Interaction with the French Professors.

On 22nd January 2019, we get chance to interact with French Professors from the University of Lorraine. Thanks to Prof.Kishor Joshi from Economics Department, who brings French Professors for fruitful interaction. Prof.Saeed Paivandi and Prof.Fontanini Christine talked on various social, economical, Political  trends of France.

           Prof.Fontanini Christine talks about the gap between rich and poor. She has thrown light on the Social issue of France. In France ,if you are educated than you get more job opportunities, but in India that is totally different.

             This way we get many information about France and also idea about society of France and also education system.

Post Viewing Task on 'The Da Vinci Code'

1. 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."

Dan Brown asserts that his books are not anti-Christian, and it is right also because he wants to reveal the facts. He also says that he is on the spiritual journey as he portrays the characters who have faith in the religion. Through the murder mystery he unfolds the factual things about the Christianity. The painting of Leonardo Da Vinci, The Last Supper, which tells about the relation between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Seemingly it is an entertaining story murder mystery, the puzzle, paintings of Da Vinci. As a part of spiritual discussion Dan Brown attempts to raise the issue of blind faith in religion, people like Bezu Fache, Silas, Bishop Aringarosa, who have faith in Opus dei. 

2. 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[1].” How far do you agree with this observation of Norris J. Lacy?

Yes, the observation of Norris Lacy is true. We can say Akiva Goldsman has conserved the story line and it is much like novel. The grail related material, definite aspects of Leonardo's art and many things. The screen writer is successful to keep the core content through the use of all the symbols and secrets about the novel. We can find the scenes in Louvre museum so it is much realistic. Dan Brown's major materials for the novel is taken from the book 'The holy blood and the holy grail'. The idea of feminine sacredness is much live as Sophie Nevue leads to Robert Langton. 

3. 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?

Milton's narrative seems more truthful, because the novel has some evidence about the Christianity but it's somehow confusing. People keep on doubting on the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci, he was known for his mirror writing, but there is nothing like that he was suffering from Dyslexia, so there is nothing like code hidden in his paintings. Dan Brown's narrative has so much lies so, Milton's narrative can be more convincing.

4. 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?

As the earlier argument the narration has so much lies. It can decrease the faith of humanity from the religion. Milton displays woman as downfall of a man and in many narrator there is woman who is the reason of downfall of man. People like Saint or Pope who leads the humanities to the wrong path so, it becomes the cause of the lost of the faith in the religion.

5. 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 'Harmione Granger' (Emma Watson) in last four Harry Potter films - and 'Sophie Neuve' (Audrey Tautau) in Ron Howard's The Da Vinci Code?

There's much difference in portrayal of women characters in films and novels. Ophelia, we can see that her character is objectified, as it is the character of Elizabeth also, there is no such scenes between Frankenstein and her. So in the film, there is a close up of lovemaking scenes which remains very minor in the novel. As it is Demi Moore as Haster Prynne in the Scarlet letter, also objectified as her appearance of her whole body. In Harry Potter, the scenes between Hermione and Ron is worthless. Where as in Ron Howard's Da Vinci no nudity at all. Director remains faithful to the novel and cinematic goal is achieved.

6. Do novel / film lead us into critical (deconstructive) thinking about your religion? Can we think of such conspiracy theory about Hindu religious symbols / myths?

Yes, these kinds of novel and film leads us into critical thinking. We can find the lose stone about religious theory, there is no proof about the relation between Jesus and Mary Magdalene as they are husband and wife. Chapel do not have code about Mary but it's deaide and the picture of music. As it is in Hindu religion also some ideas about religion which needs to critical thinking. The Ramayana is a myth so it raises the question that it actual or just myth to keep everyone's faith in the religion.

7. Have you come across any similar book/movie, which tries to deconstruct accepted notions about Hindu religion or culture and by dismantling it, attempts to reconstruct another possible interpretation of truth?

Yes, we can find in films like 'OMG' and 'PK', which deconstructs the idea of God and the existence of God. 

Thinking Activity on 'Sense of an Ending'

1) How do you understand memory and history with reference to your reading of this novel.

