Reflection on EDU 3217
Hi friends. Welcome back. So how’s your blogging. Time moves very fast. I didn’t realize that we have come to the end of our semester. I thought that I just finished my assignment. Phew! What I should say for my last blog is that overall, I find it very interesting. We can get to exchange our ideas not only on the plays which we have done but also other reflections of what has been taught in class. I found it to be very interactive based where we can comment on our friends blog and by the same time we get to know our weaknesses. This in other way has improved our blogging. Thank you Dr. Edwin for giving us this opportunity to blog where for me before this I do not know what is blogging is all about but know Dr. you have enlightened our minds on blogging. I also like the plays which you have selected for us for this semester. Although some plays were very challenging especially King Lear but I managed to read the whole play and I like the way Shakespeare play with his words. Thanks Shakespeare for putting up this play. Again thank you very much Dr. Edwin for guiding us throughout the course especially when you helped us to read each of the play for us. Its very kind of you sir and I appreciate it very much. Also the play which you told us to go and watch have also benefited a lot. I hope you will have something new stored for us the next semester. Thank you also to Miss Kasthoori for the help which you have given us in simulated teaching. We ae really happy to spend our time with you. Also the hours you spend guiding us to become a good teacher. Again thanks everyone for sharing your views and thoughts here and I hope the next semester we can continue with our discussion. Take care and smile always.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Hmmm, Pymalion
Now , we are at this last play, Pygmalion. After so many readings on plays this is the last play. In this play, the title here is actually taken from a Greek legend, in which Pygmalion was the King of Cyprus. He fell in love with a statue that he sculptured and prayed to the goddess that is Aphrodite to give him a beautiful wife like the statue he created. Lastly she gave life to the statue. Pygmalion married the woman who was created and her name was Galatea. This Greek myth serves as a metaphor for the action in the play. From my readings of this play and also from other books, I came to find out that Shaw was actually the member of the Fabian Society and he was involved in the Suffragette movement. He has helped to raise public awareness of the Suffragette case. This can be viewed when they ask for their rights to vote but the people did not want to give in and as a result, they are arrested. As a result of this, Shaw began to create the part of Eliza. Female characters in plays during that time were helpless girls. In this play, we have seen that how a simple flower girl has improve herself through education until she was able to pass herself off as a duchess. Shaw feels that everyone should be given education and the opportunity to improve themselves. This is what Shaw is trying to express in this play.
Now , we are at this last play, Pygmalion. After so many readings on plays this is the last play. In this play, the title here is actually taken from a Greek legend, in which Pygmalion was the King of Cyprus. He fell in love with a statue that he sculptured and prayed to the goddess that is Aphrodite to give him a beautiful wife like the statue he created. Lastly she gave life to the statue. Pygmalion married the woman who was created and her name was Galatea. This Greek myth serves as a metaphor for the action in the play. From my readings of this play and also from other books, I came to find out that Shaw was actually the member of the Fabian Society and he was involved in the Suffragette movement. He has helped to raise public awareness of the Suffragette case. This can be viewed when they ask for their rights to vote but the people did not want to give in and as a result, they are arrested. As a result of this, Shaw began to create the part of Eliza. Female characters in plays during that time were helpless girls. In this play, we have seen that how a simple flower girl has improve herself through education until she was able to pass herself off as a duchess. Shaw feels that everyone should be given education and the opportunity to improve themselves. This is what Shaw is trying to express in this play.
Goldrain and Hailstones, A Play not to be missed!
Goldrain and Hailstones. What should I say. This is one of the best masterpiece which I could consider to be given an Oscar award. I actually went on the 14th September 2006, that falls on a Thursday. To be true, I am not hat familiar in this so called place Sentul. But since my dad is quite familiar with the place, so he took me over there. When I got there, I got a shock of my life. Firstly I taught it was a recreational park but then later I came to know that it is actually the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre which is abbreviated as KLPAC. The place was really beautiful and awesome. All over there are trees and since it is nearly night, it is very beautifully lighted. I began to think to myself that surely this day is going to be a memorable experience for me. You would not believe it that really it has given me an unforgettable experience. My friends Amer and Hisyam were also there and guess what, the three of us took the same seating. So guys! want to know more what this play is about, keep on reading.
This play was actually written by Jit Murad and directed by Zahim Albakri and it is actually about the sense of belonging. The title itself symbolizes the Malay traditional proverb which means “Hujan emas di negeri orang, hujan batu di negeri sendiri, lebih baik di negeri sendiri”. What this means is that no matter whether you go abroad to study or sightseeing, but when it comes to you where you born and breed in this country, this is the best place to be. This is clearly depicted in this play where there are four main characters by the name Man, Nina, Jay and Amy. Actually, there is only 2 people who play the same role and this can be seen where Jit Murad play his role as Man and Jay whereas Lin Jaafar play her role as Nina and Amy.
