Aayushee(1637212) – Power of Thoughts and Karmic Cycle

Mukund. “Power of Thoughts and Karmic Cycle”. The Best of Speaking Tree, Vol. 2, Bennet Coleman and Co. Ltd., 2004, p. 125-126

The article discusses the belief of cause and effect by exploring into the power of mind over matter. It stresses upon the fact that one becomes what he thinks. Our thoughts manifest the world that surrounds us, the opportunities, the troubles, the people, and the experiences in life. Our destiny is what we make it.

It further delves into the details of how a thought has creative energy in it, discussing the “law of reciprocal action”[125]. It elucidates how judgements, betrayal, hatred and other such negative emotions are only reflected as one thinks about them unknowingly converting the thoughts into deeds, as the world has to exist in synchronicity.

He also goes on to claim that sometimes it may take more than a lifetime to understand the relation between thought and deed. This is because the evolution of individual, which leads to this understanding, can take so long.

He further breaks down life into a ”series of karmic cycles”[126]. He puts forth the way to true transformation which is discovery of love, for which he considers divine assistance an essential requirement.

The author defines Karma as a “cosmic principle”[126] and God as “cosmic intelligence”[126] hence underscoring the absence of dependence of Karma over God. He brings attention to the fact that God, according to Hinduism, neither does punish, nor does He establish the definition of sin. The author specifically explains in the context of Hinduism, that whatever happens, happens due to one’s own action and God acts as a helping force in both our spiritual and material ventures.

The article although talks about the power of thoughts in detail, it takes a religious road of Hinduism when it traces the roles played by Karma and God. It would be more significant from the point of view of research if the approach had not been specific to a particular religion as such.

Aayushee(1637212) – A Comment on Positive Theory

Eckstein, Harry. “A Comment on Positive Theory”. PS: Political Science and Politics, Vol. 22, No. 1 (Mar., 1989), p. 77

In this article is explained, the gravity of the word positive, as to what position it holds in the world of positive theory, and also the responsibility it carries and how, and also the way in which it needs to be approached.

The author playfully describes on how on being asked sarcastically if positive theory is the opposite of negative theory, he answers without much ado that positive theory alludes Positive Philosophy and Positive Polity. He believes that positive thought should not be taken as something that is totally reverse of negative thought, at least giving regard to those who are new to the concept altogether.

The early researchers in the field of positivism gave importance to experimental and experiential testing of the theory as the area, as the author would like to believe, is even more intricate than “astronomical motion”[77]. Hence, there is a clear contrast shown between positive and negative thought on the basis of the fact that positive theory is based on scientific observation whereas negative one on no solid framework, thus being responsible for being destructive rather than constructive in its achievements.

The author in this paper then goes on to give a sneak peak into how the evolution of Positivism took place in the dawn of French Revolution and how it protested against the very idea that was supposed to guide the revolution, that achievement of utopian transformation was possible only by removing “constricting relations” [77] like feudal relations. But, Comte, the founder of Positivism, did not favour this line of thought. The article says that it was not that the rollback of negative thinking was going to make things better, but instead, for the betterment of the society, there was a need of concrete understanding to be built with respect to what phenomena occurred and how they affected other phenomena.

Thus, he explores how positive thought was, since its birth, adamant to be non-adamant. It had social betterment on its agenda since the very beginning. The open-mindedness and clearness of agenda of positivism is something that the author intends to showcase insisting all along that positivism does not in any way need to be looked as a rival or a contradiction, so to say, to the very theory of negativism. It needs to be taken into account in a serious and focussed manner.

A.ABISHA(1637213) The Social Sciences and the Truth of Religious Belief

There are two kinds of assessments of religious belief : those which assess religious belief itself and those which assess the holders of religious belief.The assessment of religious belief is the task of philosophy and the natural science.Philosophy and natural sciences assess the truth of religious belief. It also assess the origin and function of religious belief.According to Sigmund freud ,”Religious belief thus originates in man’s yearning to transform that harsh, adult world into the comforting one of childhood”.Human mind determine that certain individual’s have religious beliefs.Not only philosophers and believers but social scientists themselves spurn the relevance of the social sciences to the truth of religious belief. Carl Jung , on the other hand maintains that religious belief originates in the projection of the archetypes of the collective unconscious onto the world yet on the other hand denies that this explanation of religious belief has any bearing on its truth.The extent to which the social sciences determine the truth of religious belief is the extent to which believers appeal to the source of their belief to justify it.The relevance of the social  sciences to not the truth but the origin of religious belief is the first issue.The author contend that the findings of the social science can bear on the truth of religious beliefs without committing the genetic fallacy.

