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:
We’ll 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 Ravanna’s death and Ram’s 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)
Ramayana Ballet, Central Java
Ram
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 what’s 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=PL80B
074E716F712D7
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?