Thursday, February 27, 2020
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Sunday Reading : sashi tharoor's an eraof darkness
Shashi Tharoor:
Indian Politician, Writer,a former career international diplomat and current member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor was born on 9th March 1956.
He has talked about British Council Rule in India in his book " An Era of Darkness".
•He gave two types of recently writing:
1. One is the contemporary scholarship on the field because he said he was not by professional historian that they had been doing...so, he had read Academic journals, books which shows the states of the thinking today by historian, sociologist and others of this issue.
2. Also read upon the lots of contemporary apologies for empire.
● Tharoor further adds that .... people like Lawrence Jemse and more - the bunch about the British writers who actually acquired a fair amount of visibility & even has a best sellers in which they had conducted self justifying, excersises, glorifying empire or of the very least portray through Rose Tincture recipe.
And in this book he wanted to be able to take their claims which had dangerously gone without reputation for some years and conform that had on which is Shashi Tharoor try to do in this book.
● Then another point he talks upon that ....he himself not agtag or imppsimpos to prove that ..." British had never come to India, then India would be the affluent country.
● He further added that ...he demonstrated in this book that 3 Industries of India which doing very well.
These are:-
1. Textiles
2. Steal
3. Shipbuilding.
2. Steal
3. Shipbuilding.
And these 3 are systematically and deliberately targeted and destroyed by the British. Its very natural to happen this because ...
For Example:- { Shipbuilding }
So, our (India) ships used to last minimum 20 to 24 years & British - European ships have average maximum 7 years. So , obviously they were delighted to use Indian ships for craftsmanship & wood.
● Then he talks about British who highly regressive loss that continue even today. Low that seduce and deals with Homosexuality also.
● Then he talks about that India got 377, now the irony is the party of Hindutva is betraying is all the instead of Hindu tradition for tolerance of sexualities.
● He made a very important point about the British who being guilty of creating this massive divisions between Hindus and Muslims which continue till even today. British systematically wanted to creating division and played a very deliberate game.
● He write about Nationalism and difference between nationalism and patriotism then and now also.
Tharoor says that in Nationalism in that day is an inclusive Nationalism. It embrassesed in everybody's country in any background, religion, language, cast...
Today's Nationalism is narrow minded one.
Tharoor says that in Nationalism in that day is an inclusive Nationalism. It embrassesed in everybody's country in any background, religion, language, cast...
Today's Nationalism is narrow minded one.
Ngugi Wa Thiongo who was an African Writer & Professor of English Literature and language in Africa.
" Decolonizing the Mind" the book by Kenyan novelist and Postcolonial theorist Ngugi Wa Thiongo. It is the collection of essay about language & its constructive role in national culture, history and identity.In this book he talks about..." What language played the role in African Literature?"
So in the Postcolonialism , Resistance is very importan, Resistance is the main buzz word in post colonial. So he said that the another form of to resist language is to
own it or discard the language totally.
So ,in a way African Literature resist a lot in this idea.
Thinking activity : waiting for the barbarians: prof R.B. Zala
Maxwell Coetzee
About Author:- J. M. Coetzee
Born: 9 Feb 1940 (age 79)
Capetown, South Africa
Occupation: Novelist, essayist, literary critic, linguistic, translator, professor
Language: English, Afrikaans, Dutch
Notable Awards: 1983- Booker Prize, 1985- Prix Femina, 1995- The Irish Times (International Fiction Prize), 2003- Nobel Prize in Literature
Major Works: Dusklands (1974), In the Heart of the Country (1977), Waiting for the Barbarians (1980), Life and Times of Michael K. (1983), A Land Apart: A South African Reader (1986), Foe (1987), The Lives of Animals (1999).
About Novel:- Waiting for the Barbarians
Waiting for the Barbarians is a novel by the South African-born writer J. M. Coetzee.
First published in 1980, it was chosen by Penguin for its series Great Books of the 20th Century.
Won both the 'James Tait Black Memorial Prize' and 'Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize' for fiction.
Language: English
Genre: Novel
Publisher: Secker & Warburg
Publication Date: 27 Oct 1980
Coetzee took the title from the poem "Waiting for the Barbarians" by the Greek poet Constantine P. Cavafy.
Coetzee's novel has been deeply influenced by Italian writer Dino Buzzati's novel The Tartar Steppe.
Characters:-
The Magistrate: The magistrate is the first-person narrator and flawed protagonist of the novel. He wants to live in peace in his outpost, serving his Empire without questioning the purpose or effects of its colonial project. The magistrate goes on a journey of self-discovery in the novel.
Colonel Joll: an officer of the third Bureau, acting under emergency powers on the frontier. Colonel Joll is the novel's antagonist. Indeed, with his black sunglasses and black carriage, he plays the role of a classical villain.
Barbarian Girl: The Barbarian girl is one of Joll's torture victims, who gets left behind after her father is killed in Joll's torture chamber. Her legs were broken at the ankle and they have never set. She is crippled and must walk with two sticks. Her eyes were burned with molten rods. She is mostly blind though she can see out of her peripheries.
The Warrant Officer Mandel: Mandel is Colonel Joll's henchman. He's a blue-eyed, blonde, muscular, attractive man who does much of Joll's dirty work. He openly takes pleasure in inflicting pain. He is the sadistic officer who personally tortures the magistrate.
Minor character:-
Old Man
Boy
The fishing people
A prostitute
Two conscripts & a guide
Mai
Mai's young son
Summary:-
Coetzee's third novel, "set in a marginal settlement of state referred to simply as the Third Empire," made it "evident that the politics of colonization would constitute a recurrent theme in his fiction". "Though the setting of Waiting for the Barbarians is unidentified, the novel can, like the earlier works, be read as a political fable of South Africa. A sympathetic but unsuccessful liberal humanist, the narrator magistrate governs a marginal settlement at the end of the empire. A well-meaning man, he is nevertheless implicated in 'the system' and is no match for the neo-fascist torturer, Colonel Joll, who persecutes the few pathetic 'barbarians' (actually from a local fishing tribe) the Empire has succeeded in capturing. The barbarians are almost invisible, being mainly a product of that nameless fear that haunts all-conquering empires. The Empire is threatened from within, not from without, but it projects its paranoia onto the unknown 'other'. In the novel, a magistrate attempting to protect the peaceful nomadic people of his district is imprisoned and tortured by the army that arrives at the frontier town to destroy the "barbarians" on behalf of the Empire. The horror of what he has seen and experienced affects the magistrate in inalterable ways, bringing changes in his personality that he cannot understand. The barbarians remain unknown, and neither Joll's brutalities nor the magistrate's weak attempts at love and compensation can bring them closer".
Themes:
Central Theme:-
Subaltern
Marginal Themes:-
Inhumanity and Torture
Colonialism
Independence
Imperialism
Sexuality and Anxiety
Comparison with other texts:-
- African literature is very closed to postcolonial literature and both are parallel to sharp or deep bondage with each other.
- Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe
- Aime Cesaire's A Tempest
Learning Outcome:-
After freedom, are we really free from anything?
About Author:- J. M. Coetzee
Born: 9 Feb 1940 (age 79)
Capetown, South Africa
Occupation: Novelist, essayist, literary critic, linguistic, translator, professor
Language: English, Afrikaans, Dutch
Notable Awards: 1983- Booker Prize, 1985- Prix Femina, 1995- The Irish Times (International Fiction Prize), 2003- Nobel Prize in Literature
Major Works: Dusklands (1974), In the Heart of the Country (1977), Waiting for the Barbarians (1980), Life and Times of Michael K. (1983), A Land Apart: A South African Reader (1986), Foe (1987), The Lives of Animals (1999).
About Novel:- Waiting for the Barbarians
Waiting for the Barbarians is a novel by the South African-born writer J. M. Coetzee.
First published in 1980, it was chosen by Penguin for its series Great Books of the 20th Century.
Won both the 'James Tait Black Memorial Prize' and 'Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize' for fiction.
Language: English
Genre: Novel
Publisher: Secker & Warburg
Publication Date: 27 Oct 1980
Coetzee took the title from the poem "Waiting for the Barbarians" by the Greek poet Constantine P. Cavafy.
Coetzee's novel has been deeply influenced by Italian writer Dino Buzzati's novel The Tartar Steppe.
Characters:-
The Magistrate: The magistrate is the first-person narrator and flawed protagonist of the novel. He wants to live in peace in his outpost, serving his Empire without questioning the purpose or effects of its colonial project. The magistrate goes on a journey of self-discovery in the novel.
Colonel Joll: an officer of the third Bureau, acting under emergency powers on the frontier. Colonel Joll is the novel's antagonist. Indeed, with his black sunglasses and black carriage, he plays the role of a classical villain.
Barbarian Girl: The Barbarian girl is one of Joll's torture victims, who gets left behind after her father is killed in Joll's torture chamber. Her legs were broken at the ankle and they have never set. She is crippled and must walk with two sticks. Her eyes were burned with molten rods. She is mostly blind though she can see out of her peripheries.
The Warrant Officer Mandel: Mandel is Colonel Joll's henchman. He's a blue-eyed, blonde, muscular, attractive man who does much of Joll's dirty work. He openly takes pleasure in inflicting pain. He is the sadistic officer who personally tortures the magistrate.
Minor character:-
Old Man
Boy
The fishing people
A prostitute
Two conscripts & a guide
Mai
Mai's young son
Summary:-
Coetzee's third novel, "set in a marginal settlement of state referred to simply as the Third Empire," made it "evident that the politics of colonization would constitute a recurrent theme in his fiction". "Though the setting of Waiting for the Barbarians is unidentified, the novel can, like the earlier works, be read as a political fable of South Africa. A sympathetic but unsuccessful liberal humanist, the narrator magistrate governs a marginal settlement at the end of the empire. A well-meaning man, he is nevertheless implicated in 'the system' and is no match for the neo-fascist torturer, Colonel Joll, who persecutes the few pathetic 'barbarians' (actually from a local fishing tribe) the Empire has succeeded in capturing. The barbarians are almost invisible, being mainly a product of that nameless fear that haunts all-conquering empires. The Empire is threatened from within, not from without, but it projects its paranoia onto the unknown 'other'. In the novel, a magistrate attempting to protect the peaceful nomadic people of his district is imprisoned and tortured by the army that arrives at the frontier town to destroy the "barbarians" on behalf of the Empire. The horror of what he has seen and experienced affects the magistrate in inalterable ways, bringing changes in his personality that he cannot understand. The barbarians remain unknown, and neither Joll's brutalities nor the magistrate's weak attempts at love and compensation can bring them closer".
