from Sita Sings the Blues (source: Flickr)
This is "Tower Music" by Vaclav Nelhybel, one of my favorite trombone pieces. It's always fun to play and also to listen to, with lots of energy! This video is of OU's trombone choir, from our February 2013 concert.
Hi Susanna,
ReplyDeleteWow! I think that this is such a cool idea for a storybook! This idea is truly so unique and I think it is such a great spin on the project. This will give the reader not only insight into the stories in the Ramayana, but also the ability to take the knowledge that they learn from your storybook and implement it in their own lives. I know that if I had a trip to India coming up at some point in the future, I would be incredibly invested in finding out the best ways to truly experience Indian Culture first hand. I think that your storybook will do a fantastic job showing the different Indian festivals around the world. It will be great to have the knowledge of what each festival entails and where I can find and partake in it!
Awesome job, Savannah. I look forward to reading more!
Hi Susanna,
ReplyDeleteI was excited to check out Journey just from reading your introduction! It is a great idea to write about the different Indian festivals. Your introduction was very compelling because of the detail that you give. It made it seem that it was actually real! I thought it was also very clever to say that the stories are told first hand by those who were actually in them. It makes your argument of being number one that much more persuasive. You also gave great detail throughout the intro to be sure that the readers (or future customers) would not have any questions or be confused when they were finished reading. It's cool how you will not only be able to teach others about the stories, but also have them learn some of the festivities that they can use in their own lives. I'm excited to see how it turns out!
Hello, Susanna. The topic for your storybook sounds excellent! I look forward to seeing more as it develops. Right off the bat I find your storybook's layout intuitive. The variety of pictures on the "Journey" page really draw me in. They are so colorful and rich with culture. The little blurb above that says "the best source..." is helpful. It gives me a preview to the introduction and lets me know what the purpose of the storybook is. The "Begin Exploring" link beneath the pictures is nice and large. This makes it easy to notice. I know exactly what I should do after I am done examining the "Journey" page: click that link.
ReplyDeleteYour introduction describes the purpose of your storybook in detail. It is well written and flows smoothly. You broke it up into nice, manageable sections that are easy to follow. A single block of text is difficult to read, so these little paragraphs really help me to follow along.
If I could make a suggestion, it would be to incorporate more pictures into your introduction. You spend a great deal of time talking about all of the various festivals that you will discuss, but only include one picture. Your "Jouney" page is so colorful, it would be great if you could replicate that in the introduction. It would really add to the allure of your travel service.
Again, I really like the topic of your storybook. I look forward to reading more about these festivals and am curious to see how you will use the characters from the readings as narrators. Keep up the great work!
I really enjoy the colors you have used in your blog! It is soft and inviting. The font is not too big, but not too small either. The navigation bar is easy to use.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy the colors you have used in your blog! It is soft and inviting. The font is not too big, but not too small either. The navigation bar is easy to use.
ReplyDeleteHi Susanna!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely story you wrote.I just read the story Rama Navami. I like the images you chose. It was helpful to have a map to focus on, and images of the festival. My favorite is the image of Sita returns to the Earth. The colors are outstanding. The images on the introduction page are beautiful and make me want to read more about the action that is shown in them.
Your storybook is beautiful and exciting. I like how you have chosen to add information about the dates of the festivals that are being celebrated currently. Its inspiring to be able to read your story and then be able to venture out further with the ideas and information you provide! It's brilliant the approach you are taking with the narrators of the story! I look forward to returning to your storybook and reading more stories that you will add this semester!
I'm from the Mythology and Folklore class, but I chose to read your storybook as one of my extra credit selections. First off, I really like the cover page with the multiple images, it shows a wide variety and I appreciate that! Then your introduction does a really great job of previewing each of the festivals and the story tellers for each as well. I liked the very light tone you used in the introduction and thought it was cool that you were almost trying to sell these festivals to people to get them to read on. I wasn't familiar with the first story you told, so I was really intrigued at the complexity of Sita and Rama's relationship. Poor Sita, all she did was love him, and look where it got her. I think this is such an interesting background to share of why people in India, and elsewhere, celebrate Rama Navami. I liked that you used multiple images throughout the story, they all helped me to better understand the events and history Sita was recanting.
ReplyDeleteThe introduction was very interesting. It gave the audience an understanding of what the purpose of the storybook, which is to talk about the different festivals there are in Indian culture.
ReplyDeleteThe layout is very simple and sleek, however you would think that something that was showcasing festivals would have some more flash and color. Maybe even just changing the color of text would be helpful.
Also it would be helpful if the font size was a bit larger. It seems very small while trying to read it. I know that I’m just getting older, but it would help those of us that aren’t as young.
The story line was interesting, revealing that Rama is just a man as much as any man. I liked that you used Sita to open up the story line for the storybook. The story itself seemed a little dry though, it came across as more of cliff notes version of the story we have already read. I wonder how it would come across if you did these as maybe reporters reporting the festival like that of Macy's t day parade. You could then make little stories within those reports that highlight a story from the readings.
Susanna,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great choice for songs to share. I didn't expect to see anything from University of Oklahoma students when I started this assignment. The song was also fun to listen to, it was a change of pace from the other songs I have been listening to. Thanks so much for sharing, good luck with the rest of the semester.
Andrew
Hi Susanna,
ReplyDeleteI really love the way you have done this story. I have not read a story that focuses on festivals! Nice idea! I also really like how you incorporated a video into your story. It is the first time I see a video as well. It helps the reader get background information about a different culture. Also you are the first one I see that has a geographical pin point of where your setting takes place. This is the first time that I actually look for the location that the Ramayana takes place. This gives me a better idea of everything you mention in your story. It gives the story a much more realistic aspect than the original story. My favorite part of your story has to be the images. I cannot get over the actual images you use! It is amazing! Overall I really enjoyed your story!
So at first, when I saw your choice of music video, I was like, "Woah, somebody else picked a classical piece!" And then I was like, "Woah, this was recorded in Sharp!" and then I was like, "Woah, this is our trombone choir!"
ReplyDeleteAll of that leading to, "YOU WERE IN THE TROMBONE CHOIR?!"
We probably have a few friends in common, haha!
No joke, Doc is probably one of my favorite people in Catlett, so seeing his goofy conducting definitely brightened my day.
Here's a fun fact that might brighten yours: his wife is SO SASSY. It's hilarious and intimidating.
Ahh, someone else who knows Doc! Yes, I've been in trombone choir all eight semesters I've been at OU. I'm not a music major and not that great a trombone player, but it's been an enjoyable part of my time here. :)
DeleteIf you search YouTube for the OU trombone choir, you should also be able to find a video of him playing the spoons and his trombone, simultaneously, on "Bye Bye Blues" -- signature Doc.
I've never met his wife, but I definitely want to now!
Well written Susanna! I enjoyed reading your take on the Rama Navami festival! You did a great good in explaining the setting of the story in your introduction. I liked how you embedded videos because visual is always a must in my point of view. It honestly helps the stories, I think. Taking a toll on Rama and Sita’s love story. Love stories are always fun to read or write because there is an endless amount of creativity that can happen. I think that you have a very well knowledge of the background in the festivities because I was able to follow easily. Journey is a great title because it enlists that the action the reader is about to embark on. You have a good amount of detail in your stories and I have learned a lot from you on how to be more expressive in it. Can’t wait to read more from you and see the end result of your storybook!
ReplyDeleteI instantly loved the introduction to the storybook, I liked the fact you get a slew of photos to view before you enter. It gives a visual perspective and makes it more inviting. I thought your introduction sounded like a pamphlet! I don’t mean that in a bad way either, I think you have a really strong direction and that makes it all the more exciting for me. The introduction was really great and I’m in awe at how well it eases the reader into the first story. Speaking of your first story great job on the visuals you chose it really adds something special to the story itself. There was a sentence in your first story that had me screeching to a halt “Since the ten-day Navaratri festival in the month of Chaitra ends at the same time as the day for Rama Navami, the celebrations were intermixed”, wow that was a mouth full for me even to repeat out loud, is there any way you can shorten the more wordy sentences?
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read more!
Hi Susanna,
ReplyDeleteI loved your first story! I remember reading your introduction a few weeks back, and I was excited to read your storybook. I think it is so true that when stories are passed down from generation to generation that they can get changed and altered. I also like how Sita still does describe how much she loved Rama even though she was eventually betrayed by him, in a way. The images also help with the stories flow to help give you "breakpoints" that allow you to make sure that your imagination is keeping up with the story. I kind of got lost in the paragraph that starts with "I came back during Navarati". It seems to be a little repetitive, so switch it up a bit to make the story flow perfectly. Other than that little part, I think you did a fantastic job! I'm excited to read the future stories that you will write! Great job!
Hi Susanna!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed a few of your weekly storytellings, so I thought I would also really like your storybook; I was NOT wrong! I love it! I also thought of doing a journey type storybook, but ended up deciding to go another direction. I am so glad you decided to do it! You did a great job, and it was cool to see in practice. It was such a good idea to go for a travel brochure type idea, while still interjecting characters from the traditional stories. Your introduction did a great job of prefacing all of the stories and narrators to come.
Your first story was fantastic! I am also using the Ramayana for storybook inspiration, so it was nice to see familiar characters. As always, your narrative flowed extremely well, and your word choice was varied and sophisticated. Overall, I loved the tone of your story! Who could really blame Sita for being slightly exasperated with all of the attention showered on Rama—bit overrated if you ask me. I think you perfectly captured the feeling of a woman who was ultimately scorned by her great love. WONDERFUL job!
Susanna,
ReplyDeleteYour storybook is very interesting. I like that you are taking a different approach in comparison to the rest on the class. Your storybook can be used as a learning tool for our class, and future class when wanting to know about the Hindu festivals and the stories behind the events. What made your storybook fascinating to me is that it is relative to current time with the dates that you mentioned. I cannot wait to see how your storybook progresses. Your first story was attention-grabbing. Having Sita narrate the festival of Rama Navami and her marriage with Rama was great. When we covered “The Ramayana”, the focus was truly on Rama, and I still cannot get over how he treated Sita. What was the point of fighting against Ravana if you were going to constantly have her walk through fire (literally)? You were able to convey Sita’s feeling towards Rama, and I find that very important. Great work!
Hi Susanna!
ReplyDeleteYep, I chose to read your storybook this week too! I remembered being here before when I got here. I love what you have done with your storybook! I got the chance to learn about a festival that I had never heard of before and be entertained by your fun story. I will admit, the first line of the story caught me off guard and hooked me. I really liked the character Bali. It was easy to sympathize with him because he seemed so humble. My heart bled for him by the last lines when he was trying to pull the heart strings a bit about wanting to come back.
I am intrigued by the colorful flower arranging, Pookalam. It reminds me of the sand art that the Hopi Indians of the Southwest and the Tibetan Buddhist do.
The festival looks fun, and I think I would certainly have a great time attending such a fun celebration!
Hello Susanna,
ReplyDeleteGreat story. I liked it how in the introduction you talked about the festivals in India and how they celebrate it. Basically, you gave the outline of the Indian festivals. It was great that you used images throughout the story to how the reader how things look. I found the video really interesting of Rama Navami. Then in the story you went back and told the story of Rama and his birth and again along with great images, which were very helpful. However, we did know the story of Rama and Sita from our course reading, Ramayana. But I do believe that someone who has no idea of the Ramayana would definitely understand your story. The story was very clear and pictures made it even better to understand. Overall, you did a great job in retelling the story. Great Job. I am looking forward to read more of your retell stories. Thanks for sharing.
Hello again, Susanna!
ReplyDeleteI am back again to take a look at your storybook for my free choice this week. I enjoyed the introduction and the first story immensely, so I thought it would be nice to come back and take another look. I looooved the story about Bali and Onam!
You have done such a phenomenal job of capturing the different tones of the characters you are using. I loved how the solemnity of Sita in the first story was a marked contrast to the exhuberant King Bali. His excitement was infectious, and I imagined him as one of those people who smiles so frequently and so genuinely, you can’t help smiling back in return. I loved how you managed to make what seems like a lighthearted fiction so informational! It’s so cool to think about the festivals within the context of those they honor.
I felt a small amount of confusion at some points due to movement between past and present tense, but that easily could have been due more to my misunderstanding of the timing you were attempting to convey than anything.
As usual, excellent work! I can’t wait to head back and read more.
Hello Susanna,
ReplyDeleteThe initial eye catcher was the way you designed your storybook page. The images you chose really brought out the theme. I enjoyed the introduction and I learned something about the festival. The way you set up your project really resembles a real storybook. You put a lot of thought into the planning and designing your work. One thing that I really liked was the way you broke up the readings by inserting an image at various parts. The flow and consistency was good. I thought the video was great. In most of the readings Rama is portrayed as a great man who loved Sita. But, we later find out in readings such as Sita sings the Blues that Rama's character was questionable. I hope to revisit your blog before the end of the semester. You had several other stories I would like to read. Excellent work. Have a great rest of the semester!
Hi Susanna,
ReplyDeleteI decided to come back and reconnect with you. I have really enjoyed your stories this semester. I really like reading your stories. I like to stay updated. Thanks for great reads! Your projects are also very cool! You site formats and blogger site are very cool. Keep it up! I hope you continue to create some great stories.
Hello Susanna, this is my first time coming to your story book project and I absolutely love it. A journey of festivals was a wonderful idea and upon coming to your title page it was just that, festive! I really liked the pictures you used and I love the vibrant colors. I really liked that you decided to do a summary of all the festivals in your introduction page. To have Rama and Sita explain what the festival of Rama Navami was a wonderful idea. It was also a really nice touch to add a little bit of a Ramayana summary and how the two fell in love. Oh and the video was wonderful! I love the Bollywood production and it definitely is a nice kick off to the first of the festivals. My favorite festival was of the Onam written in Bali’s perspective. I thought the writing you did there really fit his personality. Awesome job!
ReplyDelete