The subject of distraction has been explored by several writers and philosophers alike. However, ... more The subject of distraction has been explored by several writers and philosophers alike. However, most of them have taken the etymological meaning of the word, 'to pull apart or separate' too literally and addressed the subject primarily based on the negative connotations attached to it. Paulo Coelho, however, gives the concept of distraction a unique twist in his two bestselling novels-The Alchemist (1988) and Brida (1990). This paper is going to explore the creative, ludic, emancipatory potential of dust and distraction that he champions in his two most celebrated works and how that enables him to contribute to the legacy of removing the stigma off the word 'distraction' and infusing it with a new, positive meaning.
is renowned for her three-volume work the Lilith's Brood which charts out the life of a nuclear w... more is renowned for her three-volume work the Lilith's Brood which charts out the life of a nuclear war survivor, Lilith and how she negotiates with extraterrestrial beings who are out to take over the entire world. However, this paper shall aim to focus on two of Butler's groundbreaking afrofuturistic novels, Parable of the Sower (1993) and Parable of the Talents (1998), which depict the world as grappling with ravages of the 'Pox', a state of utter political, economic and social devastation, and how a farsighted teenager Lauren Oya Olamina picks up survivors on the run and goes on to create her own utopian community and religion known as the Earthseed. Furthermore, Lauren is born with a peculiar ability 'the hyperempathy syndrome' which is a side effect of the drug Paraceto that her mother regularly abused while she was pregnant with Lauren. As a result she can feel both the pain and pleasure of the people who are in her direct line of vision. But "sharers" like Lauren are condemned by the society at large. This ability was deemed more as a curse than a blessing by Lauren's family because it was considered to be an abnormality which made Lauren more vulnerable to the enemies. This paper will explore the discourse around Lauren's hyperempathy syndrome, how it directly contributes to the anti-war rhetoric and how it helps her unite people from diverse races and cultures into one self-sustaining community. Some important instances which directly refer to the hyperempathy syndrome shall be analyzed within their contexts and how the characters who possess the ability are tortured and exploited by the people in power-the religious fundamentalists who called themselves the 'Crusaders' and wanted to "Make America Great Again" under their fascist leader Andrew Steele Jarrett-shall be investigated. The question of empathy, how it helps and hinders the survivors in various circumstances, shall be analyzed focusing specifically on the message the novels want to convey about gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, politics and war within the framework of afrofuturistic science-fiction.
It is not unknown that the western cultural domination has always had a homogenising impact on ot... more It is not unknown that the western cultural domination has always had a homogenising impact on other cultures. Postcolonial theorists like Homi Bhabha (1994), Roland Robertson (1992), and Joseph Straubhaar (2007) have introduced the idea of hybridization which states that when two cultures engage with each other, a "third space" for culture is created (Bhabha 1994, 217). This third space can be observed in the realm of Korean feminism too. This paper will aim to explore the emergence of a new kind of femininity in South Korea through an analysis of three extremely popular South Korean television dramas, released in
H.P Lovecraft is often considered as one of the most distinguished American Gothic writers. He cr... more H.P Lovecraft is often considered as one of the most distinguished American Gothic writers. He created a distinctive sub-genre of horror fiction known as Lovecraftian Horror or Cosmic Horror. This paper seeks to explore two very popular young adult drama series, Riverdale (2017-ongoing) and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-2020) and how they have woven selected Lovecraftian references and themes in their plots, eventually contributing to the larger fandom surrounding H.P. Lovecraft's works. At the same time, the two series recreate a perfect Lovecraftian utopia when analysed as juxtaposed as parts of the same universe despite being standalone shows. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was developed by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and produced by Craig Forrest, Ryan Lindenberg, and Matthew Barry, and it was first released by Netflix on 26th October, 2018. Featuring Kiernan Shipka in the lead role as the eponymous character, this is a dark coming-of-age story about a half-witch half-mortal orphan, Sabrina Spellman, living in a gloomy little town known as Greendale with her two aunts and cousin. The main storylines revolve around how the members of the family deal with the insidious forces that threaten their existence from time to time. At times it is Lord Satan (Luke Cook) himself wreaking havoc on everyone and everything Sabrina holds dear, at other times it is a group of pagan witches who endanger the very survival of Sabrina's coven. In other occasions there are celestial beings waging their war on witches in general and Sabrina in particular. Furthermore, disruption is caused by the Eldritch Terrors who are summoned to the town of Greendale by Father Blackwood (Richard Coyle), the high Priest of the Church of Night.
As opposed to most contemporary usage of the word "picturesque"-which is generally taken to mean ... more As opposed to most contemporary usage of the word "picturesque"-which is generally taken to mean visually attractive in a quaint or charming way, or else something that resembles a picture-William Gilpin introduced this term to the English cultural debate in 1792. Gilpin used "picturesque" to typify an aesthetic ideal wherein roughness, raggedness, and ruins would be privileged over smoothness, symmetry and perfection. Over time, his conceptualization of "the picturesque" led to a celebration of disorder, decay, and ruin, a kind of glorification of violence also familiar to the Gothic romances of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. However, following the unimaginable havoc and mass destruction caused by the two world wars, ruins and images of ruins started to be viewed very differently. This paper seeks to explore how the picturesque mode has been used as an instrument of caution in the works of Studio Ghibli, spearheaded by two creative artists and directors, Hayao Miyazaki and Takahata Isao, who have experienced the horrors of WWII firsthand in their own childhoods. This paper specifically looks at two famous anime feature films produced by Studio Ghibli-Grave of the Fireflies (1988) and Howl's Moving Castle (2004)-that deal with the impacts of war and convey strong anti-war messages by uniquely employing the picturesque mode of representation.
The Indian Review of World Literature in English, 2021
Pilgrimage has been defined variously for multiple decades by several scholars, critics and resea... more Pilgrimage has been defined variously for multiple decades by several scholars, critics and researchers alike. The primary problem that arises in course of theorizing pilgrimage is that the distinction between a pilgrim and a tourist tends to blur out owing to the diverse nature of the discourses surrounding what constitutes a proper pilgrimage. This paper explores the construction of civic identity within the context of the Roman Saturnalia, one of the most ancient pagan agricultural festivals. Through an analysis of certain seminal discourses on sacred travel, rites of passage and pilgrimage, it tries to determine to what extent the Roman Saturnalia, which has often been perceived as a carnival of decadence and debauchery, qualifies as a pilgrimage.
The subject of distraction has been explored by several writers and philosophers alike. However, ... more The subject of distraction has been explored by several writers and philosophers alike. However, most of them have taken the etymological meaning of the word, 'to pull apart or separate' too literally and addressed the subject primarily based on the negative connotations attached to it. Paulo Coelho, however, gives the concept of distraction a unique twist in his two bestselling novels-The Alchemist (1988) and Brida (1990). This paper is going to explore the creative, ludic, emancipatory potential of dust and distraction that he champions in his two most celebrated works and how that enables him to contribute to the legacy of removing the stigma off the word 'distraction' and infusing it with a new, positive meaning.
Tom Stoppard wrote Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead in 1966 as a postmodern rendition of Sha... more Tom Stoppard wrote Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead in 1966 as a postmodern rendition of Shakespeare's Hamlet, The Prince of Denmark (1603). Through the exploration of postmodern themes like identity crisis, existentialism, absurdism, distortion of space and time, search for meaning and so on and so forth, this paper attempts to problematize the identities of Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. With the world grappling with the repercussions the two world wars had on everything they once strongly believed in, Stoppard's remarkable craftsmanship as a playwright gives a new lease of life to the early seventeenth century Shakespearean drama, while at the same time making it inordinately relevant to the late twentieth century audience. However, the identity crisis experienced by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Stoppard's play, its causes and probable implications remain the primary focus of the paper.
The subject of distraction has been explored by several writers and philosophers alike. However, ... more The subject of distraction has been explored by several writers and philosophers alike. However, most of them have taken the etymological meaning of the word, 'to pull apart or separate' too literally and addressed the subject primarily based on the negative connotations attached to it. Paulo Coelho, however, gives the concept of distraction a unique twist in his two bestselling novels-The Alchemist (1988) and Brida (1990). This paper is going to explore the creative, ludic, emancipatory potential of dust and distraction that he champions in his two most celebrated works and how that enables him to contribute to the legacy of removing the stigma off the word 'distraction' and infusing it with a new, positive meaning.
is renowned for her three-volume work the Lilith's Brood which charts out the life of a nuclear w... more is renowned for her three-volume work the Lilith's Brood which charts out the life of a nuclear war survivor, Lilith and how she negotiates with extraterrestrial beings who are out to take over the entire world. However, this paper shall aim to focus on two of Butler's groundbreaking afrofuturistic novels, Parable of the Sower (1993) and Parable of the Talents (1998), which depict the world as grappling with ravages of the 'Pox', a state of utter political, economic and social devastation, and how a farsighted teenager Lauren Oya Olamina picks up survivors on the run and goes on to create her own utopian community and religion known as the Earthseed. Furthermore, Lauren is born with a peculiar ability 'the hyperempathy syndrome' which is a side effect of the drug Paraceto that her mother regularly abused while she was pregnant with Lauren. As a result she can feel both the pain and pleasure of the people who are in her direct line of vision. But "sharers" like Lauren are condemned by the society at large. This ability was deemed more as a curse than a blessing by Lauren's family because it was considered to be an abnormality which made Lauren more vulnerable to the enemies. This paper will explore the discourse around Lauren's hyperempathy syndrome, how it directly contributes to the anti-war rhetoric and how it helps her unite people from diverse races and cultures into one self-sustaining community. Some important instances which directly refer to the hyperempathy syndrome shall be analyzed within their contexts and how the characters who possess the ability are tortured and exploited by the people in power-the religious fundamentalists who called themselves the 'Crusaders' and wanted to "Make America Great Again" under their fascist leader Andrew Steele Jarrett-shall be investigated. The question of empathy, how it helps and hinders the survivors in various circumstances, shall be analyzed focusing specifically on the message the novels want to convey about gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, politics and war within the framework of afrofuturistic science-fiction.
It is not unknown that the western cultural domination has always had a homogenising impact on ot... more It is not unknown that the western cultural domination has always had a homogenising impact on other cultures. Postcolonial theorists like Homi Bhabha (1994), Roland Robertson (1992), and Joseph Straubhaar (2007) have introduced the idea of hybridization which states that when two cultures engage with each other, a "third space" for culture is created (Bhabha 1994, 217). This third space can be observed in the realm of Korean feminism too. This paper will aim to explore the emergence of a new kind of femininity in South Korea through an analysis of three extremely popular South Korean television dramas, released in
H.P Lovecraft is often considered as one of the most distinguished American Gothic writers. He cr... more H.P Lovecraft is often considered as one of the most distinguished American Gothic writers. He created a distinctive sub-genre of horror fiction known as Lovecraftian Horror or Cosmic Horror. This paper seeks to explore two very popular young adult drama series, Riverdale (2017-ongoing) and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-2020) and how they have woven selected Lovecraftian references and themes in their plots, eventually contributing to the larger fandom surrounding H.P. Lovecraft's works. At the same time, the two series recreate a perfect Lovecraftian utopia when analysed as juxtaposed as parts of the same universe despite being standalone shows. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was developed by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and produced by Craig Forrest, Ryan Lindenberg, and Matthew Barry, and it was first released by Netflix on 26th October, 2018. Featuring Kiernan Shipka in the lead role as the eponymous character, this is a dark coming-of-age story about a half-witch half-mortal orphan, Sabrina Spellman, living in a gloomy little town known as Greendale with her two aunts and cousin. The main storylines revolve around how the members of the family deal with the insidious forces that threaten their existence from time to time. At times it is Lord Satan (Luke Cook) himself wreaking havoc on everyone and everything Sabrina holds dear, at other times it is a group of pagan witches who endanger the very survival of Sabrina's coven. In other occasions there are celestial beings waging their war on witches in general and Sabrina in particular. Furthermore, disruption is caused by the Eldritch Terrors who are summoned to the town of Greendale by Father Blackwood (Richard Coyle), the high Priest of the Church of Night.
