Transcendentalism

Thinking Activity : Transcendentalism 

Hello Readers! This blog is a response to the Thinking Activity assigned by Megha Ma'am Department of English, MKBU. In this blog I am going to discuss Transcendentalism and its related movies.

Transcendentalism - An American Philosophy 

Meaning of Transcendentalism:-

Transcendentalism is a very formal word that describes a very simple idea. People, men and women equally, have knowledge about themselves and the world around them that "transcends" or goes beyond what they can see, hear, taste, touch or feel.

Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that developed in the late 1820s and 1830s in the New England region of the United States. Transcendentalists saw divine experiences inherent in the everyday, rather than believing in a distant heaven. Transcendentalists saw physical and spiritual phenomena as part of dynamic processes rather than discrete entities.

Transcendentalist is a person who accepts these ideas not as religious beliefs but as a way of understanding life relationships. The individuals most closely associated with this new way of thinking were connected loosely through a group known  as The Transcendental Club, which met in the Boston home of George Ripley. Their chief publication was a periodical called "The Dail", edited by Margaret Fuller, a political radical and feminist whose book "Women of the Nineteenth century" was among the most famous of its time. The club had many extraordinary thinkers, but accorded the leadership positions to Ralph Waldo Emerson. Three major Transcendentalist are as below.

• Ralph Waldo Emerson
• David Thoreau and
• Margaret Fuller

Ralph Waldo Emerson:- 

Born: 1803

Died: 1882

Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American Essayist, Lecturer, Philosopher, abolitionist, and poet. He led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid 19th century. He is recognised as our first truly 'American Thinker'. Emerson is also well known as a mentor and friend of Henry David Thoreau, a fellow Transcendentalist. Emerson wrote most of his important essays as lectures first and then revised them for print. 

He also considered the spiritual voice of his generation. Graduated from Harvard Divinity School. In 1836 Emerson met his best friend, Henry David Thoreau. Later that year he founded the Transcendental club along with Henry David Thoreau and Margaret Fuller. His Notable works are as below.

• Nature
• Self reliance
• The over soul
• Compensation
• The poet
• The conduct of life
• Society and Solitude
• Divinity school Address

Some themes of Ralph Waldo Emerson's writing include individualism, self reliance, nature, and the power of the human mind and spirit. He often wrote about the importance of following one's own inner voice and not conforming to societal expectations, and he believed in the innate goodness and divinity of each person. He also wrote extensively about the beauty and wisdom of nature, and how it can serve as a source of inspiration and guidance.

Additionally, he emphasised the importance of using one's own intellect and intuition to understand and interpret the world, rather than relying solely on tradition and authority. Some notable quotes are as below.

• "Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail."
• "Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air."
• "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."
• "Make your own Bible select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your reading have been to you like the blast of a trumpet."

Movies based on Transcendentalism:-

Movies based on Transcendentalism are as below.

• Eat, Pray, Love
• Into the Wild 
• Dead Poet Society
• Wild
• A Walk in the Woods
• The Tree of Life
• The Way

Eat, Pray, Love 

Eat, Pray, Love is a 2010 American Biographical romantic drama film starring Julia Roberts as Elizabeth Gilbert, based on Gilbert's 2006 Memoir of the same name. Ryan Murphy co-wrote and directed the film, which was released in the United States on August 13, 2010. 

The film, which is based on the bestselling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, follows the journey of a woman who embarks on a year- long journey of self discovery and personal growth, travelling to Italy, Indian and Indonesia. The film explores themes of self-reliance, individualism, and the search for inner peace and fulfilment, which align with Transcendentalist ideas. The film also included elements of spirituality, which is also a central aspect of Transcendentalism.

She tried to maintain spiritual discipline and balance between her, God and the world. Throughout the Journey and thoughts considered her to be a Transcendentalist. I want to say one line about this movie, which is as below.

'Trust in one's own heart and thoughts and listen to your inner voice.'

Into the Wild:

Into the Wild is a 2007 American Biographical adventure drama film written, co-produced, and directed by Sean Penn. It is an adaptation of the 1996 non-fiction book of the same name written by Jon Mccandless, a man who hiked across North America into the Alaskan Wilderness in the early 1990s. The film stars 

• Emile Hirsch as Mccandless
• Marcia Gay Harden as his mother
• William Hurt as his father
• Jena Malone
• Catherine keener
• Brian Dierker
• Vince Vaughn
• Kristen Stewart and
• Hal Holbrook

In the movie, the main character, Chris Mccandless, embodies the ideals of Transcendentalism as he embarks on a journey into the wilderness in search of self-discovery and a deeper understanding of the world. His rejection of material possessions and societal convention, as well as his desire to live in harmony with nature, align with the Transcendentalist belief in the power of the individual and the importance of nature in spiritual growth. Overall, the movie "into the Wild" is a portrayal of a man's journey to transcend society and find his own path in the wild. 

Wild :-

Wild is a 2014 American Biographical adventure drama film directed by Jean-Marc Vallee. It is about a solo backpacking trip strayed undertook on the trail in 1995 after numerous personal issues had left her life in shambles.

In the movie, the main character, Cheryl Strayed, embarks on a solo hike of the Pacific crest trail as a means of coping with her past traumas and finding self-discovery. Her journey into the wilderness can be seen as an embodiment of Transcendentalist ideals, as she seeks to connect with nature and find inner peace and understanding through her experience on the trail. The film depicts the transformative power of nature and the individualism, which are central to the Transcendentalist philosophy. Additionally, the themes of self-discovery inner exploration and personal growth also align with the Transcendentalist and meaning can be found through an meaning can be found through an individual's intuition and connection with nature. 

Overall, the movie "Wild" explores the concept of Transcendentalism through the story of one woman's journey to find herself and come to terms with her past through her experience in the wilderness. 

Dead Poet Society:-

Dead Poet Society is a 1989 American drama film directed by Peter Weir, written by Tom Schulman, and starring Robin Williams. Set in 1959 at the fictional elite conservative boarding school Welton Academy, it tells the story of an English teacher who inspires his students through his teaching of poetry. 