The Social Sciences and the Truth of Religious Belief

Author(s): Robert A. Segal

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Religion , Vol. 48, No. 3 (Sep., 1980), pp. 403413

Published by: Oxford University Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1462868

Accessed: 30-06-2016 17:55 UTC

Shambhavi(1637249)-Early Criticism of Emily Dickinson

Early Criticism of Emily Dickinson

In this article, Anna Mary Wells talks about how Emily Dickinson was a discovery in the twentieth century.She was a follower of ‘Transcendentalism’ which was brought in  by Emerson. She was somewhere compared to William Blake.Her poems were often rejected by many editors as inferior . She is considered as a posthumous poet as most of her poems were published after she died. She was known to keep her private life private.There is an argument about her writings that she writes awkwardly, ungrammatically and with faulty rhymes because she was unable to do better, or because that was her artistic purpose. The modern critics tend towards the belief that every irregularity was conscious and of artistic purpose . Her poetry was understood by only some people.Poetry for her was always connected to emotion rather than celebration(pg 251). She works on simplicity and clarity.

one of the most surprising criticism about her poetry is on the intellectual content of her verse rather than melody. It was like happiness in her silent life.

date of reading: 30th june,2016

Mary Wells,Anna.Early Criticism of Emily Dickinson. Duke University Press.American Literature, Vol. 1, No. 3 (Nov., 1929), pp. 243-259.

 

ROSE MARY GEORGE (1637242)- Maharaja Ranjit Singh’ Governance- Essence of Secularism.

Author: Kanwar Deep Singh,

Journal Name:Indian Journal of Secularism. Volume No: 19, Issue No: 4, Year:2016, Page No:55-67, Source of Publication: Print, Date: 29/06/2016.

Maharaja controlled Punjab for four decades which was an age of peace’ prosperity and progress in Punjab. And the benefits of his rule was enjoyed by all communities. So this article tries to explain how Ranjit Singh established unity in all circumstances and also how he maintained diverse religious and cultural identities in that society. Many researches and studies are already done on military and political achievements of Maharaja. The author of this article says that “A rulers greatness lies in the vision he projects for the future, the message he leaves for posterity and direction and dimension that he imparts to history” (56). At first, he created the first modern Indian Army- the Sikh Khalsa Army, which helped to prevent Punjab from the control of British authority. Then he banned the tax “Jizya” on Hindus and Sikhs, and thus he stopped non-secular practices. No laws were imposed on any of the minority or majority. His spirit of humanity and secularism was the key stone of his governance. He solved the problem of multiple faiths by the liberal policy. Even though he belongs to Sikh community, he stood for all people without considering any discrimination. Freedom of speech was existed in the court of Maharaja Rarnjit Singh.

During his reign, there were no bloodshed, no executions and no torture. Also there was no capital punishment which modern governments have not been able to abolish. He is a more enlightened exponent of humanitarianism and tolerance than some of the contemporary rulers of so-called secular or democratic states of modern time.

Shilpa Saju: 1637250- What Pokémon Can Teach Us about Learning and Literacy.

Vasquez, Vivian. “What Pokémon Can Teach Us about Learning and Literacy.” Language Arts 81.2 (2003): 118-25. Web.

Date of Reading-30/06/2016

The journal talks about the significance of anime and cartoon in the development of our learning and literacy skills.

To further explain this, he starts by giving example of one particular anime that is pokemon and what its impact were on the people watching it.

It takes us to different levels of association with pokemon which helps us in acquiring this ability of learning and literacy.

This whole process begins at a very young age and to explain this the writer takes the example of his nephew Curtis and how children like him are influenced by the anime they watch and in this fascination they start imitating the main character and all the main things that the anime portrays, in this case Curtis and his friends try and emulate the main character ash and starts the process of replicating the battles that the show exhibits.

This course of imitating is not as easy as it sounds, and the journal clarifies the different process these children undergo to imitate it and how in turn this helps them to develop and improve certain skills at a young age. Like for playing the battles one has to have a deep knowledge about the game, the anime and all the other things like different pokemon, their power level and so on.

For acquiring this knowledge child start accessing different materials and resources such as magazines, books, videos and so on, thus they start reading on a daily basis to enhance their knowledge which increases their ability to read quickly and identify the keywords from wherever they are reading and watching.

They also acquire the skill to learn more within limited time.

Active participation of one in these games helps children in the process of designing and drawing, to stay in the game and come across as strong opponents, children start drawing and redesigning the cards.

The journal gives us a final statement about how watching anime and cartoons incorporates skills such as designing, semiotics, reading etc. in the person who is an active watcher.

 

Design Features of Language and Carnatic Music

Book: The Grammar of Carnatic Music

Author: K.G Vijaykrishnan

ISBN: 978-81-215-1233-6

Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt Ltd, New Delhi.

Analysis:

This article focuses on the design features proposed by Hocket (1960) on how music shares some language features with music.

Major Aspects:

Cultural transmission: Hocket describes how humans have the innate capacity to use language, mathematics and music. It is predisposed in our genes.

Specialization: Hocket states that our ability to perceive differences in pitch is not specifically meant for only language or music. This ability is also necessary for survival in the the world, from an existential perspective. We adhere to sounds so significantly, as humans.

Open mindedness: Language is a symbolic system where open mindedness is a fact. It is the same case with music. One can create not just tunes but also ragas which has never been thought of, before!