The play is actually about both of them have went abroad to study in the United States and came back to Malaysia after some time. The play begins with the return of Amy ( her real name is actually Aminah ) after living and studying in the States for ten years. Her return has invoked back the memory of Man, Nina and Jay about their childhood and their own experiences studying and living abroad. Each of them came brought back home with different beliefs and values, thinking and seeing things differently. Although this play was written 13 years ago, but it was actually during those were the days where students from Malaysia will go abroad to further their studies but when when they come back, not only their whole entire body has changed but also their way of seeing things which not any Malaysian will accept expect those whose thinking is the same as theirs and also those who can accept things in a free way.
In addition in terms of sense of belonging, this aspect can be viewed by the words of Jay and Amy. Jay here said that he only felt home when he is going to a foreign country. Amy on the other hand, who come from Negeri Sembilan although nowadays if anybody asks where you come from, they will usually say in a simple word that is I am from Seremban. Amy’s mother comes from Negeri Sembilan is very much attached to the Malay culture whereas Amy’s father who live like the English people who is quite open minded have made Amy to search for her sense of belonging. Only when her father passed away, then only she came to realize about herself. I was quite sad here because both of them like lost in the woods, where they don’t know which path to choose. Although both of them have different routes to the States, but when it comes to their hometown, they like somehow stuck somewhere.
Above all this, the play was full of jokes and laughter. Most of the audiences were laughing breathlessly although there were some foreigners who were not laughing probably they do not understand since some the words are in Malay. There is a part where it really made me to laugh but I didn’t laugh out instead I was laughing in my heart. The part is when the Chinese taxi driver ( Jit Mrad ) who talked using the Chinese slang and also Lin who played the role as a Chinese lady using the Chinese slang was quite a surprise for me. I was surprised on how both of them were able to switch their accent. This is really intereting because hardly people find diffuclty on following the slang of the other races but here it is awesome. Perhaps they have undergone some special training or maybe they just picked up like that.
Another part which impressed me a lot is when Lin who did the Negeri Sembilan accent and a American accent made me as if I’m in a linguistic class. Even Jit when he was playing the role as Jay was able to switch from a man like behavior to a lady like behavior. Although there is another term for it where it is quite famous among Malaysians but I think’soft guy’ will do. It is really nice the way the they acted it out.
Besides that, the stage directions were also quite simple in a away the play is set to be. Although there are not much props, but overall, there are essential things like chairs and tables. The lighting and the sound system were also good where it shows the different types of settings of the play. For example the sound of people eating, shopping and the airplane noise. Not only that, if we see in Nina’s house, there’s a chandelier which is being drawn down and up which indicates that her house is full of richness and luxury.
Overall, I have no words to say about this play because everything is nice and perfect. Jit Murad and his co –partners have done a great job in setting up this play not only to show to the Malaysian audience on how a person changes when he or she is in another country but when he or she comes back to their own place, how does the environment and thinking affects them. Both of them that is Jit Murad and Lin Jaafar have done something great for the Malaysian theatre where they not only add Malaysian values, cultures and beliefs but also acted as a nice couple. Although there are some words which have connotation meaning but I feel that it is a part of the play. Thank you very much Dr. Edwin for making all of us to go and watch this wonderful splendid play. I also hope that Dr. Edwin if could get for us the script so that we can read it. Again friends, I hope you all enjoyed the play and till then we meet our next meeting. Have a nice day.
Goldrain and Hailstones. What should I say. This is one of the best masterpiece which I could consider to be given an Oscar award. I actually went on the 14th September 2006, that falls on a Thursday. To be true, I am not hat familiar in this so called place Sentul. But since my dad is quite familiar with the place, so he took me over there. When I got there, I got a shock of my life. Firstly I taught it was a recreational park but then later I came to know that it is actually the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre which is abbreviated as KLPAC. The place was really beautiful and awesome. All over there are trees and since it is nearly night, it is very beautifully lighted. I began to think to myself that surely this day is going to be a memorable experience for me. You would not believe it that really it has given me an unforgettable experience. My friends Amer and Hisyam were also there and guess what, the three of us took the same seating. So guys! want to know more what this play is about, keep on reading.
This play was actually written by Jit Murad and directed by Zahim Albakri and it is actually about the sense of belonging. The title itself symbolizes the Malay traditional proverb which means “Hujan emas di negeri orang, hujan batu di negeri sendiri, lebih baik di negeri sendiri”. What this means is that no matter whether you go abroad to study or sightseeing, but when it comes to you where you born and breed in this country, this is the best place to be. This is clearly depicted in this play where there are four main characters by the name Man, Nina, Jay and Amy. Actually, there is only 2 people who play the same role and this can be seen where Jit Murad play his role as Man and Jay whereas Lin Jaafar play her role as Nina and Amy.
The play is actually about both of them have went abroad to study in the United States and came back to Malaysia after some time. The play begins with the return of Amy ( her real name is actually Aminah ) after living and studying in the States for ten years. Her return has invoked back the memory of Man, Nina and Jay about their childhood and their own experiences studying and living abroad. Each of them came brought back home with different beliefs and values, thinking and seeing things differently. Although this play was written 13 years ago, but it was actually during those were the days where students from Malaysia will go abroad to further their studies but when when they come back, not only their whole entire body has changed but also their way of seeing things which not any Malaysian will accept expect those whose thinking is the same as theirs and also those who can accept things in a free way.
In addition in terms of sense of belonging, this aspect can be viewed by the words of Jay and Amy. Jay here said that he only felt home when he is going to a foreign country. Amy on the other hand, who come from Negeri Sembilan although nowadays if anybody asks where you come from, they will usually say in a simple word that is I am from Seremban. Amy’s mother comes from Negeri Sembilan is very much attached to the Malay culture whereas Amy’s father who live like the English people who is quite open minded have made Amy to search for her sense of belonging. Only when her father passed away, then only she came to realize about herself. I was quite sad here because both of them like lost in the woods, where they don’t know which path to choose. Although both of them have different routes to the States, but when it comes to their hometown, they like somehow stuck somewhere.
Above all this, the play was full of jokes and laughter. Most of the audiences were laughing breathlessly although there were some foreigners who were not laughing probably they do not understand since some the words are in Malay. There is a part where it really made me to laugh but I didn’t laugh out instead I was laughing in my heart. The part is when the Chinese taxi driver ( Jit Mrad ) who talked using the Chinese slang and also Lin who played the role as a Chinese lady using the Chinese slang was quite a surprise for me. I was surprised on how both of them were able to switch their accent. This is really intereting because hardly people find diffuclty on following the slang of the other races but here it is awesome. Perhaps they have undergone some special training or maybe they just picked up like that.
Another part which impressed me a lot is when Lin who did the Negeri Sembilan accent and a American accent made me as if I’m in a linguistic class. Even Jit when he was playing the role as Jay was able to switch from a man like behavior to a lady like behavior. Although there is another term for it where it is quite famous among Malaysians but I think’soft guy’ will do. It is really nice the way the they acted it out.
Besides that, the stage directions were also quite simple in a away the play is set to be. Although there are not much props, but overall, there are essential things like chairs and tables. The lighting and the sound system were also good where it shows the different types of settings of the play. For example the sound of people eating, shopping and the airplane noise. Not only that, if we see in Nina’s house, there’s a chandelier which is being drawn down and up which indicates that her house is full of richness and luxury.
Overall, I have no words to say about this play because everything is nice and perfect. Jit Murad and his co –partners have done a great job in setting up this play not only to show to the Malaysian audience on how a person changes when he or she is in another country but when he or she comes back to their own place, how does the environment and thinking affects them. Both of them that is Jit Murad and Lin Jaafar have done something great for the Malaysian theatre where they not only add Malaysian values, cultures and beliefs but also acted as a nice couple. Although there are some words which have connotation meaning but I feel that it is a part of the play. Thank you very much Dr. Edwin for making all of us to go and watch this wonderful splendid play. I also hope that Dr. Edwin if could get for us the script so that we can read it. Again friends, I hope you all enjoyed the play and till then we meet our next meeting. Have a nice day.
Anike or Antigone?
Anike by Wong Phui Nam is a more or less the same like Sophocles ‘Antigone’. He plot in his story is same where Wong develops each scene something like Antigone. But there is one difference among this two plays. The names of the characters is different where if we see in the play ‘Antigone’ the name Antigone here refers to Anike, Ismene to Yasmine and Creon to Maniaka. The characters in Anike and Antigone can be sadid to be contrasted to each other where in Antigone, her traits/qualities is different from her sister Ismene. The same goes to Anike where Anike has different qualities compared to Yasmine. Each of them here have different conceptions on burying their brother. In addition if we look at the setting between those two plays there is quite a big difference. The setting in Antigone is during the Greek period whereas Anike is set in Temasek.
Overall, Wong Phui Nam in other words tried to make her play slightly easier than Antigone. This in other words suggests that she wants to make us understand more better within the Malaysian context. Not only that even in her play where the first letter is A and ends with e and in Antigone also the same suggests that the play sounds a bit the same. This in other words can be said that Wong although wrote her play in the Malaysian context but the name of the play here is slightly the same.