In the movie, the main character, John Keating, is an English teacher who encourages his students to think for themselves, to question authority and to find their own voice. He emphasises the importance of individualism and self expression, which are central to the Transcendentalist philosophy. Keating also encourages his students to see the beauty and value in nature and to appreciate the present moment, which aligns with the Transcendentalist belief in the spiritual significance of nature. Additionally, Keating's emphasis on power of poetry, imagination and self-expression aligns with the Transcendentalist emphasis on intuition and the individual's unique perspective as a means of understanding the world. 

Overall, the movie "Dead Poet Society" explores the concept of Transcendentalism by depicting a teacher who encourages his students to think for themselves, to question authority and to find their own voice through the appreciation of poetry, imagination and self-expression.

Conclusion:-

Thus, we can say that the main message of Transcendentalism is the belief in the inherent goodness of individuals and the natural world. It believed in individual freedom and self-reliance, and rejected the idea of blind obedience to authority. And the purpose of Transcendentalism is to think for themselves and to strive for spiritual and intellectual growth.

Thank you for visiting and reading....

Word Count:- 1,386

Image :- 6

Video:- 4

Tradition and Individual Talent

Bridge Course : Tradition and Individual Talent 

 Hello Readers! This blog is a response to the Bridge course assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir, Department of English, MKBU. In this blog I am going to discuss T. S. Eliot's Essay on "Tradition and Individual Talent".

Introduction of Writer:-

T. S. Eliot :-

Thomas Stearns Eliot was a Poet, Essayist, playwright, publisher, literary Critic and editor. He is considered as a major poet of the 20th century. He is  a Central figure in English language Modernist Poetry. He was born in st. Louis, Missouri, to a prominent Boston Brahmin family, he moved to England in 1914 at the age of 25 and went on to settle, work, and marry there. He became a British citizen in 1927 at the age of 39. He was awarded the 1948 Nobel Prize in literature. His Notable works are as below.

• The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
• The Waste Land
• The Hollow Men
• Ash Wednesday
• The Murder in the Cathedral
• The Cocktail Party
• After Strange Gods
• Tradition and the Individual Talent
• The Use of Poetry and the Use of Criticism
• Three Voice of Poetry
• The Literature of Politics

Tradition and the Individual Talent:-

"The Tradition and Individual Talent" is an essay written by T. S. Eliot. The essay was first published in The Egoist in 1919 and later in Eliot's first book of Criticism, "The Sacred Wood" in 1920. While Eliot is most often known for his poetry, he also contributed to the field of literary criticism. In this dual role, he acted as a cultural critic, comparable to Sir Philip Sidney and S. T. Coleridge. This essay is the most famous work that Eliot produced in his critical capacity. In this essay he discusses about relationship between the poet and literary traditions. This essay is divided into three parts:

• Concept of Tradition
• The Theory of Impersonal Poetry 
• Conclusion

Q.1 How would you like to explain Eliot's concept of Tradition? Do you agree with it ?

Meaning of Tradition:-

"Tradition means that a belief, principle or way of acting that people in a particular society or group have continued to follow a long time, or all of these beliefs."

         - Cambridge Dictionary

Concept of Tradition:-

T. S. Eliot's concept of Tradition refers to the idea that all art and literature is built upon the works of the past, and that the artist must be aware of and engage with this tradition in order to create meaningful and relevant work. According to Eliot, the artist must be aware of the cultural and literary history that has come before them, and must engage with it in order to create something new and meaningful. Eliot believed that tradition is not just a collection of past works, but also a living and evolving that is constantly being shaped and reshaped by new artists and their work. According to Eliot no words can be charged in isolation if you want a correct judgement about any work then it must be compared with the past work it doesn't mean that the writer should have a bookish knowledge about the history and predecessor writer or they should spoon-feed the history but they should know style and structure of the work from the homer to till the day.

I personally agree with Eliot's concept of tradition. I believe that all art and literature is built upon the works of the past, and that the artist must be aware of and engage with this tradition in order to create meaningful and relevant work. It is important for the artist to understand the cultural and literary history that has come before them in order to create something new and meaningful that contributes to the ongoing evolution of culture.

Q.2 Explain: "The Historical sense involves a perception, not only of the pastness of the past, but of its presence ".

"The Historical sense involves a perception, not only of the pastness of the past, but of its presence ".

The "historical sense" refers to the ability to understand and perceive the past not just as something that happened in the distant past, but as something that continues to have an importance and presence in the present. It's the ability to understand how the past shapes the present and to see connection between the two.

Q.3Explain:"The Historical sense, which is a sense of the timeless as well as of the temporal and of the timeless and of the temporal together, is what makes a writer traditional". 

"The Historical sense, which is a sense of the timeless as well as of the temporal and of the timeless and of the temporal together, is what makes a writer traditional". 

The Sense of the timeless and the temporal, means that the writer understands that the past and present are interconnected, and that the past continues to have a presence in the present. A writer with this understanding can be considered "traditional" because they are able to connect their writing to the past and the present, and see how they are intertwined.

Q.4 What is the relationship between "tradition" and "the individual talent" according to the poet T. S. Eliot? Explain.

T. S. Eliot believed that tradition and Individual Talent are interconnected and mutually dependent. He argued that an individual's creative work is not entirely original, but rather a continuation and reinterpretations of the literary tradition that came before it. Eliot said that tradition provides a context and a framework for the individual talent to work within, and in turn, the individual talent adds to and enriches the tradition.

Q.5 Explain: "Some can absord knowledge, the tardy must be sweet for it Shakespeare acquired more essential history from plutarch than most men could from the whole British museum". 

"Some can absorb knowledge, the tardy must  be sweet for it Shakespeare acquired more essential history from plutarch than most men could from the whole British museum". 

This line is expressing the idea that some people are able to acquire knowledge easily and effortlessly, while others have to work hard to gain the same knowledge. It is saying that Shakespeare, a famous playwright, was able to acquire a significant amount of historical knowledge from Plutarch's writing, which was a collection of biographies and moral essays of famous Greeks and Romans, rather than from the British Museum, which is a large Museum in London that contains a vast collection of artefacts and works of art from around the world.

