Monday, October 22, 2007

Closing ceremony on EDU3234


I enjoyed very much posting my journals in this blog. This is the second time I am posting my journals. The first time I created my blog is during the drama course. I think this is the course where we first started posting. The only difference between the first blog and the second blog is the first blog we post and we comment on our friends blog and vice versa. The second blog we only have to post our journals only. Through this semester I have learned a lot on this course. I really love and enjoyed the different types of genres which can be found from Dr.Ed’s collection in the yellow book which he provided for us. It has widen my knowledge and understanding of the course. It has also helped me a lot especially in understanding the different author’s works. It’s good that we are exposed to these different types of authors and the variety of genres so that we have a good and strong background of what is really to read those texts. In this course also I have learnt a lot on doing position paper and research paper. Now I have a brief background of what it is to write those papers. Besides it has also helped me to learn how to think, understand and do judgement. It has also prepared me earlier so that when I want to do my masters I will don’t have any difficuly. I am also very happy and grateful to have Dr.Edwin as my supervisor. Throughout my work on the position paper and research paper, you have helped me a lot as well gave me advice. Also sometimes when you are busy you still guided me and this has really made feel happy. Overall, I enjoyed this course a lot which has developed me to become a good teacher. So Dr.Ed, till we meet during my practicals. Have a nice day. May God bless you. Take care.

The cast in 'The Namesake'


From left: Irfan Khan, Kal Penn, Tabu and Sahira Nair

Sunday, October 21, 2007

A portrait on MAHABHARATA


This is one of my favourite picture

The movie 'The Namesake'


I have watched the movie ‘The Namesake’ which was directed by Mira Nair and I should say that it is a very nice movie. It is a very touching story and at the same time very cultured. This has made me to appreciate Mira Nair’s work and I can say that she is indeed a good director. She has directed quite a number of movies and the one I remember is Monsoon Wedding and Missippi Masala. Both these movies are very good in terms of the story line and the way she made both movies to look really ‘cool’. During a conversation with her that is during the Toronto Film Festival, she said that she made this movie because she was inspired after reading the book and also when she was on the plane heading towards one of her far relative’s funeral. Here she felt like a solace between the book and the funeral. This has immediately made her to make this film. Within a week she got the rights and she begin directing the movie. She also stated that Kal Penn flew all alone himself from L.A. directly to her office to see whether he can have the chance to act or not. To his surprise she gave him the chance to act. Mira also stated this movie is very much close to heart and it is all about life. In fact it is one of the greatest journeys that will bring you home. Currently she is working on her next film that is ‘Shantaram’ and this film is based from a novel, Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. I really can’t wait to watch this film. Since I like Mira Nair’s movies, I always update myself on what is happening next. Overall I enjoyed every bit and part in the movie and I would consider it as a 5 star movie. All the actors have done a great job especially Tabu who played the role as Ashima and Gogol’s mother, Kal Penn as Gogol and Nikhil and Irfan Khan as Ashoke and Gogol’s father. Although the movie is not really same as in the novel but the originality of the story is there. I wish that one day I could meet all this actors and get their autographs. I would cherish this moment and also keep it as a memorable experience.

My 2nd draft on research paper

Today I received my second draft on my research paper. After the lots of walking to Mr.Eddie’s room and knocking at the door, sometimes seeing that there is a different person opening the door, our senior Mindy, waiting for my research paper to be seen, I am very happy that this time my work was well done. Only one thing I have to rework that is my sub-headings. I do not know how I forgot to put the sub-headings. I have also wrote this reminder on my post it note and sticked in on my computer screen. It entirely didn’t strike my mind to look at it. Anyway I still got another week to see if there is anything missing in my research paper. I also have to work on my literature review since I didn’t put anything under that section. I now realized that I have to put my three main points which is the names, identities and taboos. So after this I am going to hand in my final draft. I can’t really imagine that time is really flying fast. As goes with the proverb ‘Time waits for no man’. This proverb can be seen in one of the cover test pads and it alerts when we want to write anything on it. It seems that time is really precious and I have to make use of it all the time not only in my studies but also in everday life. Dr.Sheikh also will be returning to earth soon and I can’t wait to see our cheerful astronaut coming to earth. My heart beats. May God brings him down to earth safely.

Viewing on the movie 'Freedom Writer's'



Today we watched the movie ‘Freedom Writer’s. Overall the movie was interesting but at the same time touching. The teacher in this movie tried very hard to get the students attention in learning English. Since they are problematic students with different ethnicities, it is really hard for the teacher to teach them. When I watched the movie, I could see how the teacher and the students react with each. It is quite difficult especially when it comes to handling a situation like this. However the teacher keeps on trying her very best to teach her students. Her hard work and courage has made her to bring the students attention in the lesson. In this movie also, I got some tips like how to teach such students using different techniques. For example the teacher uses the line game method where she gets each and every student to step the line if he or she has faced any problems in his or her lives. Another way which I saw is when the teacher asks the students to write whatever they faced in their lives and also any things that they like to say in a journal. And at last, they wrote the problems and the things which they went through in their lives. One part in this movie that I really felt is when the students are to come to the front and toast by telling something in their life. When I saw each and every student expresse their feelings, I really pity them. They have gone through a lot in their lives and at last they flowed out whatever they have in their hearts. It is totally unimaginable. I too saw a few of my friends sneezing, coughing and taking tissues wiping their tears and I know that they also felt a lot. Anyway I didn’t cry. The movie is indeed a good one which have a lot values and thoughts to be reflected upon. It teaches more of ourselves by respecting other people and living together as a family. After watching the movie, I thought of wanting to get the book The Freedom Writer’s Diary. I thought of getting it after my exams is over so that I have ample time to read and reflect on the entries. Thank you very much Dr.Ed for giving us a good movie to watch. I would give this movie a 5 star rating.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Malaysian Folk Tales: Sang Kancil and Sang Buaya


This story is one of my favourites which I will never forget. I remember when I was small, I used to read a lot not only Malaysian folk tales but also from other continents like Europe and Africa. The Sang Kancil and Sang Buaya story was also featured in the television and whenever I come back from school I will immediately on the television and watch. When Dr.Edwin ask us to find Malaysian tales, what came to mind is this story. I am very happy that once again I am able to read the story again. What a flashback. Basically this story is about a mouse deer trick over a crocodile. Sang Kancil wants to cross the river but it does not know how to cross. As a result Sang Kancil asks the crocodiles to queue so that it count. The crocodiles without realizing what actually Sang Kancil wants blindly follows Sang Kancil’s instructions. What happens is the crocodiles has been fooled. The moral of the lesson here is ‘do not get fooled by anyone’. ‘Always think ahead what the other people wants’ These kind of tales can teach students on how to think logically as well as alert them to the surroundings. In a way they will understand themselves better.

The Fall of Icarus


The Curious Incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon


I have read this book and I came to find it a very interesting novel. Basically it is about a fifteen-year-old child who has autism. He understands maths. He understands science. Of all he is a very brilliant child and a pleasant boy as well. The only thing he can’t understand are other human beings. When he finds his neighbour’s dog lying dead on the lawn, he decides to track down the killer and write a murder mystery murder about it. Here he keeps on questioning his dad and neighbours about the killer. They get fed up with him until other people perceives him as a strange kid. The story goes on and he will also encounter other mysteries throughout his finding on the killer. In this book I also noticed there are lots of graphic representation which accompanies with the story. I liked very much the way Mark add this elements in this story. I think this is the only book where I find tons of pictures and interesting facts. Smileys, statistics, maths, science symbols, formulas and many more are in this book. I would consider it to be an interesting novel to read. So Dr.Edwin maybe you would like to get this book. It is a very thrilling story which has good values in it. In fact it is a good book for people to understand about autistic children and their behaviors and feelings. There is also a movie coming up based from the book. I can’t really wait to see the movie.

The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni


What a wonderfully crafted and spiced book. This is another of my favourites. When I read this book, I can feel the tasteness and sweetness of Divakaruni’s words when writing this novel. Overall, it is about an immigrant lady named Tilo who runs a spice shop in Oakland, California. She is known to have some powers towards the spices and when she supplies the ingredients for curries and kormas, at the same time she also help her customers to gain a more precious commodity that is whatever they must desire. In a way she can read what their mind wants and at the spot she will bring the wanted spice and gives it the customers. In other words she is able to cure people’s feelings and needs. But when an American guy ventures into the store, she cannot find the correct spice for him. As a result, things begins to change. There is also a movie adapted from this book. It is directed by Paul Mayeda Berges with a script by Berges and his wife, Gurinder Chadha. Guess what the casts are the lavishing Aishwarya Rai and the cool Dylan McDermott. Also special cast by Padma Lakshmi who appears to be in Astro Travel & Living channel played a part in the movie. It is a wonderful movie to be watched.

The Son of the Turtle-Spirit


This story is a very interesting story where it talks about a love between a frog which turned to be a man later and and the woman whom he loved. It has a lot of values to be shared like making good use of the oppurtunities, work for your own success, rely on your own strength and many more. The story can also be a good material to teach students. They will surely love it.

Submission of 2nd draft on research paper

Today I submitted my second draft on my research paper. During this one week break, I went through my first draft which I received and did the things which I need to do. I hope this time my second draft should be okay.

Got back my 1st draft on research paper


I got back my first draft and this time I have to some reworking. Overall my research was okay but I have to do more elaboration on the points. As Dr.Edwin stated I have to make a point, support the point with textual evidence and discuss the points. I noticed that I add more quotations but did not elaborate. When I went through my paper, I myself felt different because I came to find that some of my elaborations were not clearly stated and also was hanging. Now I realized that I have to make a clear stand of my elaboration. I also didn’t state clearly the subpoints of what I am going to talk. I have decided now to put it this way. Firstly I will discuss the significance of names in both characters, secondly their identities and thirdly the taboos. These three aspects I have to put under review of literature. Apart from that I too noticed that I use a lot of transitions like ‘This can be seen in chapter…’ So Dr.Ed advice me to use different transitions in order to show the flow of the work. I too need to work on the ending as well since it is abrupt. Also I have to rework on my implications towards education. I noticed that I didn’t state clearly what the students will learn but I just went on discussing. Hmmm, for my first draft I have to work more harder especially on the elaboration part. Anyway I am happy when Dr.Edwin commented my research paper is interesting. After this is my work on the second draft.

Submission of 1st draft on research paper


I have submitted my first draft of my research paper and I am satisfied after completing it. Since I’m doing on Indian authors I have to do a lot of research on their works. When I was doing my research, I felt like I’m enjoying the process of writing, surfing the net, going through books any many more. Although there is a lot of work to be done but I consider this as a part of enjoyment. Probably because I love to write. Maybe later on when I’m doing masters I should take a course on creative writing. Hmmm, anywhere there is a long way to go after I finish my undergraduate programme and graduate.

Presentation on position paper over!

I am very glad that I have presented my power point presentation on position paper. I feel quite relieved after the loads of hardwork of reading, citing quotations and editing my work. I am very satisfied now. After this is I’m going to work on my research paper. My journey continues…

Monday, October 8, 2007

Yahoo!!! My final Position Paper completed!


‘A Temporary Matter’ by Jhumpa Lahiri

Prepared by Saabdev Kumar Sabapathy

Thesis statement
Shukumar’s struggle in accepting the baby’s death changes his attitude towards his marriage.


