he forced his way to king of Ayodhya and ruled with an iron fist. This was until Rama had heard of Lakshmana’s wrongdoings and had to return to save his city and try to save his brother. He snuck into the city and found his way to the palace, there he confronted Lakshmana.

“Brother it is Rama. I have come to reason with you, to find your old self.” Lakshmana looked as those he had seen a ghost.

“Rama. I see you have come back for the throne. However I feel as though Yama’s influence and the throne suit me.” spoke Lakshmana, slyly.

“Please see reason Lakshmana. This is not who you are.”

“No Rama it is now, I only now realize how long I waited in your shadow. The throne is mine and if I must defend it from you, I will.”

Then Lakshmana slowly drew his sword and leapt towards Rama. It was one of the most well fought battles that have been told. The two brothers were almost equal in strength and skill with both of their power being far superior to the ordinary human. Rama’s discipline allowed for his victory, but it was not a rewarding victory for him. Mourning the loss of his brother, Rama performed the funeral ceremony, but knew he could not be king. This led him back into the forest and led him to face Ravana in the future. Of course he did not know of the latter purpose.

Lakshmana consoling Rama

Wikimedia Commons

Bibliography:

The Ramayana by R. K. Narayan

Author’s Note: The first thing that is seen here is a plot change were in Narayan’s version of The Ramayana, Lakshmana goes with Rama and Sita into the forest for the fourteen years, however I have chosen Lakshmana to stay. I decided to also have him confront Kaikeyi and Dasaratha, which Rama had originally convinced him not to do. Dasaratha’s death was very similar to Narayan’s depiction but I decided to make this the breaking point for Lakshmana. Murdering Kaikeyi gave him a bloodlust which could only be stopped with Rama’s return from the forest. Using Yama to give Lakshmana this bloodlust seemed like a good choice because of Yama’s role as the god of death. I thought it was interesting how Lakshmana was always following behind Rama and never got the spotlight, so I decided that his rage would also manifest to him fighting his brother. Rama is still very compassionate and loves his brother so he is sad to see him go.