Harold Bloom criticises and says that 'this is some kind of anxiety of influence that the current author is feeling the presence of His/her creative processes/ ancestors looming large upon him/her'. Harold Bloom in his book 'Anxiety of Influence: A theory of poetry' says that there is some psychological struggle in the new aspiring authors to overcome the anxiety caused by the influence of their literary antecedents. He says it criticising Eliot because this essay is stating that the poet should use knowledge of the writers of the past to influence their work.

The line implies that Shakespeare had a great ability to learn and that his knowledge was more important and valuable than the knowledge of most people, who might have had to study a wide variety of sources in order to acquire the same level of knowledge. It also suggests that great talent and individual skill is more important than external resources.

Q.6 Explain: "Honest criticism and sensitive appreciation is directed not upon the poet but upon the Poetry."

"Honest criticism and sensitive appreciation is directed not upon the poet but upon the Poetry."

This line suggests that when evaluating poetry, the focus should be on the poem itself, rather than the poet as a person. Honest criticism means evaluating the poem objectively, considering its strengths and weaknesses. Sensitive appreciation means understanding the Poem's meaning and intent, and appreciating it for its artistic value. 

According to T. S. Eliot, honest criticism and sensitive appreciation should be directed towards the poetry itself, rather than the poet. This means that the focus should be on evaluating the literary merit and artistic value of the work, rather than the personal characteristics or motivations of the person who wrote it. Eliot believed that the purpose of Criticism is to understand the work and its place in the literary tradition, rather than to praise or condemn the poet. He believed that the poem should be evaluated on its own terms, without considering the background or personal life of the poet.

It means honest criticism and sensitive appreciation should be directed towards the poetry itself, rather than the poet, with the focus on evaluating the literary merit and artistic value of the work, and being open to different interpretations.

Q.7 How would you like to explain Eliot's theory of depersonalization? You can explain with the help of a chemical reaction in the presence of a catalyst agent, platinum.

T. S. Eliot's theory of depersonalization refers to the idea that the artist or poet must distance themselves from their own personal emotions and experiences in order to create truly great art.

Theory of Impersonal Poetry Eliot is comparing the poet and the process of making a poem with a scientific chemical reaction of formation of sulphurous acid in the laboratory. He says that the mind of the poet should be like the catalyst. In the preparation of sulphurous essay water acidic reaction takes place between water and sulphur dioxide in the presence of a catalyst platinum. Once the reaction is done and sulphurous acid is prepared we find that there is no trace of platinum in sulphurous acid that means that it has taken part in reaction but it has no effect on the production similarly according to the mind of the poet, it should work like a catalyst. The way catalyst agent platinum is not found in H2SO4, similarly, the poet should not be present in the poetry. It should work in the production of the poem but it should not have effect on the poem, which means the personal emotions and personal feelings of the poet should not be present in the poem and this theory is known as  depersonalization.

Explain:"Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality." 

"Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality." 

In his view, poetry is a way to access a deeper level of reality that is beyond the everyday world of emotions and personality.

It means the personal emotions or experiences and the poet's life should not be reflected in the poetry. But we can find the same thing in Eliot's work, where he presents not directly his own experiences and relationships. So it is very much difficult for a poet to be aloof from his work. Though the theory of depersonalization gives universality means where personal experiences and emotions should be neglected.

According to T. S. Eliot, poetry is not a way to express our emotions or personality, but rather a means of escaping from them, and to achieve a higher level of understanding and insight.

Q.8 Write two points on which one can write critique on T. S. Eliot as a critic.

After reading or observing this essay 'Tradition and Individual Talent' we can say that there are some points which one can consider while thinking about T. S. Eliot. As a critic, he sometimes confuses us about what he actually wants to say. Like,

• In what ways does T. S. Eliot's critical theory reflects his modernist perspective and how does it shape his evaluation of literary works?
• How does T. S. Eliot's emphasis on objective correlation and his Concept of the "dissociation of sensibility" influence his criticism of poetry and its impact on the reader's understanding of the work?

Conclusion:-

Thus, we can say that the true purpose of literature is not to express the emotions or personality of the author or poet, but rather to contribute to the collective body of literary tradition. And the purpose of literature is not to express the emotions or personality of the author or Poet but to contribute to the literary tradition and create something that is greater than themselves.

Thank you for reading....

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Image: 2

Indian Poetics

 Thinking Activity: Indian Poetics 

Hello Readers! This blog is response to the Thinking Activity assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir, Department of English, MKBU. In this blog I am going to discuss about Indian Poetics in which we study about the various schools like Rasa, Dhavani, Auchitya, Vakrokti, Riti and Alankara. We also got a chance to learn Indian Poetics from a recognised Indian Poet, Prof. Dr. Vinod Joshi sir. It is organised in our department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar.

The Indian Poetics:-

Indian Poetics refers to the literary theory and tradition of poetry in Indian literature. It encompasses various forms of poetry, such as kavya, which is the traditional form of poetry in Indian literature, and modern forms of poetry such as ghazals. Indian Poetics also includes the study of literary devices and techniques used in Indian poetry, such as metaphors, simile, and allusion, as well as the study of Indian poetry. The Natyashashtra, written by the ancient Indian Bharata Muni,  is one of the most important texts on Indian Poetics and is considered to be the foundation of Indian drama. Indian poetry started to develop with the contribution of the exponents and grammarians like Bharata, Bhamaha, Mamata, Anandvardhan, Dadin, Vamana, Udbhata, Ksemendra etc. In Indian Poetics we find six schools of theory. These are as below:

• The Rasa ( aesthetic pleasure ) Theory 
• The Dhvani (suggestion) Theory 
• The Vakrokti (Obliquity) Theory 
• The Riti (Style) Theory 
• The Auchitya (Propriety) Theory 
• The Alankara (Poetic figure) Theory 

Rasa Theory:-

Rasa is produced from a combination of Determinants ( vibhav ), Consequents ( anubhava ) and Transitory ( vyabhicaribhava ). Rasa Theory originated by Bharata Muni in the sixth chapter of Natyashashtra. He gives 'Rasa Sutra'. Rasa's literary meaning is essence or taste. It refers to the emotional flavors crafted into the work by the writer and enjoyed by a 'sensitive spectator' or one can connect to the work with emotion, without dryness. Rasa is felt by various Bhavas. Vibhav, Anubhav, Vyabhicharibhava when all these three elements combine, Rasa is can be developed. 

