Storybook Topic Research

What I've Been Looking For. 

Two of my brainstorming topics for my final project focused on the book, The Ramayana by R.K. Narayan which is why I would like to focus/change my final project idea to The Ramayana Told Your Way. When we are finally introduced to Ravana and Soorpanaka in the second part of the reading, I began to see a vision for a recreation of The Ramayana. The characters in The Ramayana reminded me of the main characters from the famous Disney Channel Movie, High School Musical. In High School Musical you have the protagonist Troy Bolten who falls in love for the beautiful Gabriella with the antagonist, the siblings Sharpay and Ryan.  Sharpay seems to be the mastermind of the entire plan and has a crush on Troy throughout the whole movie. Recreating The Ramayana into a High School Musical, Indian culture style could be the theme for my final project.

For the first story Rama could be the "king" of his high school, Koshala High. When one day a new girl arrives at the school, Sita. Rama is smitten by her beauty and must get to know her. This story would be like when they first saw each other and fell in love. The second story could be an introduction to the evil siblings Ravana and Soorpanaka. Soorpanaka has always been in love with Rama but he seemed too busy with his studies to have time to date, that was until this new girl showed up. Soorpanaka is angry and wants Rama for herself all she has to do is convince her brother to help get the new girl Sita out of the way. This story would brief introduce Ravana but mainly we would learn about how Soorpanaka loves Rama and wants to get rid of Sita. The third story will be about Rama with his two best friends Lakshmana and Hanuman discussing if this new girl is worth all of the trouble. The bully of the school Ravana seems to like Sita too, so is it worth the trouble of being on his hit list just to be with some "pretty girl." Rama will, of course, talk about how she is much more than beauty and would do anything to make Sita his girlfriend. This would be similar to when Hunuman wants to help Rama get Sita back and Lakshmana is always trying to help Rama.

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Image: Four main character from High School Musical. Source: flickr by holidaytoys

Brainstorming Topics

Which one? 

Topic One: From the first week of reading in the Jataka Anthology stories, I noticed a common theme where the Buddha or the Bodhisatta told stories of himself in a previous life as an animal. I already enjoy writing stories about animals, so after reading this, my first thought went to using this theme in my final project. The Buddha or the Bodhisatta could be the author of every story explaining his different lives as different animals found in India. I would need to do some research on the different animals that are mainly found in India and which are predators and prey. I would also need to do some research on Buddha or Bodhisatta's story. For example, I am not sure why he is given two different names in the stories I have already read.  

Topic Two: Another possible option for my final project would be to retell the Ramayana story but from the perspective of Sita. I watched the extra readings videos that explained the background information about the epic story. The video, Crash Course Mythology: Ramayana talked about how there are many heroes in the story of each having their unique battle to conquer. Sita, Rama wife, goes through being exiled with her husband, being kidnapped, and then having her husband not believe she was faithful while kidnapped. Sita prevails through everything. We are used to hearing stories of the men heroes and how they save the damsel in distress. I want to create a story about Sita and the bravery she has during the epic. 

Topic Three: Still looking for project ideas in the Ramayana story, Hanuman and Lakshmana seem to play a significant role in the epic. Without their help, it appears that Rama would not be able to rescue Sita or defeat Ravana. Since most stories put the sidekicks to the side, I would like to create an account that showcases the helpers of Rama, Hanuman, and Lakshmana. Both of these characters go and help Rama through the story almost like they are the Three Musketeers. I would need to research the different types of battles they go through or could rewrite so that they work together in conflicts like the three musketeer's each having a strength that they bring to the group. 

Topic Four: As I was looking through possible project topics I saw the idea of creating a final project over Love stories. Last semester my final project had a theme of love, but it was not just the love that a man and women have but the love a family has for each other. I could bookmark stories along with my readings that discussed love not only in couples but different types of love. I already know a possible love story is the one between Sita and Rama, but I would have to learn more through the weekly readings. I think it is important to emphasize that love can come in many different forms. I could find stories to showcase this message that there are different types of love.

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Image: Trying to pick a project topic. Source: Created image at imgflip