Dr. Shabbir Mian: Folktales from Bangladesh(#12)

This was another of my favorite professor presentations. Although he, Dr. Mian, was a professor of physics at our school, his cultural knowledge was interesting. His family is from different regions of Bangladesh, which is right next to India. He spoke to us about the folktale tradition of Bangladesh and from his childhood. Like most adults, he vaguely remembered specific fairy/folktales he was told by his mother. He did however explain to us how, similar to the Rama of the Hindi tradition we talked about during Dr. Alles presentation, the tales usually involved spiritual characters, which eventually were taken to be real incantations of their belief systems.
I also learned that in Bengali, one of many languages in Bangladesh, that to say "fairytale" is to say "rupkotha". Broken down, "rup" means 'beauty' and "kotha" means words or speak. Therefore, put together, it translates to beautiful words spoken; precisely what a fairytale is in my mind. We also discussed the typical themes of "rupkotha" which were, good/evil, greed/generosity, and vice/virtue, similar to fairytales in any cultural tradition.
i enjoyed this presentation because he not only taught us things, but we were able to express to him what we'd been learning during the semester. I enjoyed how he always introduced a new slide of his presentation with a question to us. It was a more conversational class than just simply a boring lecture, and that's usually how the class would run. So, i learned more, i think, because of the conversation element we shared as a class.

Cinderella: From Rags to Riches(#8)

Cinderella is one true example and model for the "rags to riches" motive. I truly believe it's possible to gain riches and success through magic and marriage. Now, magic of course can translate to simply having "good luck", but it appears as magic just the same. Most people, now days, consider this idea, however, to imply that no work is necessary at all. They'd call people "gold-diggers". Anyone who believed this motive to hold any truth, they'd be frowned upon because everyone is supposed to work diligently and fervently until they can work no more.
I believe life is not supposed to be that way. Life is full of magic and impossibility. But because we're so busy, and our culture is one of passive aggression, no one takes the time really, as i say, to "look up at the stars". With this, i mean, no one believes in the wonder of the world anymore, except for children who see with different eyes. That's why we tell children these stories; not only to teach them a lesson, but also with the hope that they'll never lose sight of the impossibilities and wonders such as magic. Getting married, is always a great thing. It should be magical. Therefore, the fact that these two ideas put together create something so surreal is excellent.

ASL Story-Telling....WOW!?

This class, we had two of our Deaf studies professors come through and give us a presentation on ASL story telling. I figured i'd already known the basics as far as ASL goes because my little brother is hard of hearing and signs. However, i never knew that ASL story telling was so different than speaking story telling. It almost seemed better, in my opinion. Dr. Rust and Rose explained to us how signing a story was the same as watching a movie. You'd have to pay attention to the different focuses of the tale, and really project a visual aid, using your hands. Its way more interesting to actually see a story than to plainly hear it...especially when Dr. Rust is signing the story! He was so passionate while he was telling his story and it was very entertaining!!
They also told us how the deaf community makes jokes about hearing people...?? I found it funny actually. Because if you think about it, hearing people don't have to really use their senses equally, nor to their true potential. So, the Deaf community pokes fun at the fact that hearing people are figuratively speaking, blind to things around them.
I loved this in-class presentation. It had to have been my favorite class period thus far....