Wikipedia Trail from Ravana to Homer

The links are in the corresponding image links. Pictures were taken from the Wikipedia page.

Ravana Statue. Source

I chose Ravana initially because he was the antagonist in the Ramayana and I loved that story. He was a super interesting character with his 10 heads and multiple hands. I also found it interesting how his ancestors were part of the trinity.

Mythology of Different Cultures. Source

I then went to mythology because the other class that Dr. Gibbs teaches is mythology. This is one class that I wish I would have taken. Mythology is so interesting to me.

Scripture from Parthenon - 440BC. Source

I then went to Ancient Greek because I think it would be fun to visit Greece. I have heard stories that the people are very friendly and the culture is so interesting. Also Greek mythology is great to read and learn about.

Homer. Source

I then went to Homer because he is one of the people that are well known in the western societies in terms of epics. He wrote the Iliad and The Odyssey, which two of my favorite epics of all time.

Wikipedia Trail from Rama to General Relativity

The links are in the corresponding image links. Pictures were taken from the Wikipedia page.

Rama. Source

I originally did Rama because the Ramayana was my favorite epic from the class. Rama was such a dynamic character. I love how he was Vishnu in human form.

Cosmology. Source

I went to cosmology next because I am an aerospace engineer. I love cosmology and anything related to space. The study of the subject itself is awesome.

Dark Energy Expansion. Source

I next went to dark energy because I learned a little bit about it in my astrodyamics class last semester. I still do not completely understand the concepts but it is an interesting aspect in the expansion of the universe. 

General Relativity. Source

I ended with general relativity because this was also an interesting topic in my astroynamics class. The theory itself is interesting and very dense. If interested, there are great YouTube videos to explain the theory.

Future Planning: Course Improvements

Change Review Weeks to Planning Weeks:
I believe that this would definitely be a big change to the class but I did not really follow my own schedule either. I did assignments when they were convenient (either days before or the morning of). I had kind of a crazy last semester in terms of time because I also had my capstone going on while trying to make relocation plans for after school and all that. So I definitely think that changing to planning weeks would be helpful for some but maybe not all.

Expand the Story Planning Option:
I used the story planning option and I loved it. Not only did it give me a chance to think about what I could write, a lot of the stories at the start went through 2 weeks. Therefore, it was nice being able to do all 4 reading notes before doing a story in case you were relating it to the story.

Create more audio recordings:
The audio recordings were excellent! The Indian Epics class had a lot of names that I would normally be unsure of how to pronounce but the audio recordings really helped with that! Also it is nice to have a story told to you at times!

Create writing tutorial videos:
I have a lot of writing errors in terms of grammar but I am unsure on how much I would actually watch the videos. Usually if I have a question about grammar or writing I just Google it.

Create thematic reading units:
I think these thematic stories would be great because I found myself often going back to similar styles that I have already read. If there are different themes then it could make the class have a broader perspective!

Tech Tip: Blog Profile

I removed my name from the blog post but not because I am trying to be secretive or embarrassed about my work. I personally just prefer my names not to be on things if it is not necessary on the internet. I feel like I have setup a decent online identity for myself for when I graduate. The only social media that I really use is LinkedIn and it looks professional. In the years to come I think it is just important for me to retain a professional identity and not to post unnecessary things, at least under my name.

Reading Notes: Peter Brook - Mahabharata Online Film, Part B

Gambling Match. Source

Peter Brook - Mahabharata, link to online film.

• Part B starts at the 53 minute mark and goes until the 1 hour and 38 minute mark
• Vishnu takes on human form and descends to play his role (some thought that he came down as Krishna)
• The Ganesha mask is removed from the character and it is Krishna
• Krishna is met by the Pandavas and Draupadi
• Krishna believes that Yudhishthira is the right choice for king
• Duryodhana gives the Pandavas part of the kingdom
• There is a war now and Duhshasana and Karna give advice on how to beat the Pandavas
• Bhishna will be loyal to Dhritarashtra and his sons in the war
• Gandhari's brother, Shakuni, arrives
• Duryodhana was telling Shakuni of his jealousy and anger towards the Pandavas
• Shakuni wants to play a game of dice and will win for Duryodhana
• Shakuni gets into a gambling match
• Shakuni is a known cheater and wins every roll
• Yudhishthira gambles all of his possessions
• Shakuni won everything from Yudhishthira after he gambled his brothers, he even staked himself
• Bhima vows to kill Duhshasana and drink his blood
• Draupadi vows that she will wash her hair in Duhshasana's blood and that Duryodhana will die from a blow to the thigh
• "This will be a terrible war" - Duryodhana to his father

Reading Notes: Peter Brook - Mahabharata Online Film, Part A

The Gods applauded Bhishma's act. Source

Peter Brook - Mahabharata, link to online film.