As opposed to most contemporary usage of the word "picturesque"-which is generally taken to mean ... more As opposed to most contemporary usage of the word "picturesque"-which is generally taken to mean visually attractive in a quaint or charming way, or else something that resembles a picture-William Gilpin introduced this term to the English cultural debate in 1792. Gilpin used "picturesque" to typify an aesthetic ideal wherein roughness, raggedness, and ruins would be privileged over smoothness, symmetry and perfection. Over time, his conceptualization of "the picturesque" led to a celebration of disorder, decay, and ruin, a kind of glorification of violence also familiar to the Gothic romances of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. However, following the unimaginable havoc and mass destruction caused by the two world wars, ruins and images of ruins started to be viewed very differently. This paper seeks to explore how the picturesque mode has been used as an instrument of caution in the works of Studio Ghibli, spearheaded by two creative artists and directors, Hayao Miyazaki and Takahata Isao, who have experienced the horrors of WWII firsthand in their own childhoods. This paper specifically looks at two famous anime feature films produced by Studio Ghibli-Grave of the Fireflies (1988) and Howl's Moving Castle (2004)-that deal with the impacts of war and convey strong anti-war messages by uniquely employing the picturesque mode of representation.
The Indian Review of World Literature in English, 2021
Pilgrimage has been defined variously for multiple decades by several scholars, critics and resea... more Pilgrimage has been defined variously for multiple decades by several scholars, critics and researchers alike. The primary problem that arises in course of theorizing pilgrimage is that the distinction between a pilgrim and a tourist tends to blur out owing to the diverse nature of the discourses surrounding what constitutes a proper pilgrimage. This paper explores the construction of civic identity within the context of the Roman Saturnalia, one of the most ancient pagan agricultural festivals. Through an analysis of certain seminal discourses on sacred travel, rites of passage and pilgrimage, it tries to determine to what extent the Roman Saturnalia, which has often been perceived as a carnival of decadence and debauchery, qualifies as a pilgrimage.
The subject of distraction has been explored by several writers and philosophers alike. However, ... more The subject of distraction has been explored by several writers and philosophers alike. However, most of them have taken the etymological meaning of the word, 'to pull apart or separate' too literally and addressed the subject primarily based on the negative connotations attached to it. Paulo Coelho, however, gives the concept of distraction a unique twist in his two bestselling novels-The Alchemist (1988) and Brida (1990). This paper is going to explore the creative, ludic, emancipatory potential of dust and distraction that he champions in his two most celebrated works and how that enables him to contribute to the legacy of removing the stigma off the word 'distraction' and infusing it with a new, positive meaning.
Tom Stoppard wrote Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead in 1966 as a postmodern rendition of Sha... more Tom Stoppard wrote Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead in 1966 as a postmodern rendition of Shakespeare's Hamlet, The Prince of Denmark (1603). Through the exploration of postmodern themes like identity crisis, existentialism, absurdism, distortion of space and time, search for meaning and so on and so forth, this paper attempts to problematize the identities of Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. With the world grappling with the repercussions the two world wars had on everything they once strongly believed in, Stoppard's remarkable craftsmanship as a playwright gives a new lease of life to the early seventeenth century Shakespearean drama, while at the same time making it inordinately relevant to the late twentieth century audience. However, the identity crisis experienced by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Stoppard's play, its causes and probable implications remain the primary focus of the paper.
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