Anike by Wong Phui Nam is a more or less the same like Sophocles ‘Antigone’. He plot in his story is same where Wong develops each scene something like Antigone. But there is one difference among this two plays. The names of the characters is different where if we see in the play ‘Antigone’ the name Antigone here refers to Anike, Ismene to Yasmine and Creon to Maniaka. The characters in Anike and Antigone can be sadid to be contrasted to each other where in Antigone, her traits/qualities is different from her sister Ismene. The same goes to Anike where Anike has different qualities compared to Yasmine. Each of them here have different conceptions on burying their brother. In addition if we look at the setting between those two plays there is quite a big difference. The setting in Antigone is during the Greek period whereas Anike is set in Temasek.
Overall, Wong Phui Nam in other words tried to make her play slightly easier than Antigone. This in other words suggests that she wants to make us understand more better within the Malaysian context. Not only that even in her play where the first letter is A and ends with e and in Antigone also the same suggests that the play sounds a bit the same. This in other words can be said that Wong although wrote her play in the Malaysian context but the name of the play here is slightly the same.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
WOW! Simulated Teaching
Hey guys. Welcome back! We're are actually finishing our semester. See time waits for no man. I just finished my simulated teaching and i am satisfied that i have finished it. The play which i set out to teach is 'Antigone' by Sophocles. My topic is characters and characterization in Antigone and Ismene. since i have a good background knowledge in this play, so i decided to teach it. This time i managed to teach step by step of what is to put first and what to put last. Here i should say that Miss Kasthoori has guided us a lot especially in Simulated Teaching. She has done a lot of work and also have helped us whenever we are blur or having any difficulty of what we are learning. Even the other day when it was my turn, she has been from morning till evening. What again i should say is that she has done a great job and i too have managed to finish my teaching. Although there are some changes that i need to add up to my worksheet but overall i was satisfied. I have actually prepared one week earlier on what i am going to teach. And what shall i say, i am glad and happy twith my teaching.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
A Streetcar Named Desire ( Is it a morality play or melodrama? )
Hi, friends, welcome back. Hmmm, there is only one more play to finish. So far we have finished with Antigone, King Lear, Anike and now we are doing 'A Streetcar Named Desire' by Tennessee Williams. The title of this play here itself suggests that image of a streetcar running down the street, driven by desire which seems to imply that those who board this car are helpless once they have made their choice to ride in it. This can be seen in Blanche's and Stella's character. The events in this play streches over several months, starting in May, and reaching the climax in September. This play centres on Blanche Dubois, and the other actors' which signifies how their behavior affects her.
The conversation between the two sisters in scene 4 is mainly about about the 'brutal desire' that decides their choice. Here Blanche goes further in explaining that the streetcar has brought to where she is now, that is in her sisters house. In addition, Blanche can be said as a contrasting character with Stella. As we know from the beginning of the play, Blanche has been considered as a tragic hero but towards the end of the play, we begin to see and feel pity for her. In other words, Blanche who came from an aristrocratic family have to move one step below when she is in her sisters house. She has adjust herself according to the situation worst still when Stella's husband is around. This in somehow will show how Blanche's attitude and behavior towards her sister and Stanley.
What i came to find about Tiresias is that long time ago, people said that he was once a prince of Zeus who encountered with two snakes mating which he then hit the female snake and then was transformed into a woman. For seven years, he lived his live as a woman, then married and had children. One day he met the same serpents again, mating and then got transformed into a man this time. Since his experience with both sexes, Zeus and Hera was arguing whether man enjoy sex better or woman enjoy sex better. Zeus said that woman enjoy sex better and Hera on the other hand said that man enjoy sex better. This has made Hera angry and immediately on the spot blinded Zeus.
There is also another version of how Tiresias was blinded. It is said that in this version, Tiresias was blinded by Athena because he watched Athena bathing naked. Due to this, she closed Tiresias eyes with her hands and as a result his eyes got blinded. Hearin this, Tiresia's mother asks Athena to forgive her son on what he has done and restore his eyesight back but to bad since Athena said that she is unable to do what she has done, Athena cleansed Tiresias. Overall this is a bit of the history of Tiresias. This particular character can be seen in some of the Greek plays epecially 'Oedipus the King' and 'Antigone' which is both written by Sophocles. In both of this plays, Tiresias has played quite an important role. If we look at 'Oedipus the King' by Sophocles, he has played the role of a messenger who told Oedipus about the truth that he is his father's killer. On the other hand in 'Antigone', Tiresias warned the King that is Creon that he is actually bringing his own disasters upon Thebes by not giving Polyneices a proper burial and also not punishing Antigone.
What can be said about Tiresias is that he is regarded as a person who plays an important role in Greek plays.
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