My Final Blog!

After writing these weekly blogs, I became so accustomed to them that it seems almost depressing that they will come to an end today.  The assignment for this blog was to write about what we took away from the class and what we would have done differently to improve our experience throughout the semester.  I can honestly say that learning can not even slightly describe what I have accomplished throughout this class.  I have completed so much more than learning.  I am taking away a vast amount of knowledge and life lessons from this class in which I never expected too.  When I first scheduled myself for this course, I was just hoping to get some of my requirements out of the way but, I am so glad that I chose this class as it really left an impact and I would be willing to recommend it to anyone who is looking for an SIS in the future. 

When the class first started I was honestly hesitant about all the analyzing of some of my most beloved fairy tales.  I think I was in denial and did not want to hear anything other than what I knew as a child.  But, as time went on, I came to realize that some of these analyses, although some seemed absurd to me, have some strong arguments behind them.  This showed me that there is much more than meets the eye and life is so much bigger than me, you, and fairy tales.  It really made an impact showing me that even though everyone is looking out of a different looking glass, we are all reading the same words on the same paper and living in the same world.  We are all connected by 
life and these tales make that connection possible. 

(http://www.maps-continents.com/globe-africa-asia.htm)

If I could do anything differently throughout this course it would be to make more time for myself.  I did complete all the readings but I sometimes wish I had more time to reread the material to gain a better grasp of the material.  I also wish I was not as shy and could interject my observations and beliefs about the tales to the class.  Overall though, I think with the questions and points I did contribute to the class and all the work I completed outside the class, I do not know that I could have done much more, or in that case, learned much more.  This course took up most of my time during this semester.  Even if I did not have assigned work for the class, I was always thinking about the material and attempting to apply it to real life.  

I did look back at my first blog ever and I realized how much I have grown throughout the semester.  I started the semester focusing on the major aspects of the tale such as the typical, “Happily Ever After” and the princes and princesses and witty stories.  What I have noticed is that I have expanded and now find myself analyzing the smallest aspects of each of these stories.  For example, in my first blog, I wrote that The Lion King was my favorite fairy tale, if it can be described as that.  Now, I realize a fairy tale is what one makes it.  A fairy tale can be anything as long as one interprets it in a fairy tale manner.  Therefore, I perceive The Lion King as a fairy tale and I watched it last week and found myself analyzing the most minuscule details and it really made me appreciate the film that much more.  

(http://www.filmofilia.com/2010/06/24/disney-converting-the-lion-king-to-3d/)

Overall, the course was a big eye opener for me and it is a shame that it has to end so soon.  I learned more in the course than I could ever explain.  Yes, there were things I disliked, such as the film Pan’s Labyrinth, but, overall the course was fascinating and I would highly recommend it to anyone in the future as it has helped me grow not only as a student but as a person as well. 

Bengali Folk Tales

Dr. Mian of the physics department attended our class this week and discussed folk stories of Bangladesh, specifically in the Bengali language he grew up hearing and speaking.  From his presentation, I noticed the uniqueness of the Bengali folk tales as they were different from the other Asian stories and drastically different from European folk tales.  

For me, it was interesting to see the variations between Indian and Bengali stories as I grew up next to a Hindu family and recognized many of the Indian figures and beliefs.  The Bengali stories of Bangladesh contained demons as do the stories of India.  Dr. Mian discussed the images used to portray the stories and it really made me realize how culturally impacted folk tales are as I have a good grasp of the Indian subcontinent culture in comparison the the American culture.

(http://www.exoticindiaart.com/print_bookdetails.php3?prodid=IDK742&table=)

I realize that Bangladesh and India have different cultures but, Dr. Mian discussed the culture and lifestyle of the Bengali people in connection with tales so I am using his presentation as a backbone. In the images he described how it is common for males to wear nice jewelry and be very decorated, which I have noticed in my neighbor’s wedding pictures.  Also, the incorporation of the ‘bindi’, the dot on the forehead, is present in the illustrations which makes sense but shows the application of the culture to the stories.  I am also not sure about Bangladesh but I know that in India they have arranged marriages and if the same goes for Bangladesh, in a round about way, it shows that true love is attainable even with arranged marriages.  I enjoyed this as my neighbors had an arranged marriage and have been happily married for 25 years. 

Another unique quality was the incorporation of punishment meaning, there is never forgiveness in Bengali folk tales but rather, the evil figure is always punished in some ways.  Yes, in other tales from different cultures, the evil character is sometimes punished but, in order to teach children, forgiveness is a big moral throughout tales.  In Bengali stories, punishment is common and is obvious the stories. 

(http://www.4to40.com/folktales/index.asp?p=The_Goat_Ogress)

What I really enjoyed about the story we read in class was the transformation.  Transformations are very common in fairy tales but, this story contained the only transformation in which the character’s names change as well as there attitude and form.  I was not sure if this had any special meaning but I took notice and was intrigued by the difference. 

Generally, stories from the Indian subcontinent, specifically Bangladesh and India contain many cultural qualities that are apparent to me as I am very familiar with these cultures.  Looking through my neighbors photo albums and shrines I recognized many symbolic meanings through the Indian and Bengali stories and until this weeks presentations, I never really recognized the unique cultural stories of these foreign countries as now I see not only the religious connection but also the heritage, climate, and tradition connections between a country and fairy tale.