• Part A goes until the 53 minute mark
• A boy is wandering through a temple
• The boy sees Vyasa meditating
• Vyasa gives a poem 
• Ganesha is a scribe
• The birth of Satyavati is told by Vyasa
• Bhishma cannot become king
• Bhishma's son, Satyavati, will never be able to love a woman but in return, he can choose the time of his death
• Pandu becomes the king
• Pandu marries Kunti
• Pandu also marries Madri
• Dhritarashtra became the king as well
• Pandu wants children but cannot make love to his wife
• Kunti is caring to a sage and he grants her the gift of a Mantra
• Kunti's mantra can summon gods and when they leave, a baby is left with her
• Drona tests the archery skills
• Arjuna is a skilled archer that can focus well on the target
• Drona teaches Arjuna his archery skills, but if they ever come face to face then Ajruna must fight Drona and kill him

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues Online Film, Part B

Sita with her twins, Kusha and Lava

Sita Sings the Blues, link to the online video

• Sita tells Rama she is pregnant. Meanwhile, a laundry man (a dhobi) beats his wife, accusing her of being unfaithful and comparing her to Sita
• To protect his reputation, Rama tells his brother Lakshmana to take Sita into the forest and abandon her. The narrators debate these events
• Sita, now very pregnant, sings the blues again. Lakshmana, weeping, takes her into the forest and abandons her
• Sita thinks it is karma from a past life that is bringing her grief. She would kill herself if she were not pregnant. Valmiki rescues her
• Sita sings the blues on the shore of the river
• She gives birth to twins, Lava and Kusha. From Valmiki, they learn to sing the praises of Rama
• Sita sings the blues again, looking at Rama's picture
• Rama hears the boys singing in the forest. He learns they are his sons, and they learn Rama is his father. He asks that Sita once again prove her purity
• Sita calls upon Mother Earth to prove her purity and take her back into the womb
• Sita sings about her love for Rama one last time, and then leaves them behind
• You see Chandra the moon god, Vishnu rubbing Lakshmi's feet

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues Online Film, Part A

Rama and Sita

Sita Sings the Blues, link to the online video

• King Dasharatha has three wives and four sons. Sita, daughter of Janaka, is Rama's wife. Queen Kaikeyi makes Dasharatha send Rama into exile. He dies of grief after Rama leaves
• Despite Rama's warnings about the rakshasas in the forest, Sita goes into exile with him. The phonograph plays a song while they go into the forest where they live happily while Rama slays rakshasas
• Surpanakha is Ravana's sister. Angry at Rama, Surpanakha tells Ravana about Sita. Maricha tells Ravana to leave Sita alone but Ravana commands Maricha to become a golden deer to distract Rama so he can grab Sita
• Sita is enchanted by the golden deer. Rama suspects a trick, but Sita begs him to pursue the deer
• Sita sings about her love for Rama, while Ravana sneaks up on their forest hut
• Ravana abducts Sita in his flying chariot
• Sita drops her jewelry as a sign; Rama seeks her in the forest
• Rama and Hanuman become allies. Rama sends Hanuman to look for Sita
• Sita is held captive in Lanka, and she weeps for Rama. She rejects Ravana's advances
• Hanuman finds Sita in Lanka while Sita sings the blues. He sets Lanka on fire and then returns to Rama
• The narrators argue about why Sita did not escape with Hanuman. Meanwhile, Nina goes to India
• Sita sings with joy while Rama battles the rakshasas and slays Ravana
• Sita and Rama are reunited, but he rejects her because she lived in another man's house. He sends her away. Sita despairs
• Sita asks for a funeral pyre. The narrators argue about how to interpret this part of the story
• Sita sings the blues while she undergoes a test by fire, protected by Agni the fire god
• Rama asks for Sita's forgiveness
• The narrators discuss the flying chariot, Pushpaka, that takes Rama and Sita back to Ayodhya
• Sita sings the blues again: if you want the rainbow, you must have the rain