Themes:
Central Theme:-
Subaltern
Marginal Themes:-
Inhumanity and Torture
Colonialism
Independence
Imperialism
Sexuality and Anxiety
Comparison with other texts:-
- African literature is very closed to postcolonial literature and both are parallel to sharp or deep bondage with each other.
- Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe
- Aime Cesaire's A Tempest
Learning Outcome:-
After freedom, are we really free from anything?
Thinking activity : Literature and Religion : Northrop Frye's Archetypes and Hinduism as religion is an European Construct
What is Archetypal Criticism? What does the archetypal critic do?
In literary criticism the term archetype denotes recurrent narratives designs, patterns of action, character-types, themes, and images which are identifiable in a wide variety of works of literature, as well as in myths, dreams, and even social rituals. Such recurrent items are held to be the result of elemental and universal forms or patterns in the human psyche, whose effective embodiment in a literary work evokes a profound response from the attentive reader, because he or she shares the psychic archetypes expressed by the author.
Archetypal literary criticism's origins are rooted in two other academic disciplines, social anthropology and psychoanalysis; each contributed to literary criticism in separate ways, with the latter being a sub-branch of critical theory. Archetypal criticism was at its most popular in the 1940s and 1950s, largely due to the work of Canadian literary critic Northrop Frye. Though archetypal literary criticism is no longer widely practiced, nor have there been any major developments in the field, it still has a place in the tradition of literary studies.
What is Frye trying prove by giving an analogy of ' Physics to Nature' and 'Criticism to Literature'?
In this Frye compare the both Physics to Nature and Criticism to Literature. The Physics is deep study of Nature but it called physics not Nature though it is based on the Nature only but it called physics.In the same manner In the literature we are not learn the literature but we learn to understand literature, how to read and how to criticise literature so we are not Learn literature but criticise literature. So it is the criticism of literature. So Literature is equall to Nature and Physics is equall to Criticism.
Share your views of Criticism as an organised body of knowledge.
Literature is the central division of Humanities. Historical sense and Philosophy are about morality, ethics and all these things are required when we study literature. Philosophy is about existence and it progressively moves on, its ideas never stopped. Northrop Frye says that without reasoning and thinking to jump on any type of conclusion is not valid process. we have to look upon the framework of history which is based on evidence. Histories are never written without evidence. BUT THAT FRAMEWORK OF HISTORY MUST BE CHECKED, sometimes history also makes division in society. Every ideas has a framework and how it grows is important to understand.
In literary criticism the term archetype denotes recurrent narratives designs, patterns of action, character-types, themes, and images which are identifiable in a wide variety of works of literature, as well as in myths, dreams, and even social rituals. Such recurrent items are held to be the result of elemental and universal forms or patterns in the human psyche, whose effective embodiment in a literary work evokes a profound response from the attentive reader, because he or she shares the psychic archetypes expressed by the author.
Archetypal literary criticism's origins are rooted in two other academic disciplines, social anthropology and psychoanalysis; each contributed to literary criticism in separate ways, with the latter being a sub-branch of critical theory. Archetypal criticism was at its most popular in the 1940s and 1950s, largely due to the work of Canadian literary critic Northrop Frye. Though archetypal literary criticism is no longer widely practiced, nor have there been any major developments in the field, it still has a place in the tradition of literary studies.
What is Frye trying prove by giving an analogy of ' Physics to Nature' and 'Criticism to Literature'?
In this Frye compare the both Physics to Nature and Criticism to Literature. The Physics is deep study of Nature but it called physics not Nature though it is based on the Nature only but it called physics.In the same manner In the literature we are not learn the literature but we learn to understand literature, how to read and how to criticise literature so we are not Learn literature but criticise literature. So it is the criticism of literature. So Literature is equall to Nature and Physics is equall to Criticism.
Share your views of Criticism as an organised body of knowledge.
Literature is the central division of Humanities. Historical sense and Philosophy are about morality, ethics and all these things are required when we study literature. Philosophy is about existence and it progressively moves on, its ideas never stopped. Northrop Frye says that without reasoning and thinking to jump on any type of conclusion is not valid process. we have to look upon the framework of history which is based on evidence. Histories are never written without evidence. BUT THAT FRAMEWORK OF HISTORY MUST BE CHECKED, sometimes history also makes division in society. Every ideas has a framework and how it grows is important to understand.
Briefly explain inductive method with illustration of Shakespeare's Hamlet's Grave Digger's scene.
Inductive method – Example to Rule
Northrop Frye gives example of Gravedigger’s scene from “Hamlet” to explain this method. To study this scene we need to go step by step backwards to study this method:
a.) First, the question of existence can be seen. Every man dies at one point.
b.) Second, image of corruption can be seen.
c.) Third, we see Hamlet’s love for Ophelia.
Hamlet represents Archetypal hero who is ready to die for his love.
This method moves from “Particular to General”.
Briefly explain Deductive Method with reference to an analogy to music , painting, rhythm and pattern. Give example of outcome of Deductive Method.
In the Deductive Method it come from general to specific or particular observations. In this Music has rhyme and Painting has patterns. Both are connected while listening the music at the first time we can't understand but when we start to understand the words we image a picture in the mind by this imagination we understand the things. As the same thing happens while reading literature we image the things through the imagination it helps us to understand the literature. So music , rhythm, painting, pattern so it helps to understand the literature.
Refer to the Indian seasonal grid (below). If you can, please read small Gujarati or Hindi or English poem from the archetypal approach and apply Indian seasonal grid in the interpretation.
In the Deductive Method it come from general to specific or particular observations. In this Music has rhyme and Painting has patterns. Both are connected while listening the music at the first time we can't understand but when we start to understand the words we image a picture in the mind by this imagination we understand the things. As the same thing happens while reading literature we image the things through the imagination it helps us to understand the literature. So music , rhythm, painting, pattern so it helps to understand the literature.
Refer to the Indian seasonal grid (below). If you can, please read small Gujarati or Hindi or English poem from the archetypal approach and apply Indian seasonal grid in the interpretation.
Thinking activity : The white tiger
The White Tiger by Arvind Adiga
Arvind Adiga's debut novel The White Tiger marks the arrival of a storyteller who strikes a fine balance between sociology and humanism of his homeland. He tries to make heard the many unheard voices of so many alternative Indians, which exist and are being acknowledged globally through movies, fiction, and media. The multitiered realities, presented by this young journalist turned writer, who is trying to pull down the patronizing edifice, was applauded with the 2008 Man Booker Prize.
How far do you agree with India represented in the novel The White Tiger?
Arvind Adiga won the Man Booker prize for Fiction 2008 for his novel The White Tiger and emerged significantly on the Indian literary scene. Though The White Tiger was praised for highlighting the injustices and poverty present in the rapidly changing India when it won the Man Booker Prize, then many Indians critics expressed outrage at the judges' decision. They felt that the novel presented India in a poor light. Some have compared him to Naipaul in presenting only the hateful aspects of the country. While many found an uncanny parallel in Danny Boyle's much-hyped movie Slumdog Millionaire.
Do you believe that Balram's story is the archetype of all stories of 'rags to riches'?
Generally the story about needy or poor ends with rich. According to the general archetypal pattern, all poor boy's life turns out into rich. Same is the case with Balram Halwai who grows in a very poor family. He left his schooling and started working in a tea stall. Then he learns driving and becomes the driver of rich entrepreneur Ashok Sharma. His dreams are big therefore he decided to kill Mr Ashok to get his position. After killing his master he grabs his identity and become the same rich entrepreneur. In the same story like 'Slumdog Millionaire' movie become to rags to riches in to end of the movie. Other examples are the Boss and Laila movie. It is also similar archetypal - begin to end as rags to riches.
"Language bears within itself the necessity of its own critique, deconstructive criticism aims to show that any text inevitably undermines its own claims to have a determinate meaning, and licences the reader to produce his own meanings out of it by an activity of semantic 'Freeplay' (Derrida, 1978, in Lodge, 1988, p. 108). Is it possible to do a deconstructive reading of The White Tiger? How?
The written phrase, in Derrida's view, relies upon its meaning via the context in which it is embedded. Both signified and signifier, though, are related in such a way that, there is, with respect to the very structure of language, no proper context to provide proof of final meanings making any claim to 'truth' an impossibility; 'truth' is both relative and plural. In the context of the White Tiger characters are portraying harsh reality of truth which is connected with the common people. Nobody can deny this kind of truth and reality. Language bears within itself the writer or author present his own way and culture dynamic language whatever they used it. The writer or author writes their own way and perceptions, his method of style and thoughts are different than the reader. It depends upon the situation and criteria. The author writes his own or another inspiration. Accordingly, the reader read his own way and meaning. One author who is published his work and reader is read then the death of the author for the reader. Reader praised his work of art, not author.
With ref to a screening of select scenes of Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire in today's class:
Write a blog on similarities between The White Tiger and Slumdog Millionaire. Include the following points:
=). Narrative structure - Wanted Poster # KBC show
The novel and the movies both are in the parallel structure of narratives. In the novel, Balram is reading wanted poster scene and another side is remembering his past and crime which he has done. In the movie we can see that the KBC show is running questioning and answering, Jamaal is recalling his past and his flashback. In this way, two stories are working parallel.
=). Indianness
From the text and movie, images are highly connotation and speak deeply at many levels the sensuous, the intellectual. The tapestry of modern India has a close-knitted structure. Poverty, Corruption and exploitation that is highly depicted in the movie. Begging part of the movie the train, dog, dirty images of India. People are very poor and lived in bad condition. Indianess Is highly portrayed by Dany Boyle. He is an English director and he is noticed the harsh situations of India poverty and social-political exploitation.
=). List of the questions asked in the film 'Slumdog Millionaire'
1. Who was the star in the 1973 hit film "Zanzeer".
a) Shah Rukh Khan
b) Salman Khan
c) Amitabh Bachhan
d) Ranbir Kapoor
2. A picture of three lions is seen in the national emblem of India. What is written underneath it?
a) The Truth alone triumphs
b) Lies alone triumphs
c) Fashion alone triumphs
d) Money alone triumphs
3. In the depiction of God Rama, he is famously holding what in his right hand?
a) A bow and arrow
b)A sword
d) A flower
c) A child
4. The song " Darshan Do Ghanshyam" was written by which famous Indian poet?
a) Surdas
b) Tulsidas
c) Mira bai
d) Kabir
5. On the American One Hundred Dollar Bill, there is a portrait of which American Statesman?
a) George Washington
b) Franklin Roosevelt
c) Benjamin Franklin
d) Abraham Lincoln
6. Who invented the revolver?
a) Samuel Colt
b) Bruce Browning
c) Dan Wesson
d) James Revolver
7. Cambridge Circus is in which UK City?
a) Oxford
b) Leeds
c) Cambridge
d) London
8. Which cricketer has scored the most first-class centuries in history?
a) Sachin Tendulkar
b) Ricky Ponting
c) Michael Slater
d) Jack Hobbs
9. In Alexander Dumas' book, "The Three Musketeers", two of the musketeers are called Athos and Porthos. What was the name of the third Musketeer?
a) Aramis
b) Cardinal Richelieu
c) D' Artagnan
d) Planchet
10. While the police inspector was questioning Jamal's knowledge, he asked Jamal whose picture was on the Indian 1000-rupee note, and then showed him when Jamal claimed not to know. Whose picture was it?
a) Mohandas Gandhi
b) Muhammad Jinnah
c) Jawaharlal Nehru
d) Gopal Gokhale
=). On what grounds can u deconstruct the film with reference to postcolonial tools/theories.
The film Slumdog Millionaire is directed by an English director Danny Boyle. He presents the harsh reality of India. His centre of focus is the slum area of India. He satirizes on the Indian education system, Police system, crowd at the station, portrayal of a gangster. This shows how most of the American looks at India which is a land of poor for them. Even after so many years of freedom, still, we are slave, not physically but mentally.
There are various tools of the postcolonial affects important roles express contesting, the ideological difference between classes, caste, generation, religions and races in the contemporary societal organisation. It is observed that the form of language the upper, superior class and caste people in the multicultural situation use is a means by which they establish their identity and control over others, social superiority or status in the hierarchical setup. The lower classes struggle to adjust and, at the same time, revolt with a fire of intolerance.
=). Compare with Texture and Treatment of subject content in film and novel.
The technique of the film and novel is much similar which presents the dark side of India rather than looking at the light side. Themes like corruption, poverty can be found in both. The show host, gangster, police, Salim everyone is corrupt in the film. Salim sells the autograph of Amitabh Bachhan to get money. However, it is his younger brother Jamal who get the autograph. From a very early age, Salim begins corruption. In the novel the character of the protagonist himself is corrupt. If someone did small corruption like taking more money from masters to repair a car or to get petrol, then keeping the remaining amount is also corruption. However big dealers corruption looks more problematic than workers of small hierarchy. Both present the same texture of India.
Treatment of subject is also going similar in the movie and the novel that is treating a serious element of India with dark comedy. Movie and novel well orderly treatment and local narrative and narration of the nation. Adiga’s tone is humour, but humour is dark.
Arvind Adiga's debut novel The White Tiger marks the arrival of a storyteller who strikes a fine balance between sociology and humanism of his homeland. He tries to make heard the many unheard voices of so many alternative Indians, which exist and are being acknowledged globally through movies, fiction, and media. The multitiered realities, presented by this young journalist turned writer, who is trying to pull down the patronizing edifice, was applauded with the 2008 Man Booker Prize.
Arvind Adiga won the Man Booker prize for Fiction 2008 for his novel The White Tiger and emerged significantly on the Indian literary scene. Though The White Tiger was praised for highlighting the injustices and poverty present in the rapidly changing India when it won the Man Booker Prize, then many Indians critics expressed outrage at the judges' decision. They felt that the novel presented India in a poor light. Some have compared him to Naipaul in presenting only the hateful aspects of the country. While many found an uncanny parallel in Danny Boyle's much-hyped movie Slumdog Millionaire.
Do you believe that Balram's story is the archetype of all stories of 'rags to riches'?
Generally the story about needy or poor ends with rich. According to the general archetypal pattern, all poor boy's life turns out into rich. Same is the case with Balram Halwai who grows in a very poor family. He left his schooling and started working in a tea stall. Then he learns driving and becomes the driver of rich entrepreneur Ashok Sharma. His dreams are big therefore he decided to kill Mr Ashok to get his position. After killing his master he grabs his identity and become the same rich entrepreneur. In the same story like 'Slumdog Millionaire' movie become to rags to riches in to end of the movie. Other examples are the Boss and Laila movie. It is also similar archetypal - begin to end as rags to riches.
"Language bears within itself the necessity of its own critique, deconstructive criticism aims to show that any text inevitably undermines its own claims to have a determinate meaning, and licences the reader to produce his own meanings out of it by an activity of semantic 'Freeplay' (Derrida, 1978, in Lodge, 1988, p. 108). Is it possible to do a deconstructive reading of The White Tiger? How?
The written phrase, in Derrida's view, relies upon its meaning via the context in which it is embedded. Both signified and signifier, though, are related in such a way that, there is, with respect to the very structure of language, no proper context to provide proof of final meanings making any claim to 'truth' an impossibility; 'truth' is both relative and plural. In the context of the White Tiger characters are portraying harsh reality of truth which is connected with the common people. Nobody can deny this kind of truth and reality. Language bears within itself the writer or author present his own way and culture dynamic language whatever they used it. The writer or author writes their own way and perceptions, his method of style and thoughts are different than the reader. It depends upon the situation and criteria. The author writes his own or another inspiration. Accordingly, the reader read his own way and meaning. One author who is published his work and reader is read then the death of the author for the reader. Reader praised his work of art, not author.
With ref to a screening of select scenes of Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire in today's class:
Write a blog on similarities between The White Tiger and Slumdog Millionaire. Include the following points:
=). Narrative structure - Wanted Poster # KBC show
The novel and the movies both are in the parallel structure of narratives. In the novel, Balram is reading wanted poster scene and another side is remembering his past and crime which he has done. In the movie we can see that the KBC show is running questioning and answering, Jamaal is recalling his past and his flashback. In this way, two stories are working parallel.
