Storytelling Week 4- The Unforgiving Rama

Sita didn’t understand what she had done wrong. She and Rama had been dating since their freshman year of high school. Their relationship was perfect; she didn’t know it was possible to be so in love. Sure, they had gone through hard times. Rama’s parents went through a painful separation and then his dad died shortly after, but Sita stayed with him through it all. Then there was the situation with Sita’s stalker. Ravana started following Sita home after school when they were juniors. Rama couldn’t stand Ravana, and he tried to protect Sita as best as he could. Ravana wouldn’t mess with her when Rama was around, but Rama couldn’t be around her constantly. One afternoon, Ravana grabbed Sita and took her home with him. Nobody could find Sita for two days, but the police finally found her passed out at Ravana’s house after Rama continued to insist that they get a search warrant.

Sita couldn’t remember what had happened to her in those two days, but people at school started to guess what he could have done to her. Some of the rumors that were spread were graphic and embarrassing for Sita. At least she knew Rama was always by her side… or so she thought so. Rama was also embarrassed by the rumors, and didn’t act the same around Sita anymore. He treated her like she had been contaminated. He couldn’t bear the thought of that freak touching her. He also became paranoid that she might have been impregnated. He asked her one day, “What would I do with that animal’s child? Raise it as my own? Yeah right!” Sita was already having a hard enough time coping with those two traumatic days. She thought Rama would make her feel better, but he only made everything worse. In her eyes, however, this was just another obstacle they would overcome… she knew it would make their relationship stronger in the end, just like everything else they had gone through. She loved Rama with everything she had, and knew she always would. Rama, however, saw it differently. This had changed everything; he could not see Sita as the same sweet innocent girl he loved anymore. He needed a way for her to somehow prove she was the same to him. He obsessed about the status of her purity, and even convinced himself Sita might have developed feelings for Ravana. Sita wanted to move forward from the whole mess, but she didn’t know if Rama would allow that to happen. She felt guilty all of the time, but she