Asian Studies 254 - India's Epics

The ancient Indian epic poems Ramayana and Mahabharata, counterparts of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, are popular stories and Hindu sacred texts, rendered in oral, written, and dramatic forms in the languages of India and Southeast Asia. We will follow the Mahabharata war and the adventures of Rama, Sita, and the monkey Hanuman (Ramayana), exploring the interpretations of the epics in text, art, and performance. Topics of study include Valmiki's Sanskrit Ramayana (6th century BCE), women's folksongs and short stories about Sita, the Ramlila drama, Kathakali dance, the Hindi television serial, Peter Brook's film Mahabharata, and the Ramayana in modern Indian politics. All readings in English