Discreteness: In language, symbolism is discrete and not continuous, just like music. In Carnatic music, notes are marked by frequency of the boundaries that are arbitarary which means that they are not mathematically defined. Music is highly categorical.

 

 

Language and Carnatic Music

Book: The Grammar of Carnatic Music

Author: K.G Vijaykrishnan

ISBN: 978-81-215-1233-6

Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt Ltd, New Delhi.

 

Analysis:

Carnatic music can be traced back to the early or middle of the eighteenth century.One of the major aspects of Carnatic music is the principle of guru-sishya that is the teacher-disciple concept and the traditions of bhajanas. These two concepts ignited in the Bhakti movement in South India during the beginning of the thirteenth century. The bhajana tradition is one of the major concepts that have helped in sustaining as well as preserving Carnatic music in the last three centuries.

 

Major Aspects:

Duality of structure:

There are basically three levels in Carnatic music,  the phonological, the intonational and the representational phase between the phrase and the line. It thus has limited structuring. There are instances of loss and creation as well. For example some of the ragas composed by some musicians like Tyaagaraajaa and Mutthuswaami Dikshitaar are no longer in trend today. This can be terms as loss. Whereas the popular raagaas of today are by Karaharapriyaa and Kalyaani were not even existent in the sixteenth century.

Grammar and Carnatic Music:

In language, grammar can be divided into sound and meaning. Similarly, Carnatic music too, is a major architecture of sound and meaning. It is possible to analyse the well formed output in Carnatic Music, just like language.

Conclusion:

Carnatic music is becoming more and more performance oriented, these days, unfortunately. Where the focus is more on the stage, sound enhancement, etc. It has become a very mechanical approach, lately.

Shilpa Saju:1637250-Metamorphosis of the Japanese Girl: The Girl, the Hyper-Girl, and the Battling Beauty

KOTANI, MARI. “Metamorphosis of the Japanese Girl: The Girl, the Hyper-Girl, and the Battling Beauty.” Mechademia 1 (2006): 162-69. Web.

Date of Reading:29/06/2016

ISSN: 19342489

The journal starts with giving a description about the cho-shojo which basically means hyper-girl. This term breaks the stereotype of men being powerful by giving women the ability to do extraordinary task.

The world of anime which was dominated by male power started a process of change by introducing this term and process of female power through battling girls who have the capability to outrun men.

The journal uses the example of utena from Revolutionary Girl Utena, in which massive power is within Utena who is a fourteen-year-old girl. She turns herself into a prince not literally but by cross dressing.

Utena who wins every battle receives the rose bride, Anthy.

Here but the anime sticks to the conventional notion of powerful prince and fragile princess, this is done by showing utena as a sturdy and dominant prince, on the other hand there is anthy who is a fragile and submissive princess, what acts as a blow to this traditional notion of men being powerful is the depiction of this prince who actually is a girl.

What this anime claims to do and what it actually does is totally different. While they portray the girl with enormous power and strength but what they actually do is stick to the notion of battling beauty, where her character was beautiful which is to for the lustful male gaze.

Although the journal describes her desire to look male but keeping her female identity intact, what it actually portray is a woman who is powerful but to show this to the world and make it realistic, she has to dress up as a boy and convince at least other character in the anime that she is male, strong and hence capable of fighting the duel.

The anime does justice to the girl is powerful notion through the character Anthy, although her brother exploits her but to achieve power he needs her, thus she becomes the controlling figure who actually is in power.

Syril (1637211) – Representation, Stereotyping and Politics

Cinema and Cultural Modernity : Representation, Stereotyping and politics

Branston, Gill. Cinema and Cultural modernity. Pgs. 160-163. United Kingdom: Open University Press.  2001. Print.

Branston in this article discusses on how stereotyping and representation is managed in movies. He elaborates on how portrayal of people in media has molded our perspective on how we look at them. He says that stereotyping has made us look at a specific group of people in a particular fashion that has made us judge people as a whole rather than a particular individual. He further goes on to say how stereotyping happens and way it is carried out. He says that stereotypes are not entirely misconceptions but hold ‘a grain of truth’. He also says that though stereotypes are sometimes factually correct they might not be timely relevant. It is also seen that how stereotypes have also evolved during the course of time. How negative stereotypes have changed into positive and vice versa. And how even the channel of stereotyping has changed over the years. In today’s context a lot of stereotypical images are driven to the minds of the audience  by props and costumes and how it is has helped movies say a lot in a more economical manner rather than taking the audience through the entire process.

This stereo typing has in a way brought out how representation should be done in movies with more and more stereotypical images being used in films the need to portray a society in an apt manner is also discussed. This contradictions lead to a new argument known “Political Correctness”. Political correctness has become a prerequisite for representation in movies in order avoid any conflicts. Therefore political correctness is a very important factor when it comes to films, especially those carries a message to the audiences. This political correctness gained importance during the 1980’s when there were a lot of issues in identity and cultural politics. But this concept of “political correctness” has been criticized by many theorists, notably film scholar Noel Caroll has expressed that Political correctness is an impediment to film theory.