=). Indianness
From the text and movie, images are highly connotation and speak deeply at many levels the sensuous, the intellectual. The tapestry of modern India has a close-knitted structure. Poverty, Corruption and exploitation that is highly depicted in the movie. Begging part of the movie the train, dog, dirty images of India. People are very poor and lived in bad condition. Indianess Is highly portrayed by Dany Boyle. He is an English director and he is noticed the harsh situations of India poverty and social-political exploitation.
=). List of the questions asked in the film 'Slumdog Millionaire'
1. Who was the star in the 1973 hit film "Zanzeer".
a) Shah Rukh Khan
b) Salman Khan
c) Amitabh Bachhan
d) Ranbir Kapoor
2. A picture of three lions is seen in the national emblem of India. What is written underneath it?
a) The Truth alone triumphs
b) Lies alone triumphs
c) Fashion alone triumphs
d) Money alone triumphs
3. In the depiction of God Rama, he is famously holding what in his right hand?
a) A bow and arrow
b)A sword
d) A flower
c) A child
4. The song " Darshan Do Ghanshyam" was written by which famous Indian poet?
a) Surdas
b) Tulsidas
c) Mira bai
d) Kabir
5. On the American One Hundred Dollar Bill, there is a portrait of which American Statesman?
a) George Washington
b) Franklin Roosevelt
c) Benjamin Franklin
d) Abraham Lincoln
6. Who invented the revolver?
a) Samuel Colt
b) Bruce Browning
c) Dan Wesson
d) James Revolver
7. Cambridge Circus is in which UK City?
a) Oxford
b) Leeds
c) Cambridge
d) London
8. Which cricketer has scored the most first-class centuries in history?
a) Sachin Tendulkar
b) Ricky Ponting
c) Michael Slater
d) Jack Hobbs
9. In Alexander Dumas' book, "The Three Musketeers", two of the musketeers are called Athos and Porthos. What was the name of the third Musketeer?
a) Aramis
b) Cardinal Richelieu
c) D' Artagnan
d) Planchet
10. While the police inspector was questioning Jamal's knowledge, he asked Jamal whose picture was on the Indian 1000-rupee note, and then showed him when Jamal claimed not to know. Whose picture was it?
a) Mohandas Gandhi
b) Muhammad Jinnah
c) Jawaharlal Nehru
d) Gopal Gokhale
=). On what grounds can u deconstruct the film with reference to postcolonial tools/theories.
The film Slumdog Millionaire is directed by an English director Danny Boyle. He presents the harsh reality of India. His centre of focus is the slum area of India. He satirizes on the Indian education system, Police system, crowd at the station, portrayal of a gangster. This shows how most of the American looks at India which is a land of poor for them. Even after so many years of freedom, still, we are slave, not physically but mentally.
There are various tools of the postcolonial affects important roles express contesting, the ideological difference between classes, caste, generation, religions and races in the contemporary societal organisation. It is observed that the form of language the upper, superior class and caste people in the multicultural situation use is a means by which they establish their identity and control over others, social superiority or status in the hierarchical setup. The lower classes struggle to adjust and, at the same time, revolt with a fire of intolerance.
=). Compare with Texture and Treatment of subject content in film and novel.
The technique of the film and novel is much similar which presents the dark side of India rather than looking at the light side. Themes like corruption, poverty can be found in both. The show host, gangster, police, Salim everyone is corrupt in the film. Salim sells the autograph of Amitabh Bachhan to get money. However, it is his younger brother Jamal who get the autograph. From a very early age, Salim begins corruption. In the novel the character of the protagonist himself is corrupt. If someone did small corruption like taking more money from masters to repair a car or to get petrol, then keeping the remaining amount is also corruption. However big dealers corruption looks more problematic than workers of small hierarchy. Both present the same texture of India.
Treatment of subject is also going similar in the movie and the novel that is treating a serious element of India with dark comedy. Movie and novel well orderly treatment and local narrative and narration of the nation. Adiga’s tone is humour, but humour is dark.
Workshop on quality and authenticity of web resource
On 19th November 2019, we had one workshops which was organised by Profes. Dilip Barad sir. He organised a workshop on how to find Quality and Authenticity of web Resources at Department of English. Through this workshop we get important information about the quality and Authenticity of Web Resources. Thank you Barad sir for organising this workshop.
These five parameters helps us in cheking authenticity and quality of web resources.
• Wikipedia
Wikipedia gives information of Author and also gives references. In this website we find plot, Themes, style, Background, Publication History, Editions, Footnotes, these information available on this site. And briefly gives information.
• Sparknotes
This site help us to get chepter vise summary. And language also easy to understand. It helps us in better understanding on Sparknotes site full text, characters, main ideas, quotes are available.
• GradeSaver
GradeSaver site provide summary and also provides quiz. And language is easy to understand. In this site character list, glossary, themes, analysis, symbols, metaphors, and smilies, Irony these types of information are available on this website. Thinking activity : the Da vinci code
Da Vinci Code
About Author: Dân Brown
Daniel Gerhard Brown (born June 22, 1964) is an American author best known for his thriller novels, including the Robert Langdon novels Angels & Demons (2000), The Da Vinci Code (2003), The Lost Symbol (2009), Inferno (2013) and Origin (2017). His novels are treasure hunts that usually take place over a period of 24 hours. They feature recurring themes of cryptography, art, and conspiracy theories. His books have been translated into 57 languages and, as of 2012, have sold over 200 million copies. Three of them, Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and Inferno, have been adapted into films.