For my position paper, I would like to look at the main issue arising in ‘A Temporary Matter’ that is the baby’s death which caused a struggle within Shukumar and made him change his attitude towards his marriage. Jhumpa uses various ways to show how the stillbirth of the baby can bring a big difference in the family. This can be seen through the problem or the challenges which Shukumar faces throughout his life.
Firstly, the story deals with the deterioration of marriage after the husband and wife come to know that their baby has been born dead. The story takes place over five days, beginning March 19, at a Boston suburb. During this week, when they have to cope with a one-hour power outage each evening, Shukumar recalls the problems that have caused changes in the way he and his wife relate to each other since the stillbirth of their child six months ago. Shukumar now noticed that Shoba prefers to spend much time away from him. Until recently, she had always been neat and tidy but now it is the other way round. This is clearly stated on page 6 where ‘Shukumar moved her satchel and her sneakers to the side of the fridge. She wasn’t this way before. She used to put her coat on a hanger, her sneakers in the closet, and she paid bills as soon as they came. But now she treated the house as if it were a hotel. The fact that the yellow chintz armchair in the living room clashed with the blue-and-maroon Turkish carpet no longer bothered her. On the enclosed porch at the back of the house, a crisp white bag still sat on the wicker chaise, filled with lace she had once planned to turn into curtains.’ This has made Shukumar to take on all the responsibilities and he feels that she is not even bothered to clear her own things. It has made him more distant from his wife and he has also begun to show some hatred towards his wife. In fact, on page 2 it is stated that ‘The more Shoba stayed out, the more she began putting in extra hours at work and taking on additional projects, the more he wanted to stay in, not even leaving to get the mail, or to buy fruit or wine at the stores by the trolley shop.’ So both of them have different ways of living together.
The idea of struggle and coping in accepting the baby’s death is further shown through Shukumar’s attitude towards his duty as a husband and a student. He is currently working on his dissertation on agrarian revolts in India and trying to complete the final chapters of his work. He had once been a dedicated student but after the baby dies, he has lost his motivation entirely. This is stated on page 4 “That and the summer should give you a good push,” his adviser had said. “You should be able to wrap things up by next September.” Shukumar has really lost the urge to work on his research and he has lost all the hope and happiness that he once had. ‘But nothing was pushing Shukumar. Instead he thought of how he and Shoba had become experts at avoiding each other in their three-bedroom house, spending as much time on separate floors as possible. He thought of how he no longer looked forward to weekends, when she sat for hours on the sofa with her colored pencils and her files, so that he feared that putting on a record in his own house might be rude. He thought of how long it had been since she looked into his eyes and smiled, or whispered his name on those rare occasions they still reached for each other’s bodies before sleeping.’ (page 4 - 5). This is further supported on page 5 when ‘It was often nearly lunchtime when Shukumar would finally pull himself out of bed and head downstairs to the coffeepot, pouring out the extra bit Shoba left for him, along with an empty mug, on the countertop.’ It clearly shows that, she no longer contributed to the household chores leaving Shukumar to handle them. He is almost becoming a recluse. On page 2 to 3 we see that Shukumar has regretted listening to his wife when he knows that at times as this he should have been sitting next to his wife giving her love and moral support. ‘Six months ago, in September, Shukumar was at an academic conference in Baltimore when Shoba went into labor, three weeks before her due date. He hadn’t wanted to go to the conference, but she had insisted; it was important to make contacts, and he would be entering the job market next year.’ As a result he has to do what she says. Shoba is more concern on her job and never worries about the baby which she is going to deliver whereas Shukumar really concern for his wife and the baby but he has no choice except to listen to her.
Furthermore, for months Shukumar dines separately, increasing their sense of alienation and lack of communication. ‘For months now they’d served themselves from the stove, and he’d taken his plate into his study, letting the meal grow cold on his desk before shoving it into his mouth without pause, while Shoba took her plate to the living room and watched game shows, or proofread files with her arsenal of colored pencils at hand.’ (page 8). It gives us the impression that Shukumar is beginning to lead his own life. He knows that whatever he tells or advises Shoba will never work because she is the one who is digging her own grave. As a husband and a student, Shukumar now has to stand on his own feet since she does not even bother to go to the kitchen to cook. ‘He combed through her cookbooks every afternoon, following her penciled instructions to use two teaspoons of ground coriander seeds instead of one, or red lentils instead of yellow.’ (page 7). But above all, Shukumar knows that ‘If it weren’t for him, he knew, Shoba would eat a bowl of cereal for her dinner.’ (page 8). As a reader, I discovered that because he cares for his wife he is forcing himself to do the cooking. I find that this discovery is important because as a reader, I can clearly see Shukumar’s distress at handling all the housework.
I also find that the power outage adds an element of suspense as it shows up the characters’ differences. During this time, Shukumar recalls a moment when ‘He remembered their first meals there, when they were so thrilled to be married, to be living together in the same house at last, that they would just reach for each other foolishly, more eager to make love than to eat.’ (page 10). But now he has to follow through the formal way of addressing and eating. ‘He refilled the wine in her glass. She thanked him. They weren’t like this before.’ (page 12). This line clearly shows that Shukumar has changed his dining habit where he now treats Shoba as someone who is different. Here, a turn of events is brought in with the power cut where the veil of darkness provides them with a barrier. Darkness is the agent that takes them on a path of self-discovery and recovery through confession. In other words, confession leads to acceptance and recovery. Earlier they used to try and avoid facing each other but now in the darkness they are saved from facing each other even though they are together. This, in other words gives them the opportunity to cross the bridge they had once built between them, finally to emerge together in the light of truth. Shoba tells Shukumar about her plans to shift to another apartment as ‘They’d been through enough. She needed some time alone.’ (page 21). While Shukumar has been living in constant fear and dread, making desperate attempts to please her after all the suffering and emotional turmoil that he has undergone, she is looking for another apartment, planning to move out of his life. This is made known from page 21 ‘It sickened Shukumar, knowing that she had spent these past evenings preparing for a life without him.’ Now it is clear to him that ‘This was what she’d been trying to tell him for the past four evenings. This was the point of her game.’ Anyway the game is not yet over. Now it’s his turn to confess. Thus the stage is set for Shukumar’s final heartbreaking revelation which he has kept since the stillbirth of their child. Each day he wonders whether he should tell his secret. Then he decides to do it. He has kept it a secret for six months. He describes “Our baby was a boy,”… “His skin was more red than brown. He had black hair on his head. He weighed almost five pounds. His fingers were curled shut, just like yours in the night.” (page 22). Actually, ‘Before the ultrasound she had asked the doctor not to tell her the sex of their child, and Shukumar had agreed. She wanted it to be a surprise.’ (page 21). But after the stillbirth of the baby, she had completely erased the topic from her mind and didn’t care much about it. She thinks it is a surprise for Shukumar as well. She does not know that he had arrived early enough to hold the dead baby. Now Shukumar and Shoba begin to realize what they have done. Although Shukumar hurts Shoba in the end by revealing this devastating secret, he is like a wounded animal whose lashing out is impulsive and ultimately, ineffectual.
Last but not least, Jhumpa has included a few ironies in this story and the one I found most interesting is the moment when Shukumar first fully welcomes the thought of being a father and even envisions having several children. ‘He imagined himself gripping the wheel, as Shoba turned around to hand the children juice boxes.’ (page 3). But now all the hope has vanished. Such an ironic situation makes one understand how much it means to bring a new soul into the world.
Overall I find ‘A Temporary Matter’ a very interesting yet rather a sad story. It is also an excellent study of interpersonal relationships. The whole idea of struggle, depression and transformation is clearly portrayed and carefully depicted in the characters’ thoughts and dialogues which eventually allow readers to venture into the story evoking different emotions. Thereby they can learn to appreciate the text even more.