Vibhav means something that causes the rise of an emotion. So Vibhava is a cause of determinant of an emotion. It is હેતુ, કારણ or નિમિત્ત. It is the objective condition producing the emotion like a set of objects, a situation, or a chain of events that would cause certain emotion. The primary purpose of Vibhava is to create the awareness of the emotion that the author intends to. Vibhavas are of two types: one is alamban Vibhava and the other is uddipan Vibhava. Alamban Vibhava means the person or person with reference to whom the emotion is manifested. Uddipan Vibhava means the external circumstances that help in enhancing the emotion. Uddipan Vibhava it is an external stimulus.

Anubhava means the expressions. Gestures, smile and glances whatever we feel it would be anubhava. The gestures are expressive of what is going on the heart and mind of the two persons here. 

Vyabhichari are transient emotion which are not primary emotion but reinforce the primary emotion. For instance, a woman eagerly waiting for her husband may feel anger for his being late, may feel anxious thinking that something might have happened to him, may feel happy at the thought of endearing words he would say upon arrival. She may be feeling these entire emotions but reinforce the primary emotion which is srngar here.

Rasa Theory is a concept from Indian aesthetics that describes the emotional responses ( rasas ) that a person experiences while viewing a work of art. According to this theory, there are nine primary rasas that can be experienced:

श्रृंगारकरुणवीररौद्रहास्यभयानका ।

बिभत्साद्भुतशांत नवनाटयेरसास्मृता।।

              - भरत: नाट्यशास्त्र ( छंद अनुष्टुप)

  Rasa                                 Bhava 

Shringar - श्रृंगार                   Romance, love 

 Hasyam - हास्य                    Laughter, comedy

 Rudram - रौद्र                      Fury 

Karunyam - करुण               Compassion

Bibhatsam - बीभत्स             Disgust, aversion

Bhayanakam - भयानक       Horror, terror

Viram - वीर                           Heroism

Adbhutam - अदभूत             Wonder 

Shantam - शांतम                   Peace 

The theory of rasa is attributed to Bharat, a sage-priest who may have lived sometime between the 1st century BCE and the 3rd century CE. It was developed by the rhetorician and philosopher Abhinavagupta , who applied it to all varieties of theatre and poetry. The principal human feelings, according to Bharata, are delight, laughter, heroism, and astonishment, all of which may be recast in contemplative form as the various rasas: erotic, comic, pathetic, furious, heroic, terrible, odious, marvelous, and quietistic. These rasas comprise the components of aesthetic experience. The power to taste rasa is a reward for merit in some privious existence.

Dhavani Theory:

A simple meaning of dhavani is voice which helps us to complete a word.  Acharya Anandvardhana propagated a Dhvani Theory. Dhavani adorms Poetry and beauty adorms women. ધ્વનિ એટલે પ્રતીયમાન અર્થ. Getting new meaning through the same words is Dhavni - apparent meanings. That is a soul of poetry. The communication of proper meaning through words requires a proper arrangements of sounds. Language basically can be written or spoken which has words as their foundation. Sanskrit critic has described three types of words:

Abhidha - literal meaning of the word

Lakshana - characteristically meaning of the word

Vyanjana - poetic & Metaphysical meaning of the word

The three types of meaning in fact are the three functions of a word, it denotes (abhidha) , it indicates (laksana), and it suggests (vyanjana). For example, the sentence 'the ball is in your court' means, in vachyarth, that the ball is in the court of the person addressed. But in laksana it means that it's your responsibility to take the next step or to make a decision. We know that the speaker is not talking about the ball or the tennis court but about the responsibility. It is the vyanjana that makes poetry. The literal meaning has it's important but it just like the outer body of the kavya. The soul of the kavya is the suggested meaning, vyanjana. We take an example from a Gujarati poem:

હજો હાથ કરતાલ ને ચિત્ત ચાનક 

તળેટી સમીપે હજો ક્યાંક થાનક. 

Here, we know the literal meaning of the words used in these lines. This line refer to Narsimh Mehta and Girnar Mountain and Narsimh Mehta's devotional poetry. This multiplicity of meaning suggested by the words કરતાલ, થાનક and તળેટી makes this simple looking lines great poerty. 

So we can say that we create many meaning through one word. In this way, the third word vyanjana reaches the soul and gives the suggested meaning of the word. It is also called 'dhvani'. Dhavani is considered to be the soul of the body, it gives life to poetry. Dhvani theory is a theory of meaning and symbolism which leads to the poetry of suggestion being accepted as the highest kind of poerty. 

Vakrokti theory:

The word Vakrokti consists of two components - vakra and ukti. The first component means crooked, indirect or unique and the second means poetic expression or speech. Vakrokti is vakra which is something like a curve. Beauty has no pointed curve? Vakrokti is ironic. Vakrokti can be divided in six categories:

વર્ણવિન્યાસ - the phonetic level,

પદપૂવર્ધ - the lexical level

પદપરાધ - the grammatical level 

વાક્યવક્તા - the sentential level

પ્રકરણ - the contextual level and 

પ્રબંધ - the compositional level 

Alankar theory :

Alankar means ornaments. It adors and gives beauty to poetry. Acharya Bhamah was the first to define Poetry and for the first time presented the interpretation of 39 metaphors while accepting the main elements of poetry, metaphor. Bhamaha categories Alankara into two groups:

શબ્દાલાંકર and 

અર્થલાંકર 

Language is ornamental, and ornamental language is applied to language. Alankar is not natural. E.g. : Her face is like the moon'. This sentence contains Alankar. Alankar mixes in language, like a homogeneous mixture.