The Robert Langdon novels are deeply engaged with Christian themes and historical fact and have generated controversy as a result. Brown states on his website that his books are not anti-Christian, though he is on a "constant spiritual journey" himself. He claims that his book The Da Vinci Code is simply "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith."
Post viewing Task :
★ Brown states on his website that his books are not anti-Christian, though he is on a 'constant spiritual journey' himself, and says that his book The Da Vinci Code is simply "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith."
-) Yes, of course, I agree with Brown's views on ‘Da Vinci Code' that novel is simply an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" We can do another reading book that Robert Langdon is in search of his own truth and at the end on the path of quest he is alone and at the end, he finds truth which symbolically presented that where is the Sarcophagus. So, Robert Langdon is representative of many individuals, who are in search of the truth of their own self. Thus, the book can be used as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith as Brown said.
★ “Although it is obvious that much of what Brown presented in his novel as absolutely true and accurate is neither of those, some of that material is, of course, essential to the intrigue, and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman has retained the novel's core, the Grail-related material: the sacred feminine, Mary Magdalene's marriage, the Priory of Sion, certain aspects of Leonardo's art, and so on” How far do you agree with this observation of Norris J. Lacy?
-) Lacy’s observation is reasonable. What film is trying to show as fact those are just composed theories. But it held the viewer's attention as it is unfolding in a very interesting way and till the end suspense get created by one another situation. One can say that it beautifully tricked those who don’t have enough historical sense and proofs to prove Brown’s narration wrong or in other words those who don’t know what is Theology Fiction at all. Also, there are many things in the novel is not accurate and fact like there is no realism and reliable proofs about the existence of Priory of and novel have not shown real Opes Die. Similarly, there is no such proof about Mary Magdalene.
★ (If)You have studied ‘Genesis’ (The Bible), ‘The Paradise Lost’ (John Milton) and ‘The Da Vinci Code’ (Dan Brown). Which of the narrative/s seem/s to be truthful? Whose narrative is convincing to the contemporary young mind?
-) In modern time many people are becoming rational and raise their question against religious. People are searching for the logical answer and argument upon religion. From my perspective 'The Paradise Lost' is truthful because of the character of Eve is against the condition of God and she breaks down God's structure or arrangement. Then Milton gave the voice of Eve and Satan than Adam and God. Their voice has put forward to in recent time.
★ What harm has been done to humanity by the biblical narration or that of Milton’s in The Paradise Lose? What sort of damage does narrative like ‘The Vinci Code’ do to humanity?
-) The Paradise Lost, the character of Eve and Adam punished by God. The garden of Eden Eve tempted and she tasted the fruit of proficiency. Though this world and system were arranged by God then why God is putting the tree of knowledge in the garden of Eden? Then Eve and Adam both break the rules and punished by God. In biblical reference who was against God then God became angry and avenged. Fall of Man is the damage for humanity.
★ What difference do you see in the portrayal of 'Ophelia' (Kate Winslet) in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, 'Elizabeth' (Helena Bonham Carter) in Kenneth Branagh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or 'Hester Prynne' (Demi Moore) in Roland Joffé's The Scarlet Letter' or David Yates's 'Hermione Granger' (Emma Watson) in last four Harry Potter films - and 'Sophie Neuve' (Audrey Tautau) in Ron Howard's The Da Vinci Code? How would justify your answer?
-) Apart from Sophie Neuve, other female characters have powerless they don't raise her voice or any argue of them. Sophie's character is portrayed as more powerful and intelligent and in a decent manner than other women characters. Ophelia was powerless who used by his father and Hamlet. Elizabeth in Frankenstein has no power. Monster kills her though he has enmity with Frankenstein. Hester Pryne is a powerful character but can't do anything in a patriarchal society. But, the portrayal of Sophie Neuve is strongly connected with the theme of women sacredness and director faithfully made not any changes in this theme. In the movie part, the seen of driving Sophie is more potent than Robert and her aura is very influential.
★ Does novel/film lead us into critical (deconstructive) thinking about your religion? Can we think of such conspiracy theory about Hindu religious symbols/myths?
-) Yes, this kind of novel and film lead us into critical thinking. We can find the loose stone about religious theory, there is no proof about the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene as they are husband and wife. I couldn't find any specific conspiracy theory about Hinduism but there are myths and belief in Hinduism which can deconstruct with a logical argument. Hindus are blindly following the rituals behind their illogical statement.
★ When we do a traditional reading of the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’, Robert Langdon, Professor of Religious Symbology, Harvard University emerges as the protagonist and Sir Leigh Teabing, a British Historian as the antagonist. Who will claim the position of the protagonist if we do an atheist reading of the novel?
-) If we will do an atheist reading of this novel the position of antagonist and protagonist will change. Robert Langdon who find the ultimate truth of Sarcophagus but didn’t reveal to the world and became secret keeper. While to reveal this truth to the world and destroy the blind faith of people from Christianity was the prime aim of Leigh Teabing.
