Feedback

Giving feedback is an important part of the storytelling experience. This week I tried three different methods to make giving feedback easier. The three techniques, reading out loud, use a timer and copy and delete, all had their own benefits. My favorite was the copy and delete and the reading out loud (I feel like these work best when combined). I was surprised at the difference copying and pasting made in terms of making the story easier to read and concentrate on. The one I found least effective was the timing one. While it is a great idea to limit yourself, so you don't get over focused, however I found that it stressed me out to keep looking at the time. I think for my personality the timer one was the least effective because I like focusing on the story and not the time. 

Overall, I enjoyed getting to use these different technique. I think I will use the copy and delete one, in my other classes with a lot of online readings to help me focus better and retain more. I think another strategy that can be used is to make sure that you are solely focused on the reading. I am notorious for multitasking (I say this as I turn off my TV) but, I have come to realize that sometimes it is best to turn everything off and focus on what you are working on! Overall your writing will improve and you will be able to retain more. The last thing I have realized with giving and receiving feedback is to remember that the comments are their to help you improve, not bring you down. It is important to remember that so you can take the constructive comments and apply them to your writing. 

Remember, don't be this person when getting feedback! Pinterest 

Story Planning: Rama's Duty

One thing I noticed throughout the different versions of the Ramayana is that Rama didn't always treated Sita in the best way. In the video, I watched, the narrators and illustrators even commented on this by having Rama literally walk over Sita. For my story this week I want to focus on how I think Sita should have been treated. This will be a modern take on this classic story.

Setting: The setting for this story will be the scene right after Rama banishes Sita after finding out she is pregnant. He does this even though Sita has passed two purity tests, because he fears the baby is Ravanas. This scene irritated me, because when Rama was banished Sita gave up everything to go with him, but when Sita needed Rama he cast her out. 

My Twist: For my version of the story, I want Rama to be the one to seek Sita out. After he casts her out, I want him to go looking for her. In this story, I want to equalize the roles between Rama and Sita. In the original story, Sita wasn't very independent, in my version she will be. I think that this is a good way to modernize the story, while still holding true to the love story of Rama and Sita. After Rama banishes Sita a year passes and both Rama and Sita feel like something is "missing” in their lives. Rama then leaves his brother in charge and goes in search of Sita. I want both Sita and Rama to realize they need each other. I don’t want to put all the fault on Rama in my story, so I feel like having them meet halfway is a good way to bridge the story.

Rama and Sita in Sita Sings the Blues. Web Source 

Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley

Reading: Ramayana Part 2 (video)

• The story was sometimes hard to follow with the multiple narrators 
• I like that during this movie we were able to see how Rama and Sita interacted, when Rama banished Sita, he was calm 
• This was interesting because this is not how I pictured it after reading the original story 
• I like the idea of Sita leaving to go into banishment and then Rama realizing he was wrong and running after her
• I feel like with modern times there would be some redeemable moment, like a moment where the main character realizes it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks 
• The movie, in my opinion did a great job of showing the mistreatment of Sita. There are several scenes where Rama is literally walking over Sita
• I would like to focus on Rama's two sons in a story 
• It might be fun to redo the story and have the two boys seek him out 
• "Duty first, Sita last" this was part of the story the boys sang, which seems wrong to me because Sita gave up everything to go with Rama into exile 
• Sita has to prove her purity AGAIN 
• I really like that the narrators make fun of this constant doubt of Sita

Rama and Sita in Sita Sings the Blues. Web Source

Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley

Reading: Ramayana Part 1 (video)

• One of the best things about watching a video is we get to see that characters reimagined before our eyes
• I liked that it talked about the different names Sita had! 
• It would be fun to do a story where Sita either goes into hiding or is a secret agent! She uses her different names a cover story
• The layout of the movie is interesting because it has three different narrators who argue and talk during different parts of the show 
• Ravana in the movie has multiple head and all I can think of is the devil in Dantes Purgatorio who had multiple heads! 
• It would be interesting to reimagine the different heads he has in a story and make each one of them a different monster 
• I like that all of the pictures I have looked up of Rama are blue. It would be interesting to have his skin color correlate to his mood
• This movie is interesting because it weaves a story into the story of Rama and Sita. I am interested to see how Dave fits into the story 
• The narrators and the movie version really highlight the injustice of Rama shaming Sita for being held captive by Ravana and questioning her purity

Ravana and Sita in Sita Sings the Blues. Web Source 

Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley