Thinking Activity : movie screening of Vita and Virginia

 Here is my Blog about Orlando A Biography by Virginia Woolf. 

“All extremes of feeling are allied with madness”

_Virginia Woolf 

Writer Introduction 

Adeline Virginia Woolf was an English writer, considered one of the most important modernist 20th-century authors and a pioneer in the use of stream of consciousness as a narrative device.

Life of Woolf

Woolf was born into an affluent household in South Kensington, London, the seventh child of mother Julia Prinsep Jackson and father Leslie Stephen in a blended family of eight which included the modernist painter Vanessa Bell, and was home-schooled in English classics and Victorian literature from a young age. From 1897 to 1901, she attended the Ladies' Department of King's College London, where she studied classics and history and came into contact with early reformers of women's higher education and the women's rights movement.

Encouraged by her father, Woolf began writing professionally in 1900. Following her father's death in 1904, the Stephen family moved from Kensington to the more bohemian Bloomsbury, where, in conjunction with the brothers' intellectual friends, they formed the artistic and literary Bloomsbury Group. In 1912, she married Leonard Woolf, and in 1917, the couple founded the Hogarth Press, which published much of her work. They rented a home in Sussex and moved there permanently in 1940. Woolf also had romantic relationships with women, including Vita Sackville-West, who also published her books through Hogarth Press. Both women's literature became inspired by their relationship, which lasted until Woolf's death.

"During the interwar period, Woolf was an important part of London's literary and artistic society."

Throughout her life, Woolf was troubled by her mental illness. She was institutionalized several times and attempted suicide at least twice. According to Dalsimer, her illness was characterized by symptoms that today would be diagnosed as bipolar disorder, for which there was no effective intervention during her lifetime. In 1941, at age 59, Woolf died by drowning herself in the River Ouse at Lewes.

What is Bipolar Disorder?

 

Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is 

"A mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings"

 that include emotional highs and lows depression. When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities.

The exact cause of the bipolar disorder isn’t known, but a combination of genetics, environment and altered brain structure and chemistry may play a role.

Manic episodes may include symptoms such as high energy, reduced need for sleep, and loss of touch with reality. Depressive episodes may include symptoms such as low energy, low motivation, and loss of interest in daily activities. Mood episodes last days to months at a time and may also be associated with suicidal thoughts.

In the Movie Vita and Virginia, there are several scenes that show Virginia's mental illness as well as one of the stronger women of the era. who didn't hesitate to portray herself as she was.

here are some scenes I loved from movie

Here are the questions and  answers mentioned in the task.

·       How far do you feel that Orlando is influenced by Vita and Virginia’s love affair? Does it talk only about that or do you find anything else too?

In Orlando A biography there is a boy who turns into a woman and who lives for 400 years which actually shows a fictionary imagination but by this novel, there was a rise of a new ideology that we should accept people in whichever shade they belong. 

Here Virginia expresses her control over emotions as well as her feelings towards vita after vita left her or we can say cheated her she felt hopeless.

" A room of everyone who loves her but she never felt as good as when she was with vita".

Orlando somehow resembles vita as she was bisexual. Also, it shows feminism how women wrote something that can change the perception of the public's point of view. Virginia Woolf was an innovative writer.

·       Who do you think is confused about their identity Vita or Virginia? Explain with illustrations

In the movie Vita and Virginia, I've seen that Virginia is quite confused about her identity it took time for her to understand what she wants whereas Vita was clear about her identity 

Vita was in a relationship before she fall for Virginia whereas for Virginia it was hard for her to accept her love towards Vita.

Virginia's love for Vita was Immortal she was never been in such a relationship before and her overthinking took her life to devastating Death.

For me, Virginia was confused about her identity.

·       What is society’s thought about women and identity? Do you agree with them? If Yes then why? If not then why?

Women 

In India, there is One in 100 women lives her life independently. Society believes women are not capable of things they can do these baseless discussions give less importance to middle-class women who are trying to still come up with their own ideas. Most Indian women are housewives who are just busy with their households and parenting there are nothing adventures in women's life we need to change this perception of society that woman is not only made to stay inside the house she is made up for new adventures to experience the joy of own life.

women also want to have a solo trip why can't they?

she must .society really digest women as superior.

I do not agree with society's thoughts about women and their identity. 

 There is a question on women's safety that can you hang around your own city late at night #Alone?

     Society can advise you for your behavior in public why the same people can't protect you in public?

    Write your views on Gender Identity? Will you like to Give any message to society?

    

   In Our Society Male and females, have different roles to play if there is a woman who wants to go to a club at late night it's not good behavior of a decent girl. Whereas when a man wants to wear nail paints society does not accept such equality.

    The old and rigid ideas of society must change.

The scenes which caught my attention are above all the questions and answers.

This is the scene when she finds Vita with someone else.

These are some pictures from the movie Vita and Virginia.

I loved it the most.

Vita and Virginia" had to be made into Bollywood Adaptation, who do you think would be fit for the role of Vita and Virginia?

These two actors I prefer as Vita and Virginia because Deepika is the kind of person whom we can mold however we want the same as that recent works of Alia is catching all the attention of Indian cinema. that's why I want Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt as the female protagonist of the movie also I want sanya Malhotra as Vanessa.

Thinking Activity : The Setting of the Modern Age

 What is Dystopian Literature?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a dystopia is 

"An imaginary place or condition in which everything is as bad as possible."

 The easiest way to think about Dystopian Literature and dystopias is to consider that a dystopia is often the result of a society's arranging its government and laws around good.

•Six most important elements of Dystopian literature

1) Quickly Establish the Reality. As stated above, dystopian fiction allows for a fairly broad field of representation.

2) Lay Out the “False Utopia” 

3) The “Event” 

4) The Totalitarian

5) The Resistance

6) The Result

•  characteristics of Dystopian literature

1) Government control.

2) Environmental destruction.

3) Technological control.

4) Survival.

5) Loss of individualism.

Rise of Dystopian literature

A modern literary genre, the dystopia, was invented by Yevgeny Zamyatin in his novel 1924 We which could be published only abroad. Like Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-four, which are modeled on it.

The dystopian genre remained a dark-themed, adult genre, highly reflective of the work of Zamyatin, until the 1980s and 1990s which introduced the idea of dystopia as a young adult genre. Dystopias did not become popular in the young adult genre until 1993 when Lois Lowry released The Giver.

Utopia vs. Dystopia 

“utopia” is a society or community setting wherein the people experience the ideal and most perfect life possible. By contrast, “dystopia” highlights the complete opposite, which is a place of extremely unpleasant living and working conditions for most people.

We

is often described as the first dystopian novel, but there are precedents in Western literature. HG Wells, with whom Zamyatin had several meetings when Wells visited the Soviet Union in 1920 and on whose work he wrote a long essay, produced some powerful dystopias alongside utopian fiction and non-fiction.

Yevgeny Zamyatin

Yevgeny

 Ivanovich Zamyatin, sometimes anglicized as Eugene Zamyatin, was a Russian author of science fiction, philosophy, literary criticism, and political satire. Despite being the son of a Russian Orthodox priest, Zamyatin lost his faith in Christianity at an early age and became a Bolshevik. 

19th century's Dystopian literature 

The Time Machine by H.G.Wells 

Paris in Twentieth Century by Jules Verne

Recent Dystopian works are

The Road by John Hillcoat

This survival story follows a man and his son traveling the vast nothingness of a post-apocalyptic world, where a global cataclysm had triggered an extinction event, followed by the total collapse of our civilization. This is probably the worst kind of dystopia, one where there is no society left. When facing starvation, the few people still alive resort to ‘less-civilized’ survival methods.

War for the Planets of the Apes

The epic conclusion of the new “Planet of the Apes” trilogy represents a very rare situation where the last film in the series is the best. This post-apocalyptic Sci-Fi dystopia is spiced up by an incredible mix of revenge, survival, and war.

Sci-fi  Science Fiction

Science fiction is a film genre that uses speculative, fictional science-based depictions of phenomena that are not fully accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial lifeforms, spacecraft, robots, cyborgs, interstellar travel or other technologies.

Bridge Course : T.S.Eliot Tradition and Individual Talent

 T.S.Eliot 

The essay Tradition and the Individual Talent is an attack on certain critical views in Romanticism particularly upon the idea that a poem is primarily an expression of the personality of the poet. Eliot argues that a great poem always asserts and that the poet must develop a sense of the pastness of thepast.

1.How would you like to explain Eliot's concept of Tradition? Do you agree with it?

 Eliot's concept of tradition.Eliot takes the tradition in a positive way as well as in a larger sense. He also points out that following the tradition is not only slavish imitation. The countries and nations try to preserve their tradition as heritage which is essential part of their culture and also handed down from generation to generation. Here one should not merely imitate the tradition but one has to add something new or creative in it and must write with the history in his bones.Tradition is not inherited but it must be acquired with great labor. So we can say that he put emphasizes on mingling the past and present with historical sense.

2) What do you understand by Historical Sense? 

     Eliot explains the concept of tradition with the use of Historical sense.There is quote from his essay on historical sense.

"The historical sense involves a perception, not only of the pastness of the past, but of its presence"

This means that It involves the perception of the presence of the past not only its pastness. It is not only to know about historical fact but mainly it's about that in which way people were living in the past and how that past is presented in the contemporary time. Further, he says that...

This historical sense, which is a sense of the timeless as well as of the temporal and of the timeless and of the temporal together, is what makes a writer traditional. 

This means that with the help of historical sense a writer can create a work that has timeless and temporal both together.

3) What is the relationship between “tradition” and “individual talent,” according to the poet T. S. Eliot?

Here the tradition is a matter of much wider significance. The title words of the essay "tradition" and "individual talent" have an interconnection. New writers are not merely imitating the tradition but by their own individual talent, they add something new and creative in already existing history or tradition. They give a new charm and beauty to the tradition.

In “Tradition and the Individual Talent,” Eliot advocates for the separation of art from the artist and argues that tradition has less to do with imitation and more to do with understanding and expanding upon the intellectual and literary context in which one is writing. Some of the main points in T.S. Eliot's essay are tradition, isolation, knowledge, and catalyst.

Thinking Activity : Wordsworth's preface

 William Wordsworth

Died: 23 April 1850

Born: 7 April 1770

"Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility."

                     William Wordsworth was famous for "Lyrical Ballads" during the 17th century. " Lyrical     Ballads" was a combination of creative and different poems by William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge. We can see in that collection When Wordsworth and Coleridge wrote "Lyrical Ballads" that time started a french revolution. So, mostly they have reflected the influence of the french revolution, here we don't discuss the french revolution but some points of view about the poem, poet, poetic diction for example.

1) What is the basic difference between the poetic creed of 'Classicism' and 'Romanticism'?

Classicism uses strict, rigid, and logical diction and theme. 

Romanticism uses simple diction of common men from their everyday life. Classicism was based on the idea that nature and human nature could be understood by reason and thought.

• Imagination and Intellectual:-

                        Classical poets have thought power but they don't believe in imagination. They live in reality and also written current condition. They all are given important intellectualism rather than imagination. But poets of romantics always supported imagination. They try to give new things and themes of that time's society through imagination.

whereas Romantic poets are free to express themselves in a free manner. They don't follow the classical manner of writing.

2) Why does Wordsworth say 'What' is a poet? rather than Who is a poet?

                        According to Wordsworth, he wants to write poems and also lyrical ballads in the language really used by man. According to Coleridge he also asked questions on poetic diction like as What do you actually mean by language really used by man? What reality? Which man?...etc. Wordsworth answered those questions like He finds humble and rustic life to be with emotions. He seldom says that a poet was comprehensive, a better human being.

3) What is poetic diction? Which sort of poetic diction is suggested by Wordsworth in his Preface?

                    Wordsworth also gives attention to what is the poet? rather than who is a poet? because he thinks that art and the role of the poet. He is endowed with more lively sensibility, enthusiasm, tenderness, he has greater knowledge of human nature. Poet also tries to create things that did not exist. The poet was who rejoices more than other men in the spirit of life.

Bridge Course: Dryden's Esaay on Dramatic Poesy

•  

• “There is a pleasure sure in being mad which none 
• but madmen know.”
• 
  
•  John Dryden 
• 19 August 1631
• 1 May 1700
• 
  
•  He was English Poet, literary critic, Translator, Playwrite.
• Was appointed England's first poet laureate in 1688.

Dramatic Poesy

What is the Purpose of writing Dramatic Poesy?

"A General Defence of Drama as a legitimate art form"

Dramatic poesy was Written in 1666.

Around closure of the London theatres due to Plague.

Main points of Dramatic Poesy.....

1) Views of major critics 

2) Tastes of man and woman of the time of Dryden.

Work is in the form of Semi- Drama.

It is an imitation of life and reflects human nature clearly.

Dramatic Poesy is written in form of dialogue among 

4 Gentlemen.

1) Eugenius - Defend of England

2) Crites- Defend of Ancients

3) Lisideius- Defend of French

4) Neander- Defend of England (Shakespeare, Fletcher)

Salient features of Dryden's essay on Dramatic Poesy? 

A valuation of becoming over being striving, nature -imitating, large scope of tragicomedy and Shakespeare.

1) Do you have any difference between Aristotle's definition of Tragedy and Dryden's definition of Play?

Aristotelian Tragedy

Dryden's Definition of Play

Dryden defines Drama as: “Just and lively image of human nature, representing its passions and humor, and the. changes of fortune to which it is subject, for the. delight and instruction of mankind.”

 Yes, we see a difference because Aristotle says that tragedy is an imitation of an action Aristotle believes that there is natural pleasure in imitation whereas Dryden defines play as a just and lively image of human nature representing it is passion and humorous and the change of fortune to which it is subject for the debate and instructions of mankind.

4) What would be your preference so far as poetic or prosaic dialogues are concerned in the play? 

I like poetry because dialogues of poetry are psychological and give a better understanding of human nature and the work of the human mind. But it is also true that poetic language is hard to understand, for illiterate also and prosaic dialogues are easy to understand by every people.

2) If you are supposed to give your personal predilection, would you be on the side of the Ancient or the Modern? Please give reasons.

According to my, it is not necessary that Modern always tries to copy from the Ancient, maybe sometimes there is new idea also which is presented by Modern. But generally, we find that many times Modern takes ideas from Ancient and tries to present it in a different and unique manner. Thus, Modern tries to explain ideas to people and show them a different way to think. So, according to me, both are appropriate with their own ideas, Ancient gives ideas and Modern tries to represent it in a different way according to the current time.

Bridge Course: Aristotle's Poetics

 Aristotle 

• “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” 

• Who is Aristotle?
•  was a Greek philosopher and polymath during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. Taught by Plato, was the founder of the Lyceum, the Peripatetic school of philosophy, and the Aristotelian tradition.
• Aristotle -the most distinguished disciple of Plato. He was also a critic, scholar, logician, and practical philosopher. In the fourth century BC, Plato a great disciple of Socrates was the first critic who examined poetry as a part of his moral philosophy. When he examines poetry, his powerful weapon-he believed that poetry is rather moral and not aesthetic. He became confused.
•                                           Aristotle's ''Poetics'', differentiates many kinds of poetry. He also explained that poetry has a different structure of a good poem and division of a poem, its component parts. He defines poetry as a 'medium of imitation' that represents non-real life through character, emotion, or action. He illustrates poetry in very profound ways, including epic poetry, tragedy, comedy, dithyrambic poetry, and even some kind of music.
•                                            In other words, as per many documents in the history of philosophy and literary theory, Aristotle wrote ''Poetics''. He adopted two major works, they are:
• 1) Rhetoric
• 2) Poetics
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• 1. How far do you agree with Plato’s objection to freedom of expression and artistic liberty enjoyed by creative writers? Name the texts (novels, plays, poems, movies, TV soaps, etc which can be rightfully objected to and banned with reference to Plato’s objections)
• • 
    

     Divya Drishti, Balveer, spiderman, Robot, Shktiman, shrarat, Avenger end game, Robot 2.0, Pk has nothing to give moral lessons. Also, the Movie named Oh My God is portraying wrong Indian religious beliefs.

2.  With reference to the literary texts you have studied during the B.A. program, write a brief note on the texts which followed Aristotelian literary tradition (i.e. his concept of tragedy, catharsis, tragic hero with hamartia, etc)

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• "Othello'' as an African General for the Venice Army. At the end of the story Othello and Desdemona are both dead along with Roderigo and Emilia. Iago remains to live on, no one succeeded but the only villain who still remains blameless. So, drama remains serious.
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• There is no plot regarding love and romance and shared between not any comedy or tragedy with evil intentions are satisfied. At the end Othello learns about Iago's intrigue and he weeps into pain or guilt for killing his innocent wife. So the situation created "pity and fear" towards the hero and the Novel passed followed Catharsis also.
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• Othello is overall a good man but his only fault is to make trust on Iago without knowing the truth. Othello's hamartia is jealousy and burned by his self-doubt and low self-esteem.
• 
  
•  3. With reference to the literary texts you have studied during B.A. program, write a brief note on the texts which did NOT follow Aristotelian literary tradition. (i.e. his concept of tragedy, catharsis, tragic hero with hamartia etc.)
• • A Tragedy named Romeo and Juliet 
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