Week 3 Story: Lament

ACT I: LAMENT
JATAYU AND RAVANA
STILL SHOT OF THE AIR, AS WE PAN OUT
We see arrows launching through the air, and through the frame
WE SEE RAVANA’S CRAFT & JATAYU’S PERCH ON OPPOSITE EXTREMES
RAVANA
Damn ye bird, you shall not find success in your intervention, it is a pursuit in vain
JATAYU
Demon, the pursuit justifies action, the result is justification for drive
Jatayu burst through frame, toward Ravana, destroying his craft - we see Ravana and a woman (Sita) plummet
Upon the ground we see Ravana get the best of the bird, removing his wings - the demon and the woman exit, we linger on the dying bird
FADE TO BLACK.
ISOLATION OF RAMA
EXT. HUT
LONG SHOT EXT. HUT, CENTERED ON HUT, SHOT IN 1.19:1
Outside of hut, absolute silence
Rama leaves hut, enters shot
RAMA
How could this happen? Was it folly to pursue the golden deer? In hopes of winning further favor from my beloved Sita I’ve been met with desolation and sorrow.
(Rama appears fatigued physically, and now we see the deeper level of exhaustion)
RAMA (CONT'D)
Surely Sita has been stolen away, but by whom and to what ends?
Rama returns to the hut
CUT TO:
SHOT CENTERED IN HUT DOORWAY, LOOKING INTO HUT, CENTRALIZED
Rama searches the hut for any indication of who’s responsible
RAMA
(to himself, under breath)
How could I have let myself be lured away by the charm of the deer? Not even as a trophy or a reward for myself, but in a foolish attempt to please my wife.
Rama collapses to the floor, abandoned
Enter Lakshmana
LAKSHAMANA
(distraught upon seeing Rama’s condition)
Rama, awake, brother, don’t let the isolation and grief win out your heart dooming you from recovery and triumph.
RAMA
(defeated)
Oh dear Lakshmana, how can I muster to search when Sita, the source of my motivation, is lost?
LAKSHAMANA
Brother, it’s because she’s lost that you must muster - it is for her you must rally
RAMA
There’s no indication of fate, brother. How are we to know our path?
LAKSHAMANA
There’s no definite path, but we must begin somewhere
Brothers exit hut and begin journeying
FADE TO BLACK.
DISSOLVE TO:
OVERHEAD LONG SHOT OF JATAYU - RECALL THE FIRST SEQUENCE
The brothers enter the clearing and the frame, immediately noticing Jatayu, the brothers rush to him
JATAYU
Lord Rama, Ravana has taken hold of Sita - try as I did they’ve made their egress
RAMA
Mighty Bird, I see your efforts, and I know their toll. In telling me, you’ve saved this hour, but I ask one more question: To what ends did you see them flee?
JATAYU
They hastened towards a structure in the south, a fortress shrouded by the forest, I saw no detail...but now my time is at hand.
In giving this response Jatayu fades from all he’s known, held my Rama
FADE TO BLACK.
END OF ACT I

Author's Note:
In this week's entry, my goal was really to get into greater detail on a specific chapter of the PDE Edition of the Ramayana, specifically, the chapter titled "Rama and Jatayu". There's a lot in this chapter dealing with emotional vulnerability and defeat of the light side, which is something we haven't seen as often. Although this chapter shows that even the losses are slated as being part of the plan, a necessary evil, it's only the gods who are aware of this - our heroes remain defeated and feel the isolation of defeat. My attempt at a detailed screenplay here is motivated by trying to get into the emotions following the abduction of Sita through dialogue. This would come into play more with that specific noted aspect ratio - which would heighten (literally) the sense of isolation of minuteness in their place in the world.

Bibliography:
Public Domain Edition | Valmiki | Ramayana
Photo Credit:
Killing of Jatayu | Artist - Balasaheb Pant Pratinidhi

Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana Part B

Summary:

Bharata performs funeral rites for his father before entering the forest in hopes of retrieving Rama. Bharata finds Rama, who refuses to return to Ayodhya, Bharata then decides to wait in Nandigram until Rama returns. Later, Sita tells Rama and Lakshmana of her birth - wherein her father, King Janaka, finds her lying in a field. Rama and Lakshmana battle the demon Viradha (who can't be injured by sharp weapons) - we find the demon is named Tumburu. Later Rama meets the sage Agastya, who gives him more weapons. We then see Ravana's sister, Shurpanakha, fall in love with Rama, who responds with mockery. Shurpanakha tells her brother Khara, who is one again beaten by Rama, while Shurpanakha is fought off by Lakshmana. Shurpanakha then goes to tell Ravana what has transpired. Ravana then enlists Maricha's help to abduct Sita- ultimately Maricha disguises himself as a golden deer to lure Sita away. Once Sita is on her own, Ravana, disguised as a sage, abducts her - the mighty bird Jatayu watches this happen and sees Sita drop her jewelry to mark her path. Rava has been cursed and can't take advantage of Sita. Rama and Lakshmana hear from Jatayu vaguely of Sita's fate, and set off to search for Sita, they then meet another "Rakshasa" who aids them on their way. They pass through another Hermitage and meet Shabari, who has been waiting in arrested development for Rama's arrival. With her waiting complete, she asks for Rama to perform her rites.


Analysis:

Again there seems to be an emphasis in these entries on cosmic paths; everything is interconnected and foretold. Time seems to be known in these stories, we see consistent examples of characters knowing all they must do and all that will be done.







Bibliography:
Public Domain Edition | Valmiki | Ramayana

Photo Credit:
Rama and Lakshmana seated on Kabandha's arms | Painting on ceiling of temple near Salem

Reading Notes : PDE Ramayana Part A

Summary:
Maharajah Dasharatha lives in the capital city of Ayodhya, he has three queens named Kaushalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra, none of whom has borne him an heir. Dasharatha decides to hold an Ashwamedha in hopes of earning the gods' favor in the form of a son. After the early stages of the process, wherein a Brahmin accompanies a horse on a year long wandering journey, the horse is sacrificed along with many other creatures. The gods promise Dasharatha four sons. This is convenient as in the land of Lanka, demon king Ravana must be defeated by a human - so Vishnu decides to come to earth in the form of a human avatar: Dasharatha's son Rama. Rama and his brothers grow - Rama and Lakshmana battle the rakshasi Thataka, earning Rama spiritual weapons which speak to him. Rama, avatar of Vishnu, meets Sita, avatar of Goddess Lakshmi - the two fall in love. Rama wins a challenge, bending the bow of god Shiva, earning the right to Sita's hand. Rama then completes an additional challenge laid out by Parashurama, another avatar of Vishnu, earning an additional weapon. Rama and Sita are wed, and Rama's brothers Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna also marry into Janaka's family. Mother of Prince Bharata, Manthara, demands Rama be exiled - which he is, accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana. Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana leave the city, cross the Ganges, and begin exile. As Dasharatha dies, attended by Kaushalya and Sumitra, he thinks on a curse stating he's doomed to lose a child - he leaves the earth aware of karma's role in his life. Dasharatha dies without any of his sons present.

Analysis:
Most of these tales seem to be oriented around the idea of interconnectedness and consequence; everything lines up as to balance the cosmic scales. Dasharatha requires a son, the gods require the human form to defeat Ravana - Vishnu descends as a son of Dasharatha. Everything has balance and consequence, as Rama is exiled in an attempt by Manthara to see her son on the throne, but it's in this exile Rama finds his true evolution. These tales hinge on the idea of permanence and continuity, and that's very interesting as oftentimes in western literature things are closed without need or happen in a vacuum; all too often kernels end up being satellites and the story fades.


Bibliography:
Public Domain Edition | Valmiki | Ramayana

Photo Credit:
Four Sons of Dasharatha | unknown artist

Feedback Thoughts

Seven Ways to Crush Self-Doubt in Creative Work - John Spencer

This article gives some serious insight into the issue of self-doubt, and the ease with which it can enter into one's life. For me personally, I've most felt self-doubt in my time in endurance sports, first with swimming and the minimalism of variance between winning and losing. Then, with Triathlon where there's no way to fake a race; you're perpetually suffering and the winner is the one who can cope with this suffering the most effectively. The main two takeaways for me are 1. "Don't Compare Yourself to Others" and 2. "Abandon Perfectionism". In both of the aforementioned parts of my life these two traits can be horribly present; in swimming you're forced to compare yourself with others, because you're adjacent them and wearing essentially nothing - it's all very bare. In Triathlon, everyone is shoulder to shoulder, but everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and the ability to compartmentalize is essential. Further, if you go into any race expecting perfection, you'll lose. The ability to understand imperfection isn't an issue is a skill that can benefit everyone in all walks of life, other than surgery.


A Simple 5-Second Habit to Rewire Your Harshly Self-Critical Brain - Joel Almeida

I had a very hard time with this article; I've never been a fan of self-congratulation. I was certainly raised as a pessimist, and the thought of telling myself all is well and I'm fine after I've dropped the ball is still quite terrifying to me. I feel as though that would bring about stagnation and lethargy. I understand that I'm likely wrong and on one end of the spectrum, but I believe the "REBS" system outline within this article is equally wrong and exists on the other end of the spectrum. While we shouldn't be self-loathing, we also shouldn't pat ourselves on the back when we've made a mistake.





Photo Credit:
Fight Back Feelings of Self-Doubt|flickr|Paul Sableman

Topic Brainstorm

Idea I: (Portfolio)

In reading through the summaries I could find online for The Golden Mongoose: Tales of Duty from the Mahabharata I've found that the three stories therein sound pretty neat. These tales deal with complex issues: self-awareness, contentedness, sacrifice, relinquishing material holds. I believe all of these could very well translate to short stories or screenplays and all of these themes translate to modern contexts extremely well. I've not decided whether screenplays are the most efficient way to transpose these themes, which is my goal; I'll have to spend more time thinking specifically on effectiveness in writing.  These themes all interest me greatly because of their versatility.

Idea II: (Portfolio) *

I believe composing a portfolio consisting of stories from the Jakata's Monkey Stories could be an interesting and applicable work. These stories are varied, but seem to all hinge around ethics, and the role of wisdom in ethical dilemmas, which I think is very interesting. I believe these stories could all transfer to varying contexts quite well, and in that ease of transition greater applications could be found. The struggles outlined therein are very releatable when recontextualized, and because of that I believe it would be a rewarding process to retell these tales.

Idea III: (Portfolio) 

Another potential idea is to read through as many of these tales as possible, isolating instances of wit versus weight and explore the concept of outwitting opponents. This is a trope in western cinema, and could very easily be applied to instances of daily life in a relatable way. I'd initially read through Jackal Stories, before reading Bird Stories, then potentially The Deadly Feast. Before retelling these stories in a more accessible way.

Idea IV: (Portfolio)

Finally, I've wondered about the instances of friendship throughout these classic stories, and the role friendship plays in watershed moments. I'm unsure of which stories through which I'd read to build the foundation for this project other than Friends and Foes, and How Friends Are Parted. Should I be able to find more stories built around this topic, or with this topic playing a substantive role therein, I believe this would be a fun research project as it is extremely relevant to us all - as core friendship is something I should hope we all know, and know the weight thereof. Friendships are often more impactful than familial relationships and the development of such friendships is a major component of maturation. So, finding instances of this in older writings is always interesting.



Photo Credit:
Cover Image The Golden Mongoose|amartchitrakatha

Week 2 Story: Terminal

ACT I: CLEARANCE
SECURITY
OVERHEAD SHOT
We see many travelers lining the various pathways through airport security and its levels of convenience
CUT TO:
MEDIUM SHOT DOWN THE CONVEYOR BELT THROUGH WHICH POSSESSIONS PASS
We see a man take out his laptop, powered by a lithium battery - leaning into frame, a man stares at the battery confounded by its presence
CUT TO:
MEDIUM-LONG SHOT CENTERED BETWEEN TSA AGENT AND THE CONFUSED MAN
CLARK
(To nearby TSA Agent)
You aren’t going to let him get that through security, right?
AGENT #1
Sir, if anything appears out of order we’ll address it. Now, please get back behind that line.
CLARK
Ok I’ll wait, I just wouldn’t want something to happen because you weren’t doing your job
AGENT #1
(silence, Agent is clearly holding back some select words for Clark)
CLARK
It’s just that I heard lithium was volatile, you know, dangerous - like it shouldn’t be allowed on planes that you want to land..
AGENT #1
Sir, I’m beginning to feel threatened by you - I’m going to need you to follow my colleague here (beckons to nearby TSA Agent)
AGENT #2
Everything alright Rob?
AGENT #1
Not quite, Dale, I’m going to need you to take this gentl-
(interrupting)
CLARK
Clark Peters, thank you, and everything is fine you don’t need to take me anywhere
Agents 1 & 2 aren’t convinced by this
Agent #2 leads Clark away
By this time, the gentleman and his lithium-powered laptop are easily through security
FADE TO BLACK.
BOARDING
We see a long line trailing into the plane
Clark bustles up to the back of the line, late from his encounter with TSA
CLARK
(out of breath, exasperated)
Thank god, that was a close one, damn TSA detaining me instead of that lunatic with the lithium battery even after I alerted them to it, no good deed I guess.
DISSOLVE TO:
TRACK AS CLARK WALKS DOWN AISLE TO SEAT
DISSOLVE TO:
TRACK CLARK’S POV AS HE SEEMS TO BE THREATENED BY EVERYONE HE PASSES
Clark finds then occupies his seat, he’s alarmed to see his lithium adjacent rival not two rows up and caddy-corner
Clark drifts off to sleep
FADE TO BLACK.
Clark dreams of turbulence, which then causes the bin to open and the lithium battery powered laptop to tumble out - to the ill fate of all those aboard the flight - he’s scared - he jolts awake
FADE IN:
LONG FIXED SHOT DOWN THE AISLE
We see Clark burst into the frame in a panic
CLARK
(gripped with fright)
Everyone grab that man! (point to the known adversary) He’s going to get us all!
Frenzy ensues, as expected when a man screams of danger on a plane
Clark’s fellow passengers accost the man, tackling him and restraining him
CLARK
Where is your bag? Where’s the “battery”?
POOR SAP
It’s in the overhead! Why are you doing this? It’s just a laptop?
CLARK
This could’ve all been avoided if the TSA had listened to me in the first place! You, they, everyone left me no choice!
At this point the crowd is perplexed, but emotions are still high
CLARK
I won’t fail these people like the system has!
Clark tears open the overhead bin, unaware that objects may have shifted in flight - the man’s laptop with its worrisome battery crashes to the floor - there’s a moment of pensive silence, then
CLARK
Now.. Every one
The crowd turns, everyone hauls down the aisle towards the front, the back, anywhere other than adjacent the battery
At this point the captain has officially exited the cockpit and hell hath no fury
The captain storms towards the crowd
CAPTAIN BERGER
What is this? Why is everyone acting like this?
PASSENGER #1
We’re doomed!
PASSENGER #2
That guy brought a bomb on board!
PASSENGER #3
Yeah! And then the other guy armed it! He’s going to set it off
The captain storms down the aisle through the crowd until he’s met with Clark
CAPTAIN BERGER
What’s all this about you arming a bomb?
CLARK
I didn’t! I’m saving us from him!
At this point the unfortunate gentleman is tied to a chair
CAPTAIN BERGER
Looks like he’s the one who needs saving there, boss
CLARK
No, he put us all in danger!
CAPTAIN BERGER
With a “bomb”?
CLARK
Might as well be, he brought a lithium battery aboard your flight, sir! The TSA ignored me when I warned them, I had to handle it myself.
CAPTAIN BERGER
Sir, lithium is entirely safe, you’re thinking of *Hydrogen*
CLARK
I..you..how did I get those mixed up again? I’m such a fool.
CAPTAIN BERGER
You’re definitely not the sharpest, I’m going to have to report you when this flight lands.
CLARK
I think that would be best.
Everyone fizzles out, tempers reduce, everyone takes their seats once again - the flight continues on its way.
FADE OUT.
TRACK CLARK OUT OF THE PLANE, FLANKED BY THE CAPTAIN
CAPTAIN BERGER
Why did you start all this to begin with?
CLARK
I guess I let my fears get the best of me. I didn’t ever stop to think about whether or not I was spiraling, or panicking.
CAPTAIN BERGER
That’s dangerous, son; when you act without thinking you might cause a stampede
PANS OUT, HOLDS ON CLARK BEING TAKEN AWAY BY THE TSA
FADE TO BLACK.
FINISH