References:


Lahiri, Jhumpa, (1999) Interpreter of Maladies, New York. Houghton Mifflin Company.

What an artistic picture


This is one of the pictures i saw when i went to the KLCC Petronas Gallery. This particular picture has captured my heart because the writings and the colourings reflect of our Malaysian culture very much. The interior of the picture consists of Malaysia's different types of food, youth, issues and many more. Also there are two chairs and a table which reflects our eating and chatting routine in the 'Mamak' stall which runs 24 hours a day. Very much cultured and impressive. Thanks to the artist.

Pictures on 50 Ways to live in Malaysia






Buildings of our time



Tuesday’s with Morrie


I have read this book 3 times and I really loved it. I would consider it the most read about novel of the year. It is a very interesting story where it teaches you about the value of life. Frankly speaking, I do not know who is Mitch Albom, his stories and his life. But when I bought his book and started reading it, I kept on thinking in my mind, this guy is really special. The way he carved his ideas is very much different. In a way, he brings out his own experiences of the things that he went through in his life. Plus we as TESL teachers are very much connected with the experiences and encounters in the classroom. In a way, we can feel what is really like being a teacher as well as the classroom environment. He teaches a lot on values, life and experiences of near death. My parents have also read the book and they found it to be really exhilarating. They told me that Dr. Ed has really given us a life time book to read which I will never forget. Mitch Albom has also wrote two other books entitled The Five People You Meet In Heaven and For One More Day which was recently sold in the market. So I’m going to get these two books and I really can’t wait what his next book will be.

What I Believe (Forster, E.M. Two Cheers for Democracy)


Today we talked about on this essay. When I read this essay, Forster says that in public, we can expect people to love each other. When I read this statement, I began to think of the word “two cheers”. This word can be portrayed as two people having two cheers. Also the value of tolerance which is very much closely related to the concept of virtue. Here Forster says that love will only work with the intimacy of people. What he meant here is that the feelings that one has for each other will show how much he or she has the courage for each other. In a way, Forster is showing to the people on the concept of love and how it is correlated with life. It is very much different from the general meaning of love. Forster looks from a different point of view when he wrote this speech. Very interesting indeed!

THE COMMON READER by Virginia Woolf


Today we talked about on this essay. Overall, this essay is about the value of reading books and imparting that knowledge to our everyday lives. It shows us how important is to read as well as sharing with others the information which we get. In a way, it creates an awareness in reading and displaying the effects of reading.

“I Have A Dream” by Martin Luther King, Jr,


Today, we talked about Martin Luther King’s speech entitled “I Have A Dream”. King Martin Luther delivered this speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The speech highlighted the fact that in spite at the end of slavery, the black Americans still did not live as a free people. This can be quoted from his speech where “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice.” (pg. 53, para. 1). The King also told his audience “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood”. (pg. 54, para. 5). In a way, he urged them not to rest until such equality has been achieved. He also told his audience to maintain dignity, to fight physical force with the force of the soul. The King also urged his listeners “not to be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” (pg. 55, para. 10). The King also repeated the phrase “I have a dream”, stemmed from the American dream, where it is believed that all human beings are created equally. This equality according to the King, should translate into a nation where children “will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” (pg. 55, para. 13). Apart from that, the King also stressed that in order for America to become a truly great nation, true freedom must be developed throughout its land. He told that freedom must be allowed to develop from every mountainside. He cited various mountain ranges across the United States from where the bells of freedom must be heard. Concluding his speech, the King envisioned a nation of multicultural citizens holding hands singing “Free at last! Free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” (pg. 56, para. 16). Overall, the King’s speech is more to achieving social rights and mainting the equality betweem people. It is a very interesting speech where he made me to understand the life of people in America. I too heard the audio speech and it is really different from the way I read.

George Orwell: Shooting an Elephant


Today, we discuss on George Orwell’s ‘Shooting an Elephant’. There are several issues which can be looked upon from this essay. Firstly is the issue of imperialism. Here the story is about taking a life with a coolie more worthwhile than the elephant. It shows how important the value of life. Also the issue of duty where one’s duty will determine one’s action towards the thing that he does. Also the morality of choice where humab beings decision conciles what is right and wrong. In this essay, the question of killing the elephant whether is it right or wrong strongly shows people’s cruelty and vulnerability in perceiving animals are different from human beings.
Today also, I received my first draft on my research paper. Overall it was okay. When I went through my draft I came to notice that I forgot to add my literature review. Anyway Dr.Edwin told me to be more specific on my literature review. I also need to add in more quotations, examples and explanation to support my points. I also noticed that I did a lot of explanation instead of supporting the points and explaining it. Also I have to rework my implication towards education. Since I’m doing on construction of immigrant identities, I have to be careful on certain issues. For example the issue of sex. I accidentally put this statement in America sex has been a way of life whereas in India it is considered entirely taboo. When Mr.Eddie went through this statement, he said not all American practice it. It is only in Hollywood, they do practice it. When I heard this, I felt like laughing because I made a mistake. Also I made a generalization which was not true. Also Dr.Ed stressed that in India, ‘Kama Sutra’ has been practiced many centuries ago. I do know that the concept of ‘Kama Sutra’ do have in India, but it strike my mind . Now I realized the difference of sex between Americans and Indians. So the moral of the lesson I learned today is don’t make generalizations. Always think hand before you something.
So now I’m going to start my second draft. My writing journey begins. Lets see what my second draft has in stored for me this time.

The second letter of Vincent Van Gogh


The second letter which Vincent wrote was to his brother and here he expressed about the physical distance between each of them. This can be also interpreted as emotional nearness where the love and warmth that both of once had turned out to be a difference between them. Vincent is talking about his depression and this can be seen from the line when he says “Today I promised myself something, that is, to treat my illness, or rather what remains of it, as if it didn’t exist.” What can be viewed from these two letters is his ambition has touch the lives of people. It has been a great inspiration for people who have read his letters. So friends if you have been keeping something for a long time to be expressed due to private reasons, better for you to express it now.We don’t know what will happen to us tomorrow. It is better to reveal out rather than keeping in the heart for a long time. If you start now your burden lessen but if you don’t start forever you will be thinking when i should tell this? Better to express out whatever you have and be in peace.

Letter about a brother's concern and advice


In the next letter, it is altogether about a brother’s concern, advice and love to another brother. Here Vincent wrote this letter to his brother Theo. Vincent told his brother to ‘seek only for light and freedom and do not immerse yourself deeply in the worldly mire. He is telling his brother to seek the spiritual way in order to attain peace. He also expressed when their father once wrote to him and said that “Do not forget the story of Icarus, who wanted to fly to the sun, and having reached a certain height lost his wings and fell into the sea.” What he is telling here is that he is talking about his ambition and although Vimcent is a painter, but his words are very political. This in other terms shows that he is a man of few words. Apart from that Vincent is a very religious person and although he is a great painter but he is not that successful. He has suffered a lot where he has become mad. He wanted to be a priest but then didn’t succeed. Later on he went to take up painting and now his paintings has become a source of inspiration and motivation for other painters. There are a lot of messages that can be found in his paintings and most of all are beautifully carved with expressions. One of his famous paintings was the Starry, Starry Nights. So friends, if you want to know more about Vincent Van Gogh, do feel free to log on to this website www.vangoghgallery/painting/starryindex.html-. There are lots of his works and paintings to be seen. Also there is also a song on Starry, Starry Nights. Lyrics is included and what you all have to do is just click the play bottom. I heard the song and it’s very nice. I have logged on to this website and I found it to be interesting and most of all informational.

Second letter of Keats


The second type of letter which Keats wrote is to his friend who is also a poet. His name is Shelley. Shelley is a poet during the romantic period and he is more to politics. In this letter, we can see how Shelley is able to move but Keats cannot. This can be seen when Keats said “The thought of such discipline must fall like cold chains upon you, who perhaps never sat with your wings furl’d for six Months together.” Here Keats deeply expressed his feelings since he is weak. Furthermore when Keats said about his complete devotion towards his work, he can be considered as a religious person. He therefore showed a lot of concern for his friend. So friends if you want to know more about John Keats just log on to this website http://www.john-keats.com/. There’s lots of interesting stuffs inside plus the letters which we have read. Have fun!!!

Letters


This time we learnt about letters. I came to find that writing letters is an interesting activity where we can reveal out our feelings just on a single sheet of white paper. It stimulates our thinking on what we want to write. We went through on Keats letters and of it was written To Fanny Browne, 11 October 1819. As Dr.Edwin stated, John Keats is a very sensual poet where he perceives beauty as a joy. This letter which he wrote to his girlfriend is very much close to his heart. During one time, there was a need to write letters and it has become a trend quite some time back. But nowadays, emails have taken the place of letters and most people enjoy sending emails. Since emails are functional, people can make use of the extra features like adding pictures, songs and greeting cards all just type written. It is one of the easiest, fastest and conventional way of interaction. Although email is becoming more wide these days, writing letters did not lose its originality. It is still being practiced till today. Generally letters are used to convey state of being as well as to share ideas, thoughts and emotions.

Who is Andy Warhol actually?