Riti theory:

Riti means style. Kavyalankasutra is the poetic work of Acharya Vamana. In this work he talk about riti. For Vamana, that formless, indeterminate essence of kavya is Riti. Vamana said; just as every body has Atma, so does every kavya has its Riti. The explanation offered by Vamana meant that the verbal structure having certain Gunas is the body of kavya, while its essence is, Riti. Riti, a very high position by designing Riti as the soul of kavya -  रीतिरात्मा काव्यास्य; विशिष्टापदरचना रीति।

Auchitya theory :

Kshemendra in Kavikanthabharana introduces to Auchitya school. It means justification, propriety, decency 

He said Auchitya is the very life of kavya that is endowed with Rasa. The most essential elements of Rasa, he said, is Auchitya. The test of Auchitya is the harmony between the expressed sounds and the suggested Rasa. And, he described Auchitya as that laudable virtue which embalms the poerty with delight. According to Kshemendra, "when one thing befits another or matches perfectly, it is said to be appropriate, Auchitya."

Conclusion:- 

Thus, Bharata's Natyashashtra is believed to be the earliest extant work of Indian Poetics. This exhaustive work on Indian Poetics continues to be the store house of ideas for later scholars and thinkers. So primary concern of Indian Poetics seems to be the use of language in literature and the function of literature. It is a rich tradition that has an all encompassing influence on all fine arts like dance, music, architecture, painting etc in addition to literature. So it is aesthetics in this sense.

Existentialism: Flipped learning: Ask Questions

Existentialism: Flipped learning: Ask Questions 

Hello Readers! This blog is a response to the Thinking Activity assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir, Department of English, MKBU. In this blog we were given a task based on Existentialism and Flipped learning to watch a video and understand them. Further, we have to write our thoughts which impressed us the most in the video, the video we liked the most with a reason and ask 5 questions in the class which are written below. 

Flipped learning:-

What is flip learning ?

Flip learning is an instructional strategy in which students are first exposed to new material outside of the classroom, typically through pre-recorded videos or readings, and then use class time for activities such as problem solving, discussion, and assessment. The idea is to "flip" the traditional classroom model, in which lectures are given in class and homework is used for practice, so that students come to class prepared to engage with the material in a more active way. For more understanding about flip learning read this blog. ( Click here )

What is Flip Classroom ?

A flipped classroom is an instructional strategy in which students watch video lectures or complete reading and other homework assignments outside of class and then use class time for hands-on activities, discussions, and problem - solving. This approach is designed to make better use of classroom time and at their own space. The idea behind this approach is that students can watch the lecture on their own time and come to class with any questions, which can then or classmates, allowing for a more interactive learning experience.

Existentialism:-

Existentialism is a form of philosophical inquiry that explores the issue of human existence. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe.  It focuses on the question of human existence, and the feeling that there is no purpose or explanation at the core of existence. ( https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2016/09/existentialism-video-resources.html )

Existentialism is associated with several 19th  and 20th century European philosophers who shared an emphasis on the human subject, despite often profound differences in thought. Existentialist Philosophers explore the problems related to the meaning, purpose and value of human existence and personal agency. Key Existentialist Philosophers are below.

• Soren Kierkegaard
• Friedrich Nietzsche
• Martin Heidegger
• Jean-Paul Sartre
• Albert Camus 
• Simone de Beauvoir

Existentialism is a catch- all term for those philosophers who consider the nature of the human condition as a key philosophical problem and who share the view that this problem is best addressed through ontology. This very broad definition will be clarified by discussing seven key themes that Existentialist thinkers address.

• Philosophy as a way of life
• Anxiety and 
• Freedom
• Situatedness
• Existence
• Irrationality
• Absurdity
• The Crowd
• Authenticity 

Many Existentialists considered traditional systematic or academic philosophies, in style and content, to be too abstract and removed from concrete human experience. A primary virtue in Existentialist thought is authenticity. Existentialism would influence many disciplines outside of philosophy, including theology, drama, art, literature, and psychology.

The moral purpose of Existentialism is to help individuals find meaning and purpose in their lives through the exploration of their own existence and freedom. Existentialists believed that individuals must create their own values and meaning, as there no inherent meaning or purpose of self-discovery and self-creation can lead to a more authentic and fulfilling life. Now we discuss about video's which are based on Existentialism.

Video 1

What is Existentialism?

This video is based on Existentialism. The video began with the basic introduction of Existentialism and gave three sides of Existentialism; freedom, Passion and individuality. Existentialism came after world war I.  It is a philosophical and cultural movement that emphasises individual freedom and choice, and the inherent meaninglessness of life. It posits that individuals must create their own meaning in life and take responsibility for their choices. The movement emerged in the 1940s and 1950s, and was popularised by Philosophers such as Jean Paul Sartre and Martin Heidegger and Albert Camus. According to Albert Camus one should embrace and understand absurdity rather than start believing in God. Believing is god means escaping from the real situations and leaving everything in God. This is philosophical suicide. I suppose this video is about philosophical suicide.

Video 2

The Myth of Sisyphus: The Absurd Reasoning ( Feeling of the Absurd )

This video  talks about the myth of Sisyphus. The Myth of Sisyphus is a 1942 philosophical essay by Albert Camus. In this essay Camus introduces his philosophy of the absurd. The myth of Sisyphus centres around a man who is punished by the gods to roll a heavy boulder up a steep hill, only for it to roll back down again as soon as he reaches the top. He must repeat this task for eternity as punishment for his deceitfulness and cunning.

Myth of Sisyphus teaches us to never give in to circumferential disappointment or try to escape from failure, rather accept failure the same way we accept our achievements. Along with it Absurd Reasoning is talking about an relation to suicide. Absurd is illogical, the understanding which i got from this video is when one is feeling low and absurd things of no worth and finds no meaning in life is driven towards suicide, and all this reasoning before suicide in Absurd Reasoning. Through this myth we can say that accept what you got like achievements and search for hope. This essay concludes,

"The struggle itself is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy."

Stay is a 2005 American Psychological thriller movie. The movie represents an intense relationship centering on reality, death, love and the afterlife. Movie 'Stay' is also talk about suicide is divorce between man and this life embracing the truth, compromising, understanding are better than divorce.

The absurd reasoning in this myth is that Sisyphus' punishment is endless and seemingly pointless. He is not given any chance for redemption or release from his punishment, and the task itself is physically and mentally gruelling with no end in sight. The repetition and futility of his punishment highlights the absurdity of the human condition and the lack of meaning in life.