About Author: Dân Brown
Daniel Gerhard Brown (born June 22, 1964) is an American author best known for his thriller novels, including the Robert Langdon novels Angels & Demons (2000), The Da Vinci Code (2003), The Lost Symbol (2009), Inferno (2013) and Origin (2017). His novels are treasure hunts that usually take place over a period of 24 hours. They feature recurring themes of cryptography, art, and conspiracy theories. His books have been translated into 57 languages and, as of 2012, have sold over 200 million copies. Three of them, Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and Inferno, have been adapted into films.
The Robert Langdon novels are deeply engaged with Christian themes and historical fact and have generated controversy as a result. Brown states on his website that his books are not anti-Christian, though he is on a "constant spiritual journey" himself. He claims that his book The Da Vinci Code is simply "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith."
Post viewing Task :
★ Brown states on his website that his books are not anti-Christian, though he is on a 'constant spiritual journey' himself, and says that his book The Da Vinci Code is simply "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith."
-) Yes, of course, I agree with Brown's views on ‘Da Vinci Code' that novel is simply an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" We can do another reading book that Robert Langdon is in search of his own truth and at the end on the path of quest he is alone and at the end, he finds truth which symbolically presented that where is the Sarcophagus. So, Robert Langdon is representative of many individuals, who are in search of the truth of their own self. Thus, the book can be used as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith as Brown said.
★ “Although it is obvious that much of what Brown presented in his novel as absolutely true and accurate is neither of those, some of that material is, of course, essential to the intrigue, and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman has retained the novel's core, the Grail-related material: the sacred feminine, Mary Magdalene's marriage, the Priory of Sion, certain aspects of Leonardo's art, and so on” How far do you agree with this observation of Norris J. Lacy?
-) Lacy’s observation is reasonable. What film is trying to show as fact those are just composed theories. But it held the viewer's attention as it is unfolding in a very interesting way and till the end suspense get created by one another situation. One can say that it beautifully tricked those who don’t have enough historical sense and proofs to prove Brown’s narration wrong or in other words those who don’t know what is Theology Fiction at all. Also, there are many things in the novel is not accurate and fact like there is no realism and reliable proofs about the existence of Priory of and novel have not shown real Opes Die. Similarly, there is no such proof about Mary Magdalene.
★ (If)You have studied ‘Genesis’ (The Bible), ‘The Paradise Lost’ (John Milton) and ‘The Da Vinci Code’ (Dan Brown). Which of the narrative/s seem/s to be truthful? Whose narrative is convincing to the contemporary young mind?
-) In modern time many people are becoming rational and raise their question against religious. People are searching for the logical answer and argument upon religion. From my perspective 'The Paradise Lost' is truthful because of the character of Eve is against the condition of God and she breaks down God's structure or arrangement. Then Milton gave the voice of Eve and Satan than Adam and God. Their voice has put forward to in recent time.
★ What harm has been done to humanity by the biblical narration or that of Milton’s in The Paradise Lose? What sort of damage does narrative like ‘The Vinci Code’ do to humanity?
-) The Paradise Lost, the character of Eve and Adam punished by God. The garden of Eden Eve tempted and she tasted the fruit of proficiency. Though this world and system were arranged by God then why God is putting the tree of knowledge in the garden of Eden? Then Eve and Adam both break the rules and punished by God. In biblical reference who was against God then God became angry and avenged. Fall of Man is the damage for humanity.
★ What difference do you see in the portrayal of 'Ophelia' (Kate Winslet) in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, 'Elizabeth' (Helena Bonham Carter) in Kenneth Branagh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or 'Hester Prynne' (Demi Moore) in Roland Joffé's The Scarlet Letter' or David Yates's 'Hermione Granger' (Emma Watson) in last four Harry Potter films - and 'Sophie Neuve' (Audrey Tautau) in Ron Howard's The Da Vinci Code? How would justify your answer?
-) Apart from Sophie Neuve, other female characters have powerless they don't raise her voice or any argue of them. Sophie's character is portrayed as more powerful and intelligent and in a decent manner than other women characters. Ophelia was powerless who used by his father and Hamlet. Elizabeth in Frankenstein has no power. Monster kills her though he has enmity with Frankenstein. Hester Pryne is a powerful character but can't do anything in a patriarchal society. But, the portrayal of Sophie Neuve is strongly connected with the theme of women sacredness and director faithfully made not any changes in this theme. In the movie part, the seen of driving Sophie is more potent than Robert and her aura is very influential.
★ Does novel/film lead us into critical (deconstructive) thinking about your religion? Can we think of such conspiracy theory about Hindu religious symbols/myths?
-) Yes, this kind of novel and film lead us into critical thinking. We can find the loose stone about religious theory, there is no proof about the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene as they are husband and wife. I couldn't find any specific conspiracy theory about Hinduism but there are myths and belief in Hinduism which can deconstruct with a logical argument. Hindus are blindly following the rituals behind their illogical statement.
★ When we do a traditional reading of the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’, Robert Langdon, Professor of Religious Symbology, Harvard University emerges as the protagonist and Sir Leigh Teabing, a British Historian as the antagonist. Who will claim the position of the protagonist if we do an atheist reading of the novel?
-) If we will do an atheist reading of this novel the position of antagonist and protagonist will change. Robert Langdon who find the ultimate truth of Sarcophagus but didn’t reveal to the world and became secret keeper. While to reveal this truth to the world and destroy the blind faith of people from Christianity was the prime aim of Leigh Teabing.
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