Workshop task on Cultural Studies By Kalyani Vallath

Workshop task on Cultural Studies By Kalyani Vallat


About Kalyani Vallath

                               
                                     

                Kalyani Vallath is an educational entrepreneur, editor and teacher of English literature from India. Vallath compiled A Contemporary Encyclopedia of British Literature and runs Total English Solutions in Thiruvananthapuram to help teach English to people living in rural parts of India.

What is your understanding about the concept of Cultural Studies?

Cultural studies is a field of theoretically, politically, and empirically engaged cultural analysis that concentrates upon the political dynamics of contemporary culture, its historical foundations, defining traits, conflicts, and contingencies.

                           

Here I write some of the concept of cultural studies but it is not enough because cultural studies called slade of bowl.

• Interdisciplinary study
• Relates to the large society
• Political dynamic of mass media and everyday cultural practice
•  Cultural transforms individual experience, social realities and power relations 

How many examples from the sessions were so catchy that you will never forget it? Write about it.

Encoding and decoding culture explain with example of advertisement of Trakam power it most popular in Kerala.
Materialism - it is artifact everything for example mineral water in the bottle.
This kind Ma'am explain with various kind of examples.

At the end of this session we kept a group photo with Ma'am

                                 

Thinking activity on The White Tiger

Thinking activity on The White Tiger

Task given by Sir,

1) How far do you agree with the India represented in the novel The White Tiger?

Ans.  Somewhat I agree with the representation of India in the novel because somehow Adiga presented reality of India like corruption, poverty, cheats and illiteracy. Although, when novel was written that time India also has bright side and development but here Adiga shows us the dark side of India. These kind of thing somehow we can see in all the countries of the world. So, Adiga presented the reality of India and we see this kind of India in the present day also.

2) Do you believe  that Balram's story is the archetype of all stories of ''Rags to riches?

Ans. We an see that the stories which portrays poor as central character at the end of the  story the poor becomes rich. We can see many people who are same as Balaram. Same like who belongs to poor and wide family, who did not complete their studies, who goes to work from early childhood, and who has bearing insults from those who are rich. These types of stories shows the struggle of poor to achieve their dream and for that becoming rich. The ways of reaching to the destination of wealth might differs of each stories but the suffering always remain same. So, this way we can say that Balram's story is archetype of all stories of 'Raga to Riches'.

3. " Language bears within itself the necessity of its own critique, reconstructive 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 meaning out of it by an activity of semantic 'free play' (Derrida, 1978, in Lodge, 1988,p. 108) Is it possible to do deconstruction reading of The White Tiger? How?

Yes, it is possible to deconstruct "The white Tiger". We can deconstruct it with the help of Derrida's concept of free play of meanings. To break the language we need to find the loose stone of it. The loose stone of "The White Tiger" is that Balram himself says that he is "Half-backed. This word breaks all the philosophy and all the ideals which Balram is presenting by giving his own example. Because he is not fully educated. He understand things with his limited power of analysis. He appropriate the deep philosophies with his shallow ideas and thinking. For example, he compares his idea of killing his master and get freedom with the enlightenment of Buddha. This proves his shallow knowledge about Buddha and his idea of enlightenment. So, this way we can deconstruct "The White Tiger"

Similarities between "The White Tiger" and "Slumdog Millionaire": 

1. Narrative structure : wanted poster / KBC show

The white tiger is an epistolary novel , dark comedy and satire. Balram Halwai is protagonist in the novel. Flashback technique used here. Balram writes letters to Wen Jiabao , the premier of China.

In film ' Slumdog millionaire ' protagonist Jmal mlik , whose story represented by flashback technique. In the film setting is KBC show as medium of  narration. Balram Halwai and Jmal mlik both achieve their goals by their own style. By being honest , corrupt , moral or immoral or by desire. Both were also presented as  " Chai wala ". Jmal mlik became famous by show and Balram by Wanted poster. Both have money idea in mind and they make it also. In both poverty , corruption , family , struggle all are presented.  Thus narration of novel and film are much similar.