Video 3

The Myth of Sisyphus: the notion of philosophical suicide

What is Philosophical suicide:

Philosophical suicide refers to the act of giving up one's belief in the meaning and value of life. It is a concept that has been explored in philosophy and literature, and can refer to a variety of different actions or attitudes, such as abandoning one's moral principles, rejecting the concept of free will, or embracing nihilism. The term can also refer to the idea that the rejection of certain  values leads to a loss of purpose or direction in life.

This video is talk about the notion of Philosophical suicide. In this video we can observe that one needs to confront problems which are leading one to absurdity. When you confront a problem and try to fight it; there will be the total absence of hope, continued rejection and dissatisfaction but all this is not equal to despair, renunciation and immature unrest. Camus has denied being an Existentialists because Existentialist suggest having faith in God while Camus suggests embracing absurdity.

Video 4

Dadaism, Nihilism and Existentialism

This video talks about the three theories of Dadaism, Nihilism and Existentialism. Dadaism emerged after world war I which questioned every traditional value and tried to destroy its base. It was a quest for change and Existentialism came into Existence after world war II which was trying to awaken people and make them understand their own worth and individuality.

Dadaism:-

Dadaism was an artistic and literary movement. It is emerged during world war I, characterised by a rejection of traditional societal norms and conventions. Dada artists sought to challenge the status quo and create art that was irrational, illogical, and non-representational. The movement was primarily active in Europe, and later in the United States, between 1916 and 1922. Dada artists experimented with a wide range of mediums, including painting, sculpture , performance art, and collage, and their work often incorporated elements of satire, parody, and political commentary. Key Figures associated with the movement include Marcel Duchamp, Francis Picabia, and Hannah Hoch. For more about Dadaism click here.  ( Click here )

Nihilism:-

Nihilism is a philosophy that holds that life lacks meaning, purpose or intrinsic value. It is often associated with Friedrich Nietzsche, who argued that traditional mortality and religious beliefs had lost their credibility and that the concept of truth was nothing more than a human construct. Nihilism can take various forms, but it generally holds that traditional beliefs and values are unfounded or meaningless. Existential nihilism, which is belief that life lacks inherent meaning or purpose, is a common form of nihilism. 

Video 5

Existentialism - a gloomy philosophy

This video talks about a gloomy philosophy. Existentialism is not a narcissist philosophy it talks about becoming, who you are not love yourself. In this video we can observe that it is  a gloomy philosophy because it pulls anxiety, despair, absurdity thoughts into life. One needs to have these feelings in life to understand one's own existence. 

Video 6

Existentialism and Nihilism: is it one and the same?

This video talks about Existentialism and Nihilism. This video explains that Existentialism and Nihilism are not the same things. Every Existentialist has fought against nihilism in one or another way. So we can say that both are different things.

Video 7

Let us introduce Existentialism again!

This video talks about difference between Existentialism and Nihilism. Why am i here? What does it mean to be human? How should I live my life? It says Existentialism is not a Psychological system or set of rules, it is a movement. 

Video 8

Explain like I am five: Existentialism and Nietzsche

This video is talk about Existentialism and idea of Nietzsche. I like the concept of this video because through  fun the children learn the idea of Nietzsche.

Video 9

Why do I like Existentialism? Eric Dodson

This video  talks about Existentialism and daily life. In this video, there is a combining mind and heart, and Holism and honesty. Existentialism is also a Rebellious way of thinking about life. Honesty in Existentialism - it removes the shyness of accepting the negative aspect of life. Holism- it provides the power of acceptance, acceptance of strength and weakness of life. It also talks about suffering. Suffering helps us to be more loveing  and compassionate. It is  teaches us  to live life with suffering and to open to oneself. In the last part of the video, it give a list of top 10 things you can do to live more Existentially. This list is below.

1. Remember that you're born to a brilliant and terrifying universe...
2. Build responsible community
3. Recover the ability to play
4. Inhabit the present moment
5. Learn to live with passion
6. See how free you can be
7. Lay claim to your power in life
8. Honour life's difficult experience
9. Start relating to the big picture
10. Question what you've been told

Video 10

Let us sum up: From Essentialism to Existentialism

This video talks about Essentialism to Existentialism. 

Essentialism and Existentialism are two distinct philosophical Concepts. Essentialism is the belief that things have an inherent nature or essence that determines their identity and characteristics. Essentialists believes that the essence of a thing is fixed and unchanging, and that it can be discovered through observation and analysis. Existentialism, on the other hands, is a philosophy that emphasised individual freedom and choice, and the idea that individuals create their own meaning and purpose in life. Existentialism believe that individuals are not determined by their nature or essence, but by their actions and choices. They also believe that individuals are ultimately responsible for creating their own sense of meaning and purpose in life. In summary, essentialism is focused on the inherent nature of things, while Existentialism is focused on the freedom and choices of individuals, and the idea that individuals create their own meaning and purpose in life.

Conclusion:-

Thus, we can say that the moral of Existentialism is that individuals are responsible for creating their own meaning and purpose in life, as there is no inherent meaning in the universe. This can lead to feelings of freedom and empowerment, but also anxiety and despair. It also emphasises the importance of authenticity and living in alignment with one's values and beliefs. And also we work with rules so we need to follow them. Life is full of conflict but working against external forces is necessary to be an Existentialist. The concept of Existentialism is  hard to understand but after watching these videos I understand the concept. 

'Be yourself. Live in your own way.'

Questions:-

1. In what ways does Camus's work differ from the Existentialist ideas of Jean Paul Sartre?

2. How has the concept of Philosophical suicide been represented in literature or art?

3. In what ways can the acceptance of nihilism lead to a more fulfilling life, according to Existentialism?

4. How do Nietzsche's ideas of the "will to power" and the "eternal recurrence" relate to Nihilism and Existentialism?

5. How do contemporary Philosophers interpret and build upon the ideas of Nihilism and Existentialism?

6. What is the meaning of Authenticity in Existentialism? How does Existentialism view the concept of morality and ethics? ( A gloomy philosophy )

Thank you for visiting and reading....

