Ramayana Performances - ASAN 310: South & Southeast Asia

Ramayana in Performance Sept. 15, 2011 Announcements: 1) Indonesian writing contest (American citizens). Deadline Oct. 31 see the blog 2)Remember your blog assignment. Due Sat. by noon. 3)Your Ramayana project! Working on it? Monkey Business 1) Can you relate what in the last three chapters? Quick overview. 1) What are the key arguments put forth by Vali in the exchange on pps. 102-104?

How does Rama counter them? 2) The perfect man takes a false step really? Why does this episode, the saddest part of our great epic, so bother Narayan?! 3) Those monkeys! What the teaching in Chap. 7 When the Rains Cease? What historical comment/connection does Global Asia draw? Next Week: Well finish Ramayana and discuss ethical debates. * Please come in Tues. with 2-4 episodes that raise questions for you *Why?

*How does Narayan/Kamban handle them? *What other versions have you found? *What perspective does Global Asia Provide? Ramayana Art Pen and ink drawings Bihar Ramayana Art from the

Metropolitan Museum, NYC Hanuman bring the herb 19th c., Rajastan Painted textile 18th c., Coromandel Coast Ramayana embroidery 18th c. Kashmir (Metropolitan Museum)

Story Cloths Story cloth Bengal (in British Museum) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y6yjuUH1zk Ramayana Performances - India Ram Lila (the play of Ram) Northern India Performed throughout India during Sept. Oct. Ends with Ravannas death and Rams triumphant return to Ayodha

Kathakali Kerala, Southern India http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqrpoHgDJ2s Kerala possesses puppets (string and shadow, other elaborate forms of dance, cloths, embroidery, weavings, temples. Could its geographical location have influenced this florescence of arts? Ramayana Performances Southeast Asia Thai Khon

A royal dance-drama, a similar version of which exists in Cambodia. -- what aspects of the video below suggest the courtly nature of this performance form? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr6cjhjKr7k&feature=related Ramayana Performance Indonesia (Java/Bali) Ram Ramayana Ballet, Central Java Modern dance-drama (sendratari) based on traditional dance forms. Performed around the full moon outside Prambanan

temple Balinese Kecak Modern choral drama based on traditional chants http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX1rghsOqu0 Ramayana is actually not a major story in Java or Bali Mahabharata and other local tales are more frequently performed. So whats the

modern appeal? Ramayana Puppetry - India Tolpava Koothu Kerala, India A Hindu Temple tradition (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WISHw1gv74w) See also, in our collection: Borrowed Fire, Video about this family of puppeteers.

Ramayana Puppetry - Java Wayang Kulit What are the mystical aspects of shadows? How do they communicate with, intervene with the ancestors? http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=FJXxWfWHvBc&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL80B074E716F712D7 Ramayana in Performance Sept. 15, 2011

Announcements: 1) Indonesian writing contest (American citizens). Deadline Oct. 31 see the blog 2)Remember your blog assignment. Due Sat. by noon. 3)Your Ramayana project! Working on it?