Reading Notes: Krishna Online Film, Part B

Krishna and Arjun

Krishna Online Films, link to the online videos

• Brahma tested Krishna's drivine power and all that he sees around him is Krishna
• Krishna was able to tame the wild Hastin (extremely hard for a normal person to do)
• Gargacharya reveals to Krishna the truth of his birth and that is why he could not marry Radha
• Akrur arrived in Vrindavan
• Akrur invited Krishna to Mathura
• Krisnha's farewll left Vrindavan in despair
• Krishna lived in Gokul and Nand Guan
• Krishna's fame spreads in Mathura
• People witness Krishna's deeds, one is a woman called Trivakra
• Kansa makes his last attempt to kill Krishna
• Kansa tries to use an elephant to kill Krishna
• Kansa learns that the 8th son of Devaki appeared and therefore knew that he would die soon
• Breaking the bow -> killing of Kuvalayapida -> killing of wrestlers -> killing of Kansa
• Krishna frees Mathura after killing Kansa
• Mathura fell prey to enemy attacks

Reading Notes: Krishna Online Film, Part A

Lord Krishna

Krishna Online Films, link to the online videos

• Krishna is a very significant character in the Mahabharata
• Krishna would lead the Pandava's into war
• Vasudev is Krishna's father
• Vasudev meets Yamuna
• Durga and Kansa speak with one another
• (Don't really understand what happened in episode 3 too much)
• Yashoda finds a woman named Putana that wants to help her
• Krishna was still in danger
• Krishna was becoming very famous and well-known
• Yashoda looked inside of Krishna's mouth and thought there would be mud in there
• Episode 6 really shows that Krishna is unique and not just a regular child and Yashoda learns this
• Krishna moves from Gokul to Vrindavan
• Kalia the naag is poisoning the lake's water
• The Kansa demon army was growing (but so was Krishna)
• Indra had a wrath on Vrindavan because Krishna's people chose to pay their respects to Govardhan Hill
• Radha had an eternal and unconditional love for Krishna

Reading Notes: The Indian Story Book, Part B

Ravana

The Indian Story Book, retold by Richard Wilson, link to the online reading

• Ravana was told that his foes would take a pathway through the "trackless sea"
• He saw the army coming closer and closer to shore but they were silent
• Ravana then went to the grove where Sita was kept a prisoner
• He told Sita that Rama was dead
• Ravana told his warriors to go get the head of Rama
• Sita then found out that Rama was not dead
• Kumbhakarana was Ravana's younger brother
• This brother was a giant that slept for a long time and went into a hibernation type state, when he awakes, he feeds on people
• Rama wins the battle
• Sita learned that Rama was victorious
• Rama and Sita then saw each other
• At the end of the story, the fourteen years of exile were accomplished
• Rama and Sita were welcomed backed into the kingdom

Reading Notes: The Indian Story Book, Part A

Intro to the Story Book. Source

The Indian Story Book, retold by Richard Wilson, link to the online reading

• The city of Ayodhya seemed like a happy place, plenty of food and water, sweet music, workmen rejoicing in their skills
• King Dasaratha did not have a son to succeed him
• To get a son, Dasaratha would have to do a horse sacrifice
• There were 4 sons born to King Dasaratha
• "Bears and monkeys useful to him in work" said a holy man
• King Mithila had a lovely daughter named Sita
• Arrangements were made between Rama and Sita to be married
• Dasartha eventually started to grow old and wanted to hand the kingdom over to Rama
• Rama went into voluntary exile
• Rama came to the borders of the great forest through which the sacred Ganges flows, this is where the chariot left him and returned to the kingdom
• Bharata, the king's other son, was put on the throne with the passing of his father
• Bharata wanted Rama to be the king
• Rama could not return, but he let Bharata take his sandles back to Ayodhya
• Rama went alone into the forest with his bow and was met with a great shower of arrows, rocks, trees, clubs, darts. and loops of rope
• Luckily, Rama was skilled with the bow, Rama came out victorious
• The Rakshahsa transformed a demon, Maricha, into a beautiful golden deer with silver and horns sets of jewels
• Sita was so fascinated by the deer that she told Rama to go capture it
• The monkey king is called Sugriva
• Sugriva's immediate attendants were Nala, Nila, Tara, and Hanuman, Son of the Wind
• Hanuman went to go and comfort Sita for Rama