The concept of memory and history remains significant in whole novel.  After reading about memory and history we can say that it helps in widening the horizon of mind.  Because after reading,  we can say that an accumulation of a memory can be wrong. We remember only those moments which we like. By passing the time it gets darker.  We narrate constructed memory only and as a consequence of it, it creates unreliable history.  Sometimes we may take benefits of defeated( Who is not present)  in describing the history. It can be said that whatever person narrates,  truth may be some where near but role of characters might be different.
         

          In addition to it,  we can take the quote of Michiko Kakutani.  " The Sense of an Ending " looks at the ways in which people distort or tailor the past in an effort to mythologize their own lives. 

   This quote gives an important aspect to look at the history. What we can say is that if person has not good relationship with others then he/she will try to distort the history. ( But in future he/she might feel remorse also)    But if person describes his own history then he/she try to tailor the history. ( Because, inadequacies of documentation )  So,  at the end we can say is that what one tells about himself can't be true. One needs to go to check history of the historians. ( That can be wrong also )

    Thus, we can say that what Adrian says is quite true... History is that certainly produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentation. 

2) How do you understand the concept of suicide with reference to your reading of literature ranging from Renaissance play Hamlet, 20th cen Existentialist philosophy and this 21st cen novel The Sense of an Ending?

During our whole life we find so many characters in literature (and also in real life)  who commits suicide.  In the case of 'Hamlet' we can say that because of the moral concern he doesn't commit suicide. ( But it can be possible that 'Hamlet' has still desire for a throne ) 

         When we see from existentialist angle,  suddenly, we can recall Albert Camus.  Who explains the idea of philosophical suicide.  Means one who commits suicide they tries to escape from the responsibilities. One should grapple with the struggle in total absence of hope.  So,  Existentialist sees suicide as an act of a looser.  

            After reading The Sense of an Ending, we get different notion related to suicide.  It breaks the idea of morality. ( which is constructed by social norms)   We can say that both characters ( Robson, Adrian) suicides by their own. ( We doesn't get proper idea about their suicides. Because everything is represented by Victorious)  It seems that after living/ enjoying / Experiencing  such a life,  they thinks that they have lived their lives,  they played their role wholeheartedly and now they don't want to live furthermore. (Eros and Thanatos) ( There are such a films which shows that types of characters.  In  Ramayana also we find Rama Who drowns himself in the river. Where's Sita asks Mother Earth to take herself in her arms. And the daughter of Earth merges into her mother.

Thinking Activity on 'The White Tiger'

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

• • first of all darkness is responsible because of the religion. Village people are superstitious in these matters. Balram satirizes on the religion first. Also he makes fun on the God and Goddesses of India. 

“ It is an ancient and venerated custom of people in my country to start a story by praying to a Higher Power.

I guess, Your Excellency, that I too should start off by kissing some god’s arse.

Which god’s arse, though? There are so many choices.

See, the Muslims have one god.

The Christians have three gods.

And we Hindus have 36,000,000 gods.

Making a grand total of 36,000,004 divine arses for me to choose from.

How quickly do you think you could kiss 36,000,004 arses?”

• Hanuman- the Indian God came. No doubt that the representation of God Hanuman is in satirical way but the fact is that he is serving his master. Every mythical story teach something so if this story taken by people so the hidden agenda or background reading may told the same story as Adiga tries to told us.

• The reference of divine goddesses Ganga in the form of river also presented here in this novel.

“ But the river brings darkness to India- the black river.

Which black river am I talking of – which river of Death, whose banks are full of rich, dark, sticky mud whose grip traps everything that is planted in it, suffocating and choking and stunting it?

Why, I am talking of Mother Ganga, daughter of the Vedas, river of illumination, protector of us all, breaker of the chain of birth and rebirth. Everywhere this river flows, that area is the Darkness.”

• Do you believe that Balram's story is the archetype of all stories of 'rags to riches'?

• Balram’s story is the Archetype of all stories of ‘rags to riches’. Balram has decided to share his own story of entrepreneurial success. He believes his rags-to-riches tale will show the premier “the truth about Bangalore”, representing all that fascinates and appeals to Balram about the Light of urban coastal India. He controls light and darkness, where he once was a slave to circumstance and others.

Presentation paper no 12

English Language; How Much important in India. from Ramiz39

Presentation Paper no 11

Hybridity and National identity in Post Colonial World from Ramiz39

Presentation Paper no 10

Situation of Women in Various Countries with Sepcial Reference to Hester Prynne from Ramiz39