“Much ecocriticism has taken for granted that its task is to overcome anthropocentrism, just as feminism seeks to overcome androcentrism. The metaphysical argument for biocentrism is meant to sustain moral claims about the intrinsic value of the natural world, which will, in turn, affect our attitudes and behavior towards nature.”
Ecocriticism is a broad way for literary and cultural scholars to investigate the global ecological crisis through the intersection of literature, culture, and the physical environment.
One of the main goals of ecocriticism isto study how individuals in society behave and react in relation to nature and ecological aspects. This form of criticism has gained a lot of attention in recent years due to higher social emphasis on environmental destruction and increased technology. Ecocriticism is a name that implies ecological literacy. ...
1) Ecocritic is "a person who judges the merits and faults of writings that depict 2) The effects of culture upon nature, with a view toward celebrating nature' berating its despoilers, and reversing their harm through political action.”
Ecocriticism was first defined by Cheryll Glotfelty in simple words making it clear to other critics and writers. Considering the definition, it can be called an “increasingly heterogeneous movement” that takes an entirely earth-centered approach. It is mainly about the literature on the environment.
Relatively, Ecocriticism focuses on the literary and artistic expression of human experience primarily in a natural, and consequently in a cultural world. Ecocriticism signifies that literature cannot be approached in a way that in which man and his environment stand against each other.
To read a text ecocritical then is to examine the specific role of nature, environment, and ecology in the text, and from that reading of the text to apply the observations to offer solutions and alternative ways of thinking for environmental and ecological problems that humanity faces.
We live in a world increasingly lost to pollution, contamination, and industry-sponsored bio-disaster. It is now a truism to say that mankind is efficiently committing ecocide, making the planet inhospitable for the life of any kind. In such a context does esoteric and text-oriented theory have any role to play? Does eco-logical disaster require a theory to recognize pollution or to warn students of the dangers of that plastic wrapper or electromagnetic radiation?
What is the role of the theory in a time and context that demands praxis?
Ecocriticism originates in a bio-social context of unrestrained capitalism, excessive exploitation of nature, worrying definitions and shapes of 'development', and environmental hazards. While it does not seek to alter the course of any of these very real factors, its task is to see how theoretically informed readings of cultural texts can contribute not only to consciousness-raising but also look into the politics of development and the construction of nature.
Opening Moves
The Ecocritical turn
Raymond Williams in his elegantly argued "The country and the city" showed how English literature contributed to specific notions of nature, the countryside, poverty, seasons, and the city. He was not trying to explore the environmental aspects of eighteenth-century literature. Rather he was trying to demonstrate how the age worked with particular notions of "Nature" and "Culture". In a sense, this is the starting point for an ecocritical theory.
Early writers on nature in the twentieth century Aldo leopard, John Muir, and Rachel Carson are the most famous- suggested different ways of looking at the environment. Their texts have become justly the inspirational moments of ecocriticism.
Ecocriticism is a critical mode that looks at the representation of nature and landscape in cultural texts, paying particular attention to attitudes towards nature and the rhetoric employed when speaking about it. It aligns itself with ecological activism and social theory with the assumption that the rhetoric of the cultural text reflects and informs material practices towards the environment while seeking to increase awareness about it and linking itself with the other ecological sciences and approaches.
A basic definition of ecocriticism was provided by an early anthology, The Ecocriticism Reader which calls it 'the study of the relationship between literature and the environment. With its attempted links with activism, ecocriticism established itself as a more political approach to texts.
Nature in Western Thought
Thomas Hobbes in the seventeenth century believed that the "State of nature" was a primitive one and that human community - formation constituted comfort and safety. John Locke suggested that humans must treat the land as their private property. He believed that the non-human world was valueless. Later thinkers, however, had a less instrumentalist perception of nature.
Jean Jacques Rousseau argued that the state of nature was the purest and best form of human existence. He was one of the first critics of the Enlightenment, arguing against the established notions of 'progress'. Rousseau believed that natural was innocent and that civilization was Artificial and corrupt.
“My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky: So was it when my life began; So, is it now I am a man”
William Wordsworth, in “the Muse of Poetry” is the greatest Poet of Nature of the Romantic Age and thereafter. He is widely known for his Nature poems ‘Tintern Abbey, ’Lucy Gray’, ‘I wandered Lonely As A Cloud’, ‘The Solitary Reaper, and many other remarkable pieces of Romantic poetry. Wordsworth is also considered to be the “Highest Priest of Nature’ for his spiritual admiration of mother Nature. He brought in a new era of poetry where nature was represented, appreciated, and colored with imagination. The poet went against the Neo-Classical style of poetry that stressed kings and princes, Lords and Ladies, and other contemporary topics. Wordsworth began writing about “low and rustic life’ and his poems were ‘incorporated with beautiful and permanent forms of nature.