2. Indianness

In both narration there is a satire on India , that no basic necessities even fulfilled like , water , electricity , public transportation , discipline or punctuality. Cricket , voting patterns , intuition all reflects Indianness.

Family structure : In both film and novel narration of family life. Balram ' s father and grandmother , cousins all binds him. He have to sacrifice his study for family support. But he breaks the tradition and get freedom by  loss of family. Jmal ' s brother slim also departed from him have choose bad  way to survive.

Railway station : train and station narration in both reflects indianness. Balram ' s wanted poster and run away after crime all at the station. Jmal 's quest , love and ending all at the station . Thus station reflects indianness.

Two brothers : two brothers lost and found is archytype also reflects Indianness in both narration. Slim ' s departure and meeting shows that thing.

Police system : In The White Tiger Balram bribes police and start New business . In Slumdog millionaire also police is corrupted. Thus it reflects Indianness.

Education : Balram and Jmal both were uneducated but still have intelligence and talent to understand the world. They have enough knowledge how  to survive in world.

 3. List  of the questions asked in the ' Slumdog millionaire'.

 1. Who was the star in the 1973 hit film "Zanzeer"

ans. Amitabh Bacchan

  2. A picture of three lions is seen in the national emblem of India. What is written underneath it?

Ans.  The Truth alone triumphs

    

3. In depiction of God Rama, he is famously holding what in his right hand?

 Ans. A bow and arrow

    

4. The song " Darshan Do Ghanshyam" was written by which famous Indian poet?

  Ans. Surdas

    

5. On the American One Hundred Dollar Bill, there is portrait of which American Statesman?

 Ans. Benjamin Franklin

    

6. Who invented the revolver?

Ans.  Samuel Colt

    

7. Cambridge Circus is in which UK City?

 Ans . London

8. Which cricketer has scored the most first class centuries in history?

 Ans.  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?

  Ans .Aramis

   

4. Deconstruction of film from post colonial perspective.

In narration of  the novel we find they treated Indian as very inferior people comparing to them. By showing slim as bad boy , and as chitter with them , then  good reaction of  Americans towards them. That shows their mentality towards India. They visited Indian place it also part of it. By portraying Indian as poor and corrupted they make themselves superior.

5. Compare with Texture and treatment of subject content in film and novel.

Texture in both narration is about India as corrupt and poor country. Villages , landlords , education all represents the darkness of  India. Slum area and poverty is also reflects it. Rich heritage and spirituality , family / orphans all are texture of both . Both have own ways to achieve goals by good or bad things . So treatment is light , humorous and sometimes comic and dark.

Thinking Activity : Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Thinking Activity : Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Task given by Sir,

                                            



            Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian writer whose works range from novels to short stories to nonfiction. She is novelist, short story writer, non- fiction writer.

Notable works :-

1. Purple Hibiscus (2003)
2. Half Of a Yellow Sun (2006)
3. Americanah (2013)
4. We Should All Be Feminists (2014)

She also won MacArthur Fellowship award in 2008.

1. Talk on importance of story / Literature :-
=> In this video she talks identity. She talks about that how identity is connected with our culture, colour of skin. Through this identity markers everybody judges our character. She also refers Chinua Achebe and Camara Laye. Skin colour alos has a part of literature. Through the literature peoples knew the another story. In single story everybody focus on one purseption. And through the writing the another door of vision is opens, and gives a new way.

2. We Should All be Feminist :-
=> She tells that without husband, woman is happy woman. At her time class monitor is big deal. And higher marks is important for the position of monitor. And then she get high marks. But she is girl. That's why she does not get the position of monitor. And one boy who get second, higher marks who became a monitor. And because he is boy. So that's type of difference she faces in childhood. And she also tells that man get more opportunities in comparison of women. Both are equally powerful in work, and skills but man get more benefits in comparison of woman character. Because physical strength is becomes one reason. Those who have strength, who become leader. Leadership connected with strength. But there is change in today's time. Today who became leader who have creative, innovative and intelligent. So time changes everything. That change happens slowly, but it's effect in larger era.

3. Talk on importance of Youth in post - truth Era :-
=> In today's time truth is layered with many false things. Because false is becomes the one part of everyone's life. Everyone speaks, false because of some situations. Some situations, shows it like real. But it's not there. Because in this reality is less, and falsehood is more. Matter of intent and matter of context is necessary.

Thinking Activity :- Thiongo and Tharoor on postcolonial Studies

 Thiongo and Tharoor on postcolonial Studies

                             

About Shashi Tharoor:-

Shashi Tharoor is  Indian politician, writer and a formet career international diplomat. He is  currently serving as member of Parliament, Loksabha from Thiruvananthapuram,Kerala 2009. He also servies as Chaian of the Parliamentry standing committee on external affairs and all India professional Congress.

•  An Era of Drakness :-

                                       


             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.

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.

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.

Literature and Religion:- Northrop Frye's Archetypes and Hinduism as religion is an European Construct

Literature and Religion:- Northrop Frye's Archetypes and Hinduism as religion is an European Construct

This task given by Sir.( sunday reading)

                                            

              Herman Northrop Frye CC FRSC was a Canadian literary critic and and literary theorist, considered one of the most influential of the 20th century. Frye gained international fame with his first book, Fearful Symmetry, which led to the reinterpretation of the poetry of William Blake. 

(1) What is Archetypal Criticism? What does the archetypal critic do?

=>    

In literary criticism the term archetype denotes recurrent designs,pattern of action,character-type,themes and images which are identifiable in a wide variety of works of literature,as well as in myths,dreams and even social rituals.

Archetypal critic reads that sines, and try to get meaning and they interpret the meaning.

(2)What is Frye trying prove by giving an analogy of ' Physics to Nature' and 'Criticism to Literature'?
=>

 Frye compares human emotions with nature. Nature is also important aspect. Nature have different season, like human beings has a different emotion and feelings. Nature constructs people. Nature also affects human beings. So frye compares human being' s emotions with different season.

Spring

The Spring season represents the Comedy.

Summer

The season of Summer represents Romance.

Autumn

The Autumn season represents Tragedy.

Winter

 The season of Winter represents Satire.

(3) Share your views of Criticism as an organised body of knowledge. Mention relation of literature with history and philosophy.

=> History is very important to know the present situation, because through the historical lenses we observe the situation and we compares with past. And we get some glimpses, so it becomes helpful and we also compare with present time. And philosophy is also another important aspects. Philosophy also becomes helpful to understands the past. People have different motives, and different perspectives, some are unique and some are similar, so philosophy helps to understands moral values of people. So for literature history and philosophy both are important.

(4) Briefly explain inductive method with illustration of Shakespeare's Hamlet's Grave Digger's scene.

=> Inductive method is about Specific to general. Through the specific understanding we get conclusion of understanding. Example is grave digging scene in Hamlet, Ophelia is dead and both grave diggers digging the grave. This scene is particular, specific scene in the Hamlet. Both digging the grave for them it is routine work, that's why for them there is no pain, no sadness. Because routine works brings a changes in their character. They know the ultimate truth, they talking about life. So this scene is specific but their understanding connects in larger structure  is general structure.

(5) Briefly explain deductive method with reference to an analogy to Music, Painting, rhythm and pattern. Give examples of the outcome of deductive method.
=> Deductive method is about general to specific. People have different area of interest that's why choices are different and people have different mind set that's why it depends on human beings. Time by time everything is changing and past becomes trend and present becomes past at a time. People express their emotions, feelings through art. And music and painting both are part of art. Music follows rhythm. Rhythm and sound is a part of music. painting is art of picture. Through the different colors, it creates a picture of life. Sometimes some music and rhythm have deep meaning, so it creates a image. And sometimes some music does not creates image because it is shallow level. Some painting gives deep meaning, but some painting does not gives any meaning. In past time history remains through the different painting. It gives a some knowledge about past. So painting, music are tool to keep past and present situation. Music have also different genre and painting also have different genre, so both are connected with art. So art is general. And music and painting becomes particular part.