Word Count: 2,233

Images: 5

Videos: 11

The Great Gatsby

 Thinking Activity: The Great Gatsby

Hello Readers! This blog is a response to the Thinking Activity assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir, Department of English, MKBU. In this blog I am going to discuss about Movie review of the novel 'The Great Gatsby'.

Introduction:-

F. S. Fitzgerald:- 

Francis Scott Fitzgerald was an American Novelist, Essayist and short story writer. He is best known for his novels depicting the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age- a term he popularized. During his lifetime, he published four novels, four story collection, and 164 short stories. Although he achieved temporary popular success and fortune in the 1920s. Fitzgerald received critical acclaim only after his death and is now widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of 20th century. His Notable works are as below.

• The Great Gatsby
• The Beautiful and Damned
• Tender is the Night
• This Side of Paradise
• May Day
• The Last Tycoon
• Flappers and Philosopher
• Head and Shoulders
• The Offshore Pirate

The Great Gatsby:-

The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. Se in the Jazz Age on Long Island, near New York City, the novel depicts first-person narrator Nick Carraway's interaction with mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. And Gatsby's obsession to reunion with his former lover, Daisy Buchanan.

Key Facts of the Novel:-

• Writer:- F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Full Title:- The Great Gatsby
• Date of First publication:- 10th April, 1925
• Publisher:- Charles Scribner's Sons
• Type of work:- Novel
• Genre:- Tragedy, Realism, Modernist Novel, Social Satire
• Language:- English
• Time and Place written:- 1923-1924 America and France
• Setting or Time:- Summer 1922
• Setting or Place:- Long Island and New York City
• Protagonist:- Jay Gatsby

Movie screening of 'The Great Gatsby':-

On 3 January, 2023 we have a movie screening of The great Gatsby in our classroom. The Great Gatsby novel is by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the movie by Baz Luhrmann in 2013. The movie is much faithful to the Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Movie has used modern narration techniques. Cinematography and editing of the movie is extraordinary. It gives a best scenario of 20th century American and it's Culture. It is very difficult to understand the satire on western culture becouse we are belong to eastern culture. Star cast of the movie is below.

• Leonardo DiCaprio as James or Jay Gatsby
• Tobey Mulligan as Nick Caraway
• Joel Edgerton as Tom Buchanan
• Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan
• Jason Clarke as George Wilson
• Elizabeth Debicki as Jordan Baker - Daisy's best friend
• Amitabh Bachchan as Meyer Wolfsheim

Now discuss some questions related to the screening of the film.

Q. 1 How did the film capture the Jazz Age - the Roaring Twenties of America in the 1920s ?

The Jazz Age:-

The Jazz Age is also known as the Roaring Twenties of America. It was an era of American history that begun after world war I and ended with the onset of the Great Depression in 1929. However, the era's social and cultural legacy lives on and still influences American life today. The Jazz Age was a period in the 1920s and 1930s in which Jazz music and dance styles gained worldwide popularity.

The novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald termed the 1920s "the Jazz Age" with its earthy rhythms, fast beat, and improvisational style. Jazz symbolized the decade's spirit of liberation. At the same time, new dance style arose, involving spontaneous bodily movement and closer physical contact between partners. This term is coined by F. Scott Fitzgerald in his collection of short stories Tales of the Jazz Age. Jazz music is very popular in that period. It was very popular among Black people, it was initiated by African American. So the whites considered it to be music of black or lower class they heard and enjoyed but never socialized with the blacks. Fitzgerald has exploded jazz age greatly in the novel.

Baz Luhrman's movie has very faithful captured jazz music or age. The contemporary soundtrack in the movie features songs by Bryan Ferry, Jay-z, and Florence and the Machine. From the beginning of the movie we do find the loud music which lightly indicates the madness of the jazz in that period. People danced and bounced on the jazz music in Gatsby's parties. They seemed to be a lost society, careless people and rich class society. When Time was having an apartment party which revealed his cheating over Daisy, which is mirroring inferiority of 'Roaring Twenties' wD also indicated by the Loud Jazz music. The man was playing a loud trumpet in the scene. It's all suggests the nagative side of 20 th century, America.

 

Q .2 Watch PPT on the difference between the Film and the Novel and write in brief about it.

 

The difference between The Novel and Film:- 

Major four changes that made by filmmaker. 

• The Relationship between Jordan and Nick
• The Apartment party
• Lunch with Wolfsheim
• Gatsby's Death and Funeral

Relationship between Jordan and Nick:-

In the Novel Nick and Jordan have a romantic relationship that develops throughout the story. Nick is initially attracted to Jordan's beauty and Charisma. In the Novel they become a couple and break up near the end of the Novel. In the movie the relationship between Nick and Jordan is downplayed and receives less focus than it does in the novel. Their relationship is not developed as extensive as it is in the novel.

The Apartment party:- 

In the Novel, the apartment party is hosted by Tom Buchanan's Mistress, Myrtle Wilson, Who lives in apartment in the Valley of Ashes. In the film , the apartment party scene is quite different. In the film Nick sitting quietly in the apartment's living room while the adulterous couple have loud sex in the badroom. In the film Myrtle's sister Catherine giving Nick a pill that she says she got from a doctor in queens, that's not in the novel. In the novel Tom and Myrtle disappear and reappear before the other guests arrive, Nick reads a book and waits.

Lunch with Wolfsheim:- 

In the Novel, the lunch meeting is at a "well- fanned 42nd Street cellar". Where Gatsby takes Nick to lunch with his new friend Meyer Wolfsheim, a Jewish gangster. In the movie, Gatsby and Nick go to a barber shop with a hidden entrance to a speakeasy, and once inside they see not only Wolfsheim but also the police commissioner who, in the novel as in the movie. Gatsby was "able to do... a favor once". They also see there Nick's boss, whom Luharmann has turned into Tom's friend Walter Chase. In the novel, Wolfsheim expresses his admiration for Gatsby and agrees to attend his upcoming party. While in the film Wolfsheim joking about Gatsby's past and making references to his own criminal enterprises. 

Gatsby's Death and Funeral:- 

In the novel, Gatsby is murdered by George Wilson, the mechanic hasband of Tom's mistress. Wilson believed that Gatsby was the one driving the car that killed his wife. And he also believed that Gatsby might have been the one she was sleeping with on the side. The Novel says that Gatsby grabbed a "pneumatic mattress" and headed to his pool, then Gatsby's Chauffeur dramatic flourish. In the Novel and film , Gatsby is waiting for a phone call from Daisy, but in the film, Nick calls, and Gatsby gets out of the pool when he hears the phone ring. He's then shot , and he dies believing that Daisy was going to ditch Tom and go way with him. None of that happens in the book. 

Gatsby in the both versions, lonely in death, but the film is even crueler to him in this regard, dropping the last - minute appearance of his father and the unexpected arrival at the funeral of a man who Nick previously met in Gatsby's study. The Luhrman likely made these changes to suit their creative vision and to make the scene more visually appealing and emotionally impactful for a modern audience.

Q.3 How did the film help in understanding the symbolic significance of "The Velley of Ashes", "The Eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleberg" and "The Green Light '? 

The Valley of Ashes:- 

The Valley of Ashes is a desolate, industrial wasteland located between west egg and new York City. It represents the American Dream. The American Dream of becoming economically strong is bringing a spiritual drought. It's failure for America because America is growing but is failing to balance, the rich are getting richer and the poor are becoming poor. Valley shows how the rich are disconnected from the source of their wealth. So, we can say that it represents the poverty, inequality and exploitation. 

The Eyes of Dr. T J Eckleberg:-

The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleberg are a pair of fading. Bespectacled eyes painted on a old advertising billboard over the valley of ashes. They may represent god staring down upon and judging American society as a moral wasteland, thought the novel never makes this point explicitly. The connection between the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleberg and God exists only in George Wilson's grief-stricken mind. This lack of concrete significance contributes to the unsettling nature of the image. Thus, the eyes also come to represent the essential meaninglessness of the world and the arbitrariness of the mental process by which people invest objects with meaning. Nick explores these ideas in chapter 8, when he imagine Gatsby's final thoughts as a depressed consideration of the emptiness of symbols and dreams. 

When Daisy and friends were going for lunch to New York the billboard was shown which is interpreted as something terrible is going to happen. George Wilson also considered it to be the eyes of God's who is watching everything. Today this billboard with eyes which is watching everything can be said to be replaced with a CCTV camera. You are a under surveillance. 

Green Light:- 

Image of Green Light in the Great Gatsby symbolise that Gatsby watches across the water, which simultaneously symbolises Gatsby's love for Daisy, money, and the American Dream. Green light seems to be always shining on Daisy's dock. Gatsby had a mansion on the opposite back of the sea. He used to watch this light everyday which symbolizes hopes and dreams of Gatsby to have Daisy in his life and the American dream. It can also be interpreted as the shine and glamour of inherited wealthy people and their intolerance and unacceptable to new rich society. For Gatsby, the green light proved that he and Daisy existed in the same world and suggested the possibility that they might someday meet again. 

Q. 4 How did the film capture the theme of racism and sexism ?

Racism:- 

The Theme of Racism and Sexism we find them in dialogues of Tom Buchanan. For example, Tom Buchanan, a wealthy white man, makes racist comments about black people and uses racist language when referring to them.  One scene occurs during a party scene at the Buchanan's mansion, where Tom Buchanan makes a racist comment about the book, "The Rise of the Coloured Empires" and uses a racial slur to refer to black people. He also expressed his fear of the 'Coloured races' taking over America.  

Sexism:- 

Sexism is discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of Sex. In the movie we find three complete opposite female characters, Daisy, Jordan and Myrtle. Daisy is the novel's female lead, is seen as a symbol of beauty and grace. Daisy belonged to a wealthy family but was dominated by Tom. Tom had a mistress but when Daisy started loving Gatsby she was forced to choose any one.  Myrtle was an ambitious woman who wanted materials and her husband couldn't achieve her dream and so he had relationship with Tom. Jordan belonged to Flapper society, a new women group towards whom the society saw with discrimination, considered to be immoral and dishonorable. Overall, 'The Great Gatsby' explores the theme of racism and Sexism through its characters and their actions. 

Q.5 Watch the Video on Nick Carraway and discuss him as a narrator.

Nick Carraway is the narrator of The Great Gatsby. As a narrator, Nick plays a crucial role in shaping the reader's understanding of the events and characters in the novel. In the Film, Nick is committed to sanitarium for morbidly alcoholic, anxiety, insomnia and it is the catharsis process he writes the Great Gatsby. And this is root for him being an unreliable narrator. The major question arises that how trustworthy can a narrator who is suffering from a morbid alcoholic psyche issue. Apartment party scene, when Nick was drunken, were also smoothly narrated by Nick which are also questionable. Because a drunk person could rarely see or remember the acts he/she has done or seen. In another scene like Myrtle murder scene and Gatsby's murder scene, Nick is absent still he is narrating both the scene which is also contradictory to novel. It's like a prophecy, neither being present not knowing about the plan yet able to describe the happening. Overall, Nick Carraway is an effective narrator who provides a insightful perspective on the events and characters in "The Great Gatsby".  

Q.6 Watch the Video on Psychoanalytical study of Jay Gatsby and write about his character.

Phycho Analytical study is the study of the Mind. He is a young man, around thirty year old. Jay Gatsby's character filled with lots of Emotions. Everyone has a natural attraction towards youth, wealth, beauty and power. 

Jay Gatsby's desire to  win Daisy at the perfect place in the perfect time is biggest psychoanalytic approach in the great Gatsby. The only thing that he is truly passionate about is Daisy. Which is the driving force behind everything he does. He throw lavish parties every weekend, hoping that one day Daisy will walk through his door and be impressed by his wealth. Everyone attended his lavish parties only but no one was there with him in his bad times or at the time of funeral. Another one is shame in his character, the shame of belonging to small town and lower class. He gained wealth from the illegal business of bootlegging and share Market. He changes his name and gave other fake name only to impress Daisy. He seems very optimistic about everything and specially about Daisy that one day they both will live their lives happily together. Through Analytical study of the Jay Gatsby we find that his character was filled with the two primary emotions that word shame and hope or Guilt. Watch the video for batter understanding about this novel.

Thank you for visiting and reading...