In his poems, Wordsworth has shown numerous aspects of nature: from refreshing breeze to paddy fields; from floating clouds to twinkling stars; from dancing daffodils to “steep and lofty cliffs”, to pastoral farms, and more. The poet remarked once that he could hear “the still, sad music of humanity” in Nature. He urged his readers to let Nature be a teacher and Nurturer for all mankind. Wordsworth saw divinity in nature and considered it to be “the guardians of … all moral being”. The poet elaborated on the elemental Joys that came from the blooming of a flower and the tranquility of a lake. The poet was writing at a time when industrialization had started overtaking the world and cities had begun to be morphed into concrete jungles. By concluding the beauties of nature in his poems, Wordsworth introduced the masses to a new world of calm and peace.
William Wordsworth’s "Tintern Abbey" opens with the speaker's declaration that five years
have passed since he last visited this location, encountered its tranquil, rustic scenery, and
heard the murmuring waters of the river. He recites the objects he sees again, and describes
their effect upon him: the "steep and lofty cliffs" impress upon him "thoughts of more deep
seclusion"; he leans against the dark sycamore tree and looks at the cottage grounds and the
orchard trees, whose fruit is still unripe. He sees the "wreaths of smoke" rising up from
cottage chimneys between the trees, and imagines that they might rise from "vagrant
dwellers in the houseless woods," or from the cave of a hermit in the deep forest.
The speaker then describes how his memory of these "beauteous forms" has worked upon
him in his absence from them: when he was alone, or in crowded towns and cities, they
provided him with "sensations sweet, Felt in the blood, and felt along the heart." The
memory of the woods and cottages offered "tranquil restoration" to his mind, and even
affected him when he was not aware of the memory, influencing his deeds of kindness and
love. He further credits the memory of the scene with offering him access to that mental and
spiritual state in which the burden of the world is lightened, in which he becomes a "living
soul" with a view into "the life of things."
"The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it."
_Karl Marx
(These words are also inscribed upon his grave)
Writing in the nineteenth century Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels located all forms of "Culture"- music, painting, and literature - within a social context. Attempting to provide a theory of the industrialized society Marx and Engels also treated art as an essential component of human life. However, Their main contribution was to locate the so-called "aesthetic" realms such as art within the context of politics, economics, and history. The "Marxist " approach to questions of aesthetics often, therefore, links them with questions of class, economic conditions, and power.
Here is a brief introduction to Marxism
WHAT IS MARXISM
Marxism is a government structure, that was introduced by Karl Marx. Marxism can be labeled as a radical form of socialism and focuses on the class struggle that has always existed in human societies. Marx argued that the warring classes were divided into two groups: the "haves," and the "have-nots."
The Ultimate Goal of Marxism: Marx believed that the worker's revolution would result in increasing power in the proletariat. This "power" includes seizing control of the factories and being capable of changing the means of production. This "dictatorship of the Proletariat," having felt the pains and anger of being exploited, would control the government and ways of production so that everyone produced what society need, and shared the profits, promoting economic equality. Eventually, in the final form of Marxism, all classes would slowly become nonexistent, and complete equality would be known as "Communism." In communism, the means of production are owned by the people, not by a dictator. Everyone would produce what they could, and in return would receive what they need; everyone is equal.
Some Most Famous MARXIST
Georg Lukács.
Karl Korsch.
Antonio Gramsci.
Herbert Marcuse.
Jean-Paul Sartre.
Louis Althusser
Example of Marxist
As an example, I've taken Paint it Yellow (Rang de Basanti) an Indian Drama film released in 2006 Directed and produced by Rakesh Omprakash Mehra.
It follows a British film student traveling to India to document the story of five freedom fighters of theIndian revolutionary movement. She befriends and casts five young men in the film, which inspires them to fight against the corruption of their own government.
Shot primarily in New Delhi, The film was released globally on 20 January 2006. Upon release, the film broke all opening box office records in India, becoming the country's highest-grossing film in its opening weekend and holding the highest opening-day collections for a Hindi movie. It received critical acclaim, winning the National Film Award for Best Popular Film, and being nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2007 BAFTA Awards.
Rang De Basanti was chosen as India's official entry for the Golden Globe Awards and the Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category, though it did not ultimately yield a nomination for either award. A. R. Rahman's soundtrack, which earned positive reviews, had two of its tracks considered for an Academy Award nomination.
Rang De Basantihad a noticeable impact on Indian society. A significant increase in public ire towards government and politicians for constantly being mired in corruption and bureaucracy and their inefficiency in providing basic amenities. Intense political discussions spurred on by the film's influence were observed in these patterns. While commenting on this, writer D'Silva said that the film "has struck a chord somewhere". Besides instigating political thought and discussions, it evoked a social awakening for many. Some discussions rallied on how citizens should support and contribute to non-governmental organizations and exercise simple citizen duties of paying taxes and voting, while others contemplated how to become more responsible towards the country. Unlike other Indian films with jingoistic overtones, many young Indians could relate well to the characters of this film.
The setting of this scene is a bar where amir Siddharth Soha Sharman Kunal R.madhavan Atul and Alice are Discussing in that scene Alice says Hmare krantikari ke liye desh ki Azadi hi sabkuch hai. where Siddharth says Duniya Mein Jan van dene ke Liye Kuch Nahi hai adds that Bhagatsinh, Ashfaq and Azad inhone Jaan di thi Desh Ke Liye Kuch Hua? also questions that aaj desh ki Halat dekhi hai is desh ki? aur padi bhi hai?
Such questions raised by him are still unanswered and unresolved.
Resources
Kesharwani, Piyush. "Rang De Basanti desh badlega." uploaded by Piyush kesharwani, 19 Dec. 2013,youtu.be/BxXXVBA-R7k.
Mehra, Rakesh omprakash, director. Rang de Basanti. 2006.
Kamala Das, Malayalam pen name Madhavikutty, Muslim name Kamala Surayya, born March 31, 1934, Thrissur, Malabar Coast now in Kerala, British India—died May 31, 2009, Pune, India, Indian author who wrote openly and frankly about female sexual desire and the experience of being an Indian woman.
'An Introduction by Kamala Dasdescribes the poet's own mental and emotional state as she aged and pushed back against patriarchal society. 'An Introduction begins with the speaker, Das, stating that she knows all the male leaders of India. Their names are a part of her, a tribute to their overwhelming power.
The poem is titled “An Introduction”, which means a formal presentation of oneself. The poem is a detailed account of Kamala Das' life and her conflicts starting from her childhood and early adolescence. She begins the poem with a reference to politics, as a domain beyond her knowledge and expertise.
The major theme of most of her poems is the quest for love and her failure to find fulfillment of love in life. Kamala Das is a confessional poet who displays feminist ethos in her poems. Her poems are the outcome of her intensely felt personal experience which she expresses honestly and with great conviction.
So as part of the Study Activity, we were asked to pick any one line/word/phrase and write our own version of poetry here's my version made out through this poem.
The line I've chosen is given below...
Dress in sarees, be girl
The thing I want you all to draw attention to is Two lines here it is...
1) Women Should not Speak
2) Men don't cry
Things like this are traditional stereotypes for Gender women should not do this this this and men have to be courageous, has to have fierce, and whatever not so I tried to explain what Masculinity and feminity are going through.
Be wife, they said. Be embroiderer, be cook,
Dress in sarees, be a girl Be a wife, they said.
Be embroiderer, be cook. Little they forgot to mention is to dress for yourself dress the way you want to dress, be a strong girl, and be one of the best working wives. Cause every time woman doesn't need to sacrifice her own choice for society. She has to have her own right to herself neither father, brother, or husband, and yes of course not even later on son.
Because the ideal image of women is centered on sacrifice, religion, and calmness, kind the short woman who is going through everything silently is the ideal woman of society. and the one speaking for herself is a sinner. There's a huge difference between masculinity and feminity there are traditional gender stereotypes where women are nurturing, gentle, and home- oriented whereas men are tough, blunt, and dominant.
Nowadays we find men are as gentle and polite as women but this mentally ill society cannot accept the emotional side of men. Same that they can't accept less sensitive women at all.
Today my blog is concerned with an activity related to Machine Translation Activity. As a part of our study, we have one wonderful Novel from the Great Rabindranath Tagore which is The Home and The World which is centered in Pre-Independence India Especially "Bang Bhang".
So, as part of this novel today we are asked to Writeup a note and Translate it into the Bengali Language. Then we'll elaborate on it.
Translation Task
Walking... On white sand.Sea shore was full of mad-headed people who were destroying the sea view. An old woman came and sat beside me, she seem a little outraged by the way humans are playing around and destroying mother nature.
There I saw sona coming standing beside me and talking to me as no one was there. She kept gazing at me, a tired-eyed old woman. As if releasing all burden over her head she took a deep breath everything around her was sparkling and shining and their human existence passed from sight.
In Bengali
হাঁটছি...সাদা বালির উপর।সমুদ্রের তীরে উন্মাদ মাথার মানুষে পূর্ণ ছিল যারা সমুদ্রের দৃশ্য ধ্বংস করে দিচ্ছিল। একজন বৃদ্ধ মহিলা এসে আমার পাশে বসলেন, মানুষ যেভাবে চারপাশে খেলছে এবং মা প্রকৃতিকে ধ্বংস করছে সেভাবে সে কিছুটা ক্ষুব্ধ বলে মনে হচ্ছে।
সেখানে দেখলাম সোনা আমার পাশে এসে দাঁড়িয়ে আছে এবং কেউ নেই বলে আমার সাথে কথা বলছে। ক্লান্ত চোখে সে আমার দিকে তাকিয়ে রইল। যেন তার মাথার উপর থেকে সমস্ত বোঝা ছেড়ে দিয়ে সে একটি গভীর শ্বাস নিল এবং তার চারপাশের সমস্ত কিছু ঝকঝকে এবং উজ্জ্বল এবং সেখানে মানুষের অস্তিত্ব দৃষ্টির বাইরে চলে যায়।
born on 1 January 1978 known among followers as Nithyananda Paramashivam or Paramahamsa Nithyananda, is an Indian Hindu guru and "godman". He is the subject of an Interpol Blue notice and a court-issued non-bailable warrant relating to allegations of rape.
He is the founder of the trust Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, which has temples, gurukulas, and ashrams in many countries.
Following accusations and charges of rape and abduction in Indian courts, Nithyananda fled India and went into hiding. He subsequently announced the founding of his own self-proclaimed island nation called Kailaasa.
Godman or Conman?
Pray or Prey?
The docu-series, produced by VICE Studios, gives a story of the highs and lows of Nithyananda's life in the pursuit of the explanation for his great following despite being labeled a fugitive by the people who used to believe in him, with testimonials that are given from devotees, attorneys, journalists, and activists. The followers and ex-devotees share a personal perspective while giving vital information that assists us in better understanding the complete narrative, having lived the story themselves.
Talking about the docu-series director Naman Saraiya said in a statement, “Such a comprehensive and complex investigation into Nithyananda and his religious movement would not have been possible without the trust and cooperation of each person we crossed paths with… be it former devotees, survivors, journalists, lawyers, and police officers. I hope the series resonates with audiences around the world and generates greater awareness of the events that led to his fall from grace and the indelible impact on those left in its wake.” He added, “My Daughter Joined A Cult has been one of the most challenging and rewarding projects of my career yet and I am incredibly proud of what the team and I have created with VICE Studios and Samira Kanwar.”
In the press statement, Samira Kanwar, VP of Content, VICE Studios, said, “My Daughter Joined A Cult is an uncompromising and unflinching docu-series about the internationally infamous figure of Swami Nithyananda. As is synonymous with VICE Studios, the series offers an authentic and compelling insight into a complex and controversial figure, using raw first-person testimonies and original production techniques. We are proud to be working with discovery+ to bring this series to a wide, global audience.”
Frame Study
Brainwashed
1) Canadian Woman - Sarah Stephanie Landry
Sarah was brainwashed back then when she was under BABA NITHYANANDA. she talks about how they all were blind worshipping him. She added that children were asked to chant mantras and they made children believe that Nithyananda is himself, God.
2) Aarthi Rao
One of the key witnesses in the Nithyananda case, Aarthi Rao, approached Chennai city police on Friday seeking protection for her and her family members.
Speaking to reporters at the city police commissioner, Ms. Aarthi Rao alleged that her life was under threat and pointed out that two days back some unknown persons visited her residence in Teynampet, Chennai, one after the other posing unnecessary queries.
“An unidentified man was found lurking near my father’s car parked outside the house. I don’t think anyone but Nithyananda would try to threaten me as I am scheduled to attend a court hearing in Ram Nagar court, Karnataka, on Saturday and suspect his involvement,” she said after lodging a complaint with the Commissioner of Police.
It may be recalled that Aarthi Rao, an NRI residing in the US along with her husband, joined Nithyananda’s ashram there. Once, during a visit to Bengaluru, she met godman Nithyananda in his ashram. During her stay, she was allegedly raped by him. Following this incident, Aarthi Rao lodged a complaint with the police who booked a case against Nithyananda.
Why do people believe him even after the CD incident?