(6) 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.

Language Lab Review

Language Lab Review

            So many times we think to introduce language software in our education system.  But it seems, for that we need some good training.  Though,  we have tried to do practical with this language lab software.

     In our department's lab I learn how it's working language software. 


What is language lab... ?

     In general we can say that it is introduced in the classrooms to teach English language. For that this programme needs various computers, along with appropriate software.  Which provides some other features like,  video,  audio,  writing task and etc. Including all,  it is like an information technology based learning where you needs net connection with computers.

      History of Language Lab...

      The first recorded language lab was established at the University of Grenoble in 1908 Frank Chalfant brought the concept to the United States establishing a 'phonetics lab' at Washington State University in 1911 or 1912. 
       
     Advantages : 

•  Helps in enhancing four basic skills.  
• It provides Test,  So,  learner can evaluate themselves.
• As it has a feature of phonetics, Lerner can develop pronunciation skills. 
• This software, perfectly fits in primary schools. 
• Different levels helps in displaying the standard of students. 

      

     Disadvantages : 

• Take much time to start. 
• Seems quite an old software.  
• It has lots of stuff.
• It is difficult to carry out in all the classes. 
• It should be affordable.      

One Night @ the Call Center

One Night @ the Call Center 

1) Does the novel have social realism?

Yes , let’s see what is social realism. Social realism is a style of art, fiction, movie and play. It describes the daily life of worker and poor people. The artist try to show people and their lives in realistic way. (6) we find that Chetan Bhagat’s characters are not rich person but all the six characters are not poor but a worker, the whole novel deal with day to day life. Not only in business but also in personal life. We find that Syam, where Bhagat deals with day to day life like Love, Promotion, Break up etc. second Priyanka, whose have same problem as Syam like Love, typical mind-set of her mother(About marriage), break up etc. Third is Varun Malhotra, (parents separation, Love etc) Esha Singh (Desire, Love, escape from home etc) Radhika Jha (Marriage problem, household problem, etc) Military Uncle (old age house etc). Thus we can say that this novel is Social Realistic novel.

2) What sort of effect of Globalization is found in on@tcc?

Globalization is the opening of local and nationalistic perspective to a broader out look of an interconnected and interdependent world with free transfer of capital, goods and services across national frontier globalization has both positive and negative effects, and standers of life and quality of life. We find that call center is the center place, where story moves on. Thus the call center itself is the Company which guide American to use of it, and solve their problem. Thus we can say that Chatan Bhagat wants to give message to the Indian that who working call center (other companies also) they just get good salary but it opportunity to do something else or for their skills and creativity. That way in this novel we find globalization.

3) Comment on Narrative structure of the novel, Compare with that of Life of Pi.

In this novel Chetan Bhagat’s narrative technique  is very important apart from what is told in story ‘how’ part is also very important writer himself was travelling in train from kanpur to delhi, he listen story and that story is told by Shyam, who us character of this novel. That way its narrative technique is very important. Its prologue and epilogue also reflect his good narrative technique. And we can also compare this novel with ‘Life of Pi’. In both the parallel is experience of God. There is  is not clarity about God. One can’t say with surely that God is present or not.

4) What is popular literature? Is on on@tcc popular literature?

We can say that the novel on@tcc is popular literature because it has many elements which show the characteristics of popular literature like plot of Love-break up, Lack of confidence, lack of trust etc.

5) How far can this novel be categorized as cyberpunk?

Cyberpunk is a post modern science fiction genre. Cyber Punk connected with Science and Technology. Cyberpunk plots often center on a conflict among hackers, artificial intelligence and Mega Corporation. The character deals wth cyber technology. Vroom hacks Bakshi’s mail, Syam Hack Priyanka telephone. The american’s are terrorized with the help of bug in MS Office as virus attack in internet. In this novel Characters dealt with Bug, FM Radio, Email, Internet etc so we can say it is classify as Cyberpunk Novel.