Andy Warhol was an artist and a filmmaker. His work comprises images of American popular culture. At his death in 1987 he was a multimillionaire who had used the technique of mass production to create an enormous output of art and photography. Many of his biographers agree that he was born as Andrew Warhola in 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is the youngest son of parents who emigrated from Eastern Europe. Sad to say, he suffered from the nervous disorder which is known as St. Vitus’ Dance and was taunted by other youngsters for his sallow complexion and physical frailty. How sad as a person like him who was a famous artist has become like this. Warhol’s father died when the artist was only fourteen. However the family was able to scrape together enough money for Warhol to attend the Carnegie Institute of Technology. Today this institute is known as Carnegie – Mellon University. His family supported him a lot and guess what finally, he majored in pictorial design and later graduated in 1949. Immediately after his graduation, Warhol set out for New York City. Within three months, he was commissioned to do major illustrations for Glamour magazine. By 1955, he was one of the best-paid commercial artist in New York, with clients such as Tiffany’s, I.Miller shoes, Bonwit Teller, Vogue, and the New York Times. He also designed book jackets, magazine covers and greeting cards in a wide variety of styles. By the mid-1960s he begin working in a large studio called “The Factory”. Here he turned out silk screens and recruited “superstars” for his movies. In this year also he was quite well known for his renditions of Campbell’s soup tins and Coca-Cola bottles. I think everyone of us know the Campbell soup very well. So now we know who created the two items. He also features celebrity such as Marilyn Monroe or Elvis Presley. Warhol’s earliest experimental films such as “Eat”, “Sleep”, “Kiss”, and “Empire” were considered as boring recordings that ran as long as twenty-four hours. In “Empire”, for example, a single camera focuses only on the Empire State Building from a position across the street. The angle never varies through the eight hours of shooting. I think if I were to just stare on the building, I will be right now sick. Very strange indeed. Apart from that during the 1970s and 1980s he continued to experiment with silk screen, cut-paper collage, and art for children. For your information, he even shocked the art world by displaying works created by urinating on bronze-covered canvases. Hmmm, I think I don’t dare to do that. However Warhol’s most note of works of the period are his photographs. He had a long Polaroid camera. By 1980 he had published two volumes of his photographs which is the Andy Warhol’s Exposures and Andy Warhol: Portraits of the ‘70s. Furthermore, Warhol’s writing was produced mechanically as his art work. He eventually combined writing and art together. He also would record telephone and personal conversations. Warhol’s writing comprises Interview and books such as POPism: The Warhol Sixties and The Andy Warhol Diaries. Warhol also worked right up to his untimely death, completing a version of Leornardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper”. He died of heart failure following gall bladder surgery on February 22, 1987, in New York, NY.The proceeds from the auction, as well as profits from Warhol’s business and real estate holdings, have been used to create the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. The foundation hopes to aid young painters and schools that teach paintings and sculpture. Also constructed is The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh that would be the most only single-artist museum to date in the United Stated.

A trip to KLCC Petronas Gallery


Last Friday, I went to KLCC to see the portraits of Malaysian paintings which is the celebration of 50 years of Malaysia art in conjunction with our independence day. This exhibition is held in Galeri Petronas, Level 2, Suria KLCC. The theme is 50 WAYS to live in MALAYSIA. It is held between 21st of August till the 3oth of September 2007. I didn’t want to miss this golden opportunity and since I like to draw and admire paintings very much, I immediately went to see. As soon as I entered the main gate to Galeri Petronas, I ask the counter girl whether I can take shots on the paintings. Sad to say it could not be taken since it is a private property of the artists. So I kept my camera in the bag and went to see the paintings. All the paintings were very beautifully touched and expressed. When I admire each paintings, I felt like I’m in another world. It’s like being in a world of arts. It is very peaceful and it has made me to appreciate the artists’ work. The paintings are done by 50 Malaysian artists and the themes comprise of land, nature, society, communities, religion, politics, gender, architecture, leisure, food and historical events. Mostly are being portrayed the picture of modern Malaysia. Furthermore the exhibition also explores the range of mediums that Malaysian artists use to make their work. This consists of painting, sculpture, installation, printmaking, photography, textiles and new media. It is a very wonderful experience being there and I suggest friends not to miss this once in a blue moon opportunity.

How does my position paper body looks like…

Thesis statement

Shukumar’s struggle in accepting the baby’s death changes his attitude towards his marriage.

5 main points with subpoints plus textual evidence

1.Shukumar now noticed that Shoba prefers to spend much time away from him.

-recently she had always been neat and tidy but now it is the other way round.
-‘Shukumar moved her satchel and her sneakers to the side of the fridge. She wasn’t this way before. She used to put her coat on a hanger, her sneakers in the closet, and she paid bills as soon as they came. But now she treated the house as if it were a hotel. The fact that the yellow chintz armchair in the living room clashed with the blue-and-maroon Turkish carpet no longer bothered her. On the enclosed porch at the back of the house, a crisp white bag still sat on the wicker chaise, filled with lace she had once planned to turn into curtains.’
( page 6 )

-made Shukumar to take on all the responsibilities and he feels that she is not even bothered to clear her own things.

-made him to be more distant from his wife and have also begun to show some hatred towards her.
-‘The more Shoba stayed out, the more he wanted to stay in, not even leaving to get the mail, or to buy fruit or wine at the stores by the trolley shop.’ ( page 2 )

-so both of them have different ways of living together.