“The video footage is genuine. It is untampered and there is no indication of alteration in the video. As far as image comparison is concerned, that is still to be done,” CID’s Deputy IGP Charan Reddy said. Asked about efforts to trace the actress, Reddy said, “She is not an accused in this case. She will definitely come. When she comes, we will examine her. “The CD was sent to Central Forensic Science Laboratory Hyderabad for analysis where it was found to be authentic, he said. The case was entrusted to CID for investigation after the scandal broke out in March when some TV channels aired the purported video footage. Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court reserved for tomorrow its order on a bail plea by Nityananda, arrested on criminal charges, including rape, from Solan in Himachal Pradesh on April 21.
Public Prosecutor Satish R Girji told the court that the investigation was complete and since there was no material on record, they did not require Nityananda’s further custody.
Justice Subhash B. Adi then reserved orders for tomorrow.
The Madras High Court had stayed all criminal proceedings against Nityananda pending before a court at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu where a private complaint has been filed against the self-styled godman.
BIDADI: Self-styled `god man’ Nithyananda Swami was granted conditional bail by the Karnataka High Court on Friday after over 50 days in prison. However, the court has restrained him from conducting preaching sessions till the investigation against him is in progress.
Justice Subash B. Adi, while granting the bail, said there is no doubt that Nithyananda’s actions hurt religious sentiments but, as there is no evidence to prove his crime, he could not be denied bail. Nithyananda was given bail on a bond of Rs 1 lakh and two local sureties. The CID has taken possession of Nithyananda’s passport and he will have to appear before the Bidadi police once every fortnight.
In this blog, we are supposed to deal with Robots and Artificial intelligence. We are asked to watch three short films to understand technology and Robots/AI.
“No one has a clue how to build a conscious machine, at all.”
In this short film, there's a mother and a son named jin-Gu and a robot named Dunko who have been living with them for 10 years. who is obsessed with Jin-Gu in the film later on his obsession turns into fascination. Soon Jin-Gu's mother finds a bug in his system and convinces herself to destroy Dunko.
2. Technology
When it comes to human life technology fails because when it comes to her son she got convinced to destroy Dunko.
3. Relationship between Dunko and Jin-Gu
Dunko and Jin-gu were friends for 10 years
4. Dunko as Ghost
At the very end of the short film, Dunko's ghost threatens Jin-Gu
For those who didn't understand, the imom basically cooked grace, the second child who was an infant because the mother had earlier called her "my little chicken" and had previously given instructions to imom that she was to cook the chicken. The whole video revolves around the concept of corruption by replacing humans with artificial intelligence. The imom is not necessarily evil, as pointed out in a conversation between Sam and imom, Sam is the sheep(innocent) and the imom is not the wolf (evil). The same is the sheep because he is a child who is oblivious and naive. The imom really is neither because the wolf is the mom, who bought into the world of technology and artificial intelligence, and the humans who created, and sponsor it. The mom is just a product who knows neither good nor bad and ended up doing evil (killing the baby) but it was from humanity's sin of relying so much on robots. I see this as a reflection of when Eve was tricked by the snake and bought into the evils and sin by eating the fruit from the forbidden tree. She persuaded Adam to eat it and eventually both were kicked out of Eden. The snake is the human promoting technology that replaces humans, and, eve is the imom and adam is sam. Again, this is how I interpreted this video, feel free to disagree because there can be multiple perspectives and meanings of a story.
Video- 3
Anukul
Satyajit Ray
This long short story's central idea is AI. The Robot named Anukul was set to take care of the house chores.
What Is AI?
Less than a decade after helping the Allied forces win World War II by breaking the Nazi encryption machine Enigma, mathematician Alan Turing changed history a second time with a simple question: “Can machines think?”
Turing’s 1950 paper “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” and its subsequent Turing Test established the fundamental goal and vision of AI.
At its core, AI is the branch of computer science that aims to answer Turing’s question in the affirmative. It is the endeavor to replicate or simulate human intelligence in machines. The expansive goal of AI has given rise to many questions and debates. So much so that no singular definition of the field is universally accepted.
The Future of AI
When one considers the computational costs and the technical data infrastructure running behind artificial intelligence, actually executing AI is a complex and costly business. Fortunately, there have been massive advancements in computing technology, as indicated by Moore’s Law, which states that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles about every two years while the cost of computers is halved.
Although many experts believe that Moore’s Law will likely come to an end sometime in the 2020s, this has had a major impact on modern AI techniques — without it, deep learning would be out of the question, financially speaking. Recent research found that AI innovation has actually outperformed Moore’s Law, doubling every six months or so as opposed to two years