Author's Note:
This is very much a retelling of the story titled The Foolish, Timid Rabbit by Ellen C. Babbitt. I ran through that tale again recently, pulling the general summary, but more importantly the thematic pacing. I wanted to have the same message, but in a different format and in a more modern context. I thought that the closed environment of a flight would work well for the quick dissemination of information and the subsequent panic.

Bibliography:
The Foolish, Timid Rabbit|source|Ellen C. Babbitt
Photo Credit:
Lithium - Periodic Table|source|wiki-commons "me"

Reading Notes: Week 2 Anthology

The Foolish, Timid Rabbit, Jataka Tales - Ellen C. Babbitt

Character List:
- Inciting Rabbit
- Following Rabbits
- Monkeys
- Deer
- Fox
- Elephant
- Lion

Summary
A sleeping rabbit awakes to concern over the end of the world. Upon thinking this, the rabbit hears a sound and naturally assumes it's the worst case scenario; the world is ending. The rabbit panics and runs from the sound. The surrounding animals, upon seeing the flight of the rabbit, are concerned and fall in without taking the time to consider alternatives. Ultimately, the rational lion stops the onslaught of animals. After the lion has traced the story back to the first rabbit, they return to the site of the panic and unpack the issue.

"Analysis"
This is truly a case of pack mentality; a single animal responds negatively to negative thoughts, and this causes panic. This panic spreads to all surrounding animals, none of whom take the time to do the due diligence and check on the story. All it takes is one unwise animal to start a stampede. However, it takes one wise animal to end it - there's just the matter of the wise animal also being commanding enough to stop the herd; another rabbit wouldn't have commanded the herd as the lion did.



Goblin City

Character List
- Rakshasis (female goblins)
- Sailors
- Captain
- Wife of Captain
- Fairy (deus ex machina)
- Winged Horse

Summary
On the island of Ceylon lived She-Goblins. These goblins have no men living on the island, and as such are forced to use trickery to lure sailors to their shores. These sailors are shown a mirage of tradition; we see people farming, hunting, and living as they usually would. The sailors' hesitance is defused by this ruse and they head for land. After a few days of marriage and normality, the captain observes his "wife" returning from a night of dining on his predecessor. The following day this man alerts his mates to the conflict. There is dissent over the validity of his story. A fairy enters the story as a powerful conjuror whose power can free the men from this trap. Ultimately, a winged horse is sent by the fairy, and all those believing in the danger climb aboard and are saved - those who succumbed to the trickery of the She-Goblins, in their refusal to leave, are condemned, and promptly eaten.

"Analysis"
This story is an interesting balance of thematic motivations; we see hints of believe your elders, don't trust everyone, think for yourself, and be trusting. The sailors are damned due to their desire for comfort; they succumb to the goblins because they sought after the prospect of an easy life. This negligence and lethargy placed them in a world of danger, from which they weren't too keen to escape. Further, the observance of the captain should've yielded a quick wake-up and motivated the men to escape. However, some refused to accept the possibility of trickery; because of this, they were cannibalized.

Photo Credit:
1) Saw the Animals Running | Ellsworth Young
2) Demon City of Lanka | Ramayana, circa 1800

Week 2 Reading Overview

For the upcoming readings of the Ramayana, I've chosen to go with the Public Domain Edition. This edition of the Ramayana uses more antiquated and formal diction, which I find appealing as it is closer to the original intended format.

I believe I'm most interested in the comics centered around the tale of Rama as it seems to have the largest scale of concern. As this story has the largest scope, I believe it would transfer into the largest variety of potential retellings or short stories. Further, I'm interested in tale of Hakka and Bukka. This story appears to be fairly grim, layered, and beautiful. I believe the tale of Hakka and Bukka may lend itself to some heavy  modern applications, which is what I hoped for from this class as it were.

I'm curious to learn more about individuals from this culture who worked more for religious interconnectedness and awareness, such as Swami Vivekananda. In this particular culture I'm more curious about the extremes; the idea of total bellicose nature contrasted with complete acceptance and patience is very appealing to me. Extremes in writing generally appeal to me. Tolkien is definitely my favorite author; a major component of his writings is complexity in character study. I feel this genre provides opportunity for such complexity - seen in situations as Shiva testing Arjuna or Ravana disguising himself as a hermit.

Photo Credit:
1) Valmiki's Ramayana Illustration | source
2) Demon King Ravana | Henryart

Time Strategies

Through reading the articles provided, namely 'Realistic Study Plans' and 'Why Time Management is Ruining Our Lives' I'm hoping to apply the concept of regular time evaluations more often - as it seems to be a stable way of allowing myself greater structure. The balancing of study hours and free hours is crucial, but also the ability to be realistic with time usage expectations is equally important. Further, the Sisyphus imagery of the latter essay is damning. We perpetually set lofty studying goals, then underperform and condemn ourselves as lazy, as a direct result from unrealistic expectations and subsequent pressure.  

I believe the schedule I've established for myself with aid from our Professor will work well, as it complements the free time I have from other classes, without cluttering my week. Balance between physical classes, online classes, and free time is crucial - as it is easy to forget about online classes and set oneself up for a stressful marathon of built up work. With the slated schedule my goal is to stay ahead of my online class assignments, to the point of this course never representing a stressor in my semester.

Photo Credit:

George Procrastinates | tumblr | Team Coco

Technology

The tools stated on the site, namely 'Twine', sound very interesting and helpful. I'm looking forward to trying my hand at them in proper context. Although I don't fully intend on using cat memes, the randomization ability of 'Cheezburger' is interesting to me and is something I'll explore further. For a class hinging upon use of technology it is reassuring knowing how many tools there are available to us.










Photo Credit:
NASA Progress Timeline | NASA

Assignments

Throughout this course I'm sure there will be various assignments that challenge me as they break from my typical coursework. However, none seem particularly wild- I'm quite excited for all of them. I haven't had much experience with sustained writing, so that will be a new challenge, but I enjoy writing. All of the extra credit opportunities seem like fun excursions from the typical structure of college courses. I'm specifically excited for the Famous Last Words structure, which seems like a good opportunity for introspection.













Photo Credit:
Generic Office | pexels

Growth Mindset

I hadn't previously heard of the 'Growth Mindset' formally. The principles held therein are something I personally adhere to, but I hadn't known of an official classification. I'd first begun thinking in this style when I swam competitively in high school; swimming is a very precise sport, where the angle of one's hand upon entry into the water can result in a win or loss. I had to use the concept of learning from mistakes rather than laboring over them in order to sustain my passion for the sport, and this mentality allowed me to constantly evolve in sport, without becoming demoralized or depressed following weaker performances.

I believe my biggest recurring issue with learning is insecurity; I consistently fail to ask questions when there is need, out of a fear for looking less intelligent than my classmates. This insecurity prevents me from being on sure footing in class, even when there is stability within reach. I do believe I'll do my best to study this way of thinking more consistently in an effort to convince myself to be more involved in class when necessary. I think it's interesting that Carol Dweck believes confidence in early schooling should likely be replaced with more rigor, but I do personally agree. Oftentimes confidence means stagnation, so the mentality of constantly being challenged is appealing as it would indicate constant evolution.





Photo Credit:
Sara Rucker | Pinterest

Introductions

Howdy all! My name is Ben Fillmore. I am a graduate student in the Economics department, with a film minor. I chose Economics because it does a fantastic job of preparing its students for the workforce in a variety of capacities; the manner of thinking required and solidified by Economics establishes students in the world of critical thought quite well. My current studies have transitioned into a Masters in Data Science, which is a natural progression from Economics as it applies the theories and principles learned therein to the real world in a very calculated way. I've enjoyed my time in Data Science as it really breaks down how we see the world into very manageable and quantifiable methods. Last semester I took a class titled - "Statistics for Decision Making" and I thoroughly enjoyed this course. It did an excellent job of exploring how to model the world and better understand its operations. I believe my biggest accomplishment of the semester was opening grad school strongly, while planning my wedding, which truly took some time. Consequently, over break I traveled to Austin (My Favorite Place) and married my best friend, which had been a long time coming. This trip serves as the perfect segue to talking about a few of my main interests, as I opened the trip by getting down south before my fiance, and spending some time with my groomsmen. This pseudo-bachelor party was spent primarily either in front of a television or a rock wall. Which leads to my next section, the bulk of which will be discussing my favorite books, movies, music, and hobbies - as all were present this bachelor week. 

Potentially my favorite long-form narrative television show is titled The Leftovers (HBO, 2014-2017). This show is built around the consequences of 2% of the world's population suddenly and mysteriously vanishing. The Leftovers follows protagonist Kevin Garvey and his struggle to find definition, clarity, and purpose in the years following the "Sudden Departure". It's a masterpiece of emotional turbulence, isolation, and grief; so it seemed only natural to marathon it in two days with my closest friends. We then turned to the task of a single day marathon of the Extended Edition of The Lord of The Rings (Peter Jackson, 2001-2003). This is a mission I've undertaken with my closest friends on a few occasions and never does it disappoint. We quickly followed this marathon with another; the rapid completion of season one of True Detective (HBO, 2014). These undertakings represent my favorite films, television shows, and books - as I'm now entering my 13th year of annual Lord of the Rings readings and I have yet to regret a single moment of it. However, as an individual who must be constantly busy for fear of silence, I'm also currently averaging 1.3 movies per day for the year 2020. My favorite movie I've seen recently was likely A Hidden Life (Terrence Malick, 2019). My top movies for 2019 in order are The Lighthouse (Robert Eggers, 2019), Parasite (Bong Joon Ho, 2019), and A Hidden Life. As far as music goes, I tend to lean the Folk direction; primarily listening to Andrew Bird, Father John Misty, and Willie Watson - although recently I've leaned pretty heavily on James Blake. This time in Austin was quite ideal, as it afforded me the chance to do what I love with people I love. This transitions nicely into my more active hobbies - first of which is bouldering. I'm afraid I fell for the consumerist trap of watching the film Free Solo (Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, 2018) and falling in love with the sport of climbing. Although this film focuses more on big wall climbing, in which I've only dabbled, it is arguably the greatest sporting achievement to date. I believe if I had a free day, with which to do whatever I may choose, I'd go to Joshua Tree for bouldering.

Professionally, I aim to work in either marketing strategy or data science, as both apply economic theory and coding in a very hands on way, which interests me. My wife and I both strongly desire to live in Austin, and as such will likely be moving there within the next 4 years. We have a pet cat named Gus (Asparagus). I will make an effort to include Gus pictures in some capacity down the road. My wife admittedly doesn't do a ton of cooking, but we're currently work-shopping some crock-pot recipes for days when I'm in class extensively. I've been practicing cooking traditional Japanese recipes, and currently am enamored with the process of cooking Shoyu Ramen. I tend to spend altogether too much money on cookbooks and will likely need help down the road to end this purchasing habit. I believe this concludes my introductory post- I'm excited to speak with you all as the class progresses, godspeed.

Pictures:
(1) Boulder in Virginia State Park | flickr
(2) 'el capitan dares you' | djandym (flickr)
(3) gus | original

Storybook Favorites

In browsing the storybooks provided by students of previous semesters, I was excited by the level of commitment to craft; many of these entries showed an eager desire to, not modernize, but re-skin the stories in a more palpable and understandable way. I went through the list, choosing stories almost at random, factoring in posed content. Through this, I've found a few of my favorite.

First, I read and thoroughly enjoyed this project and its level of intimacy in breaking down the primary characters involved in the Battle for Lanka. Its format allowed the reader to truly understand the motivations of those involved, while still layering their intricacies in such a way as to show progression of thought. These characters come across as supremely self-aware, with a great sense of their purpose and fate.

Second, the character-study project of three female primary characters was particularly interesting, as oftentimes female characters in western literature, even when the protagonists, are somewhat one dimensional. This project did an excellent job exploring depth and versatility in each of the characters described, affording the reader, once again, the chance to spend time with each character and better understand motivation and complexity. Each of the described characters breaks from a typical western archetype in numerous ways, but each has her own distinct break.

Third, the study of the prominence and weight of food in these epics was peculiar, as it took what were seemingly insignificant exchanges or entries, and established them as watershed moments in each context. Food seems to be mentioned at critical moments, not as a break from the moment, but rather capitalizing the moment in a way not commonly seen in western writings. The gravity given to food, and the description of such, is an interesting addition and I felt this project did an excellent job expanding on said gravity.

Each of these projects had excellent design, both in terms of structure of writing and the layout of their blog posts. I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in both of these blogs and aim to pull from them in terms of image placement and color palette. Previously, as seen in the current state of my blog, I was a firm believer in minimalism; however, these entries have shown me that carefully cultivated themes and a cohesive page go a lot further than a standard entry.

Photo Usage:
Battle at Lanka, Ramayana, Udaipur - Sahibdin

Austin - My Favorite Place

One's favorite place should align with one's interests, goals, and needs; it should be more than a pretty location. For me, the only place I can confidently say fulfills all potential requirements, while still having many benefits yet undiscovered, is Austin. Austin, Texas remains my favorite city as it is more layered than any city in which I've spent time. It accommodates all perspectives, encourages all interests, and provides the opportunities required for said interests better than anywhere else.

Austin has a remarkable cycling infrastructure, which allows its residents to navigate the city itself, as well as safely exit the city for longer rides. To me, as a cyclist, this infrastructure is extremely important and is a city feature I greatly miss while in Oklahoma.

Finally, Austin provides a bustling urban center for those interested. Most importantly, Austin boasts an excellent community for young families, young professionals, and those interested in balancing work and life; with great riding, bouldering, and eating, Austin represents the perfect split between home and vacation without ever feeling artificial.


Image 1:
Austin Skyline - Kate Baucherel
Source: Here
Image 2:
Austin By Kayak - "sanwoz"
Source: Here
Image 3:
Austin Skyline from Fairmont Hotel - Katie Haugland Bowen
Source: Here

Test Post

This is my test post. It appears Bold and Italics and Underline are all working as intended, great success.