2.Shukumar’s attitude towards his duty as a husband and a student.

-currently working on his dissertation on agrarian revolts in India.

-had once been a dedicated student but after the baby dies, he has lost his motivation entirely. This is stated on page 4 “That and the summer should give you a good push,” his adviser had said. “You should be able to wrap things up by next September.”
-“But nothing was pushing Shukumar. Instead he thought of how he and Shoba had become experts at avoiding each other in their three-bedroom house, spending as much time on separate floors as possible.” ( page 4 )

-on page 5 when ‘It was often nearly lunchtime when Shukumar would finally pull himself out of bed and head downstairs to the coffepot, pouring out the extra bit Shoba left for him, along with an empty mug, on the countertop.’

-shows that she no longer contributed to the household chores leaving Shukumar to handle them.

-Shukumar has regretted listening to his wife when he knows that at times as this he should have been sitting next to his wife giving her love and moral support.

-‘Six months ago, in September, Shukumar was at an academic conference in Baltimore when Shoba went into labor, three weeks before her due date. He hadn’t wanted to go to the conference, but she had insisted; it was important to make contacts, and he would be entering the job market next year.’ ( page 2 -3 )


3. Shukumar dines separately, increasing their sense of alienation and lack of
communication

‘For months now they’d served themselves from the stove, and he’d taken
his plate into his study, letting the meal grow cold on his desk before
shoving it into his mouth without pause, while Shoba took her plate to
the living room and watched game shows, or proofread files with her
arsenal of colored pencils at hand.’ ( page 8 )

-gives us the impression that he is beginning to lead his own life.

-he knows that whatever he tells or advises Shoba will never work because she is the one who is digging her own grave.

-Shukumar now has to stand on his own feet since she does not even bother to go to the kitchen to cook. ‘He combed through her cookbooks every afternoon, following her penciled instructions to use two teaspoons of ground coriander seeds instead of one, or red lentils instead of yellow.’ ( page 7 )

-Shukumar knows that ‘If it weren’t for him, he knew, Shoba would eat a bowl of cereal for her dinner. ( page 8 )

-Shukumar now has to stand on his own feet since she does not even bother to go to the kitchen to cook.


4.The power outage adds an element of suspense as it shows up the characters’
Differences.

-during this time, Shukumar recalls a moment when ‘He remembered their first meals there, when they were so thrilled to be married, to be living together in the same house at last, that they would just reach for each other foolishly, more eager to make love than to eat.’ ( page 10 )

-now he has to follow through the formal way of addressing and eating. ‘He refilled the wine in her glass. She thanked him. They weren’t like this before.’ ( page 12 )

-he treats Shoba as someone different.

-a turn of events is brought in with the power cut where the veil of darkness provides them with a barrier. Earlier they used to try and avoid facing each other but now in the darkness they are saved from facing each other even though they are together.
-Shoba tells Shukumar about her plans to shift to another apartment as ‘They’d been through enough. She needed some time alone.’ ( page 21 )

-‘It sickened Shukumar, knowing that she had spent these past evenings preparing for a life without him.’ ( page 21 )

-it is clear to him that ‘This was what she’d been trying to tell him for the past four evenings. This was the point of her game.’ ( page 21 )

-the game is not over yet and now it is Shukumar’s turn to confess.

-Shukumar’s heartbreaking revelation which he has kept since the stillbirth of their child. He tells her “Our baby was a boy,”… “His skin was more red than brown. He had black hair on his head. He weighed almost five pounds. His fingers were curled shut, just like yours in the night.” ( page 22 )

-‘Before the ultrasound she had asked the doctor not to tell her the sex of their child, and Shukumar had agreed. She wanted it to be a surprise.’ ( page 21 )
-both of them begin to realize what they have done.


5. Shukumar first fully welcomes the thought of being a father and envisions
having several children.

‘He imagined himself gripping the wheel, as Shoba turned around to hand
the children juice boxes.” ( page 3 )

-such an ironic situation makes one understand how much it means to bring a new soul into the world.


Guess what! Next I’m going to do my powerpoint presentation.

My position paper outline

Dr.Edwin has went through my points for position paper and everything seems to be fine. So lets look at my outline.

Thesis statement

Shukumar’s struggle in accepting the baby’s death changes his attitude towards his marriage.

5 main points

1. Shukumar now noticed that Shoba prefers to spend much time away from
him.

2. Shukumar’s attitude towards his duty as a husband and a student.

3. Shukumar dines separately, increasing their sense of alienation and lack of
communication.

4. The power outage adds an element of suspense as it shows up the
characters’ differences.

5. Shukumar first fully welcomes the thought of being a father and envisions
having several children.

After this I’m going to prepare the subpoints for each of these points together with the textual evidences. Hmmm, lots of work need to be done. My journey towards discovery begins... the countdown starts …


5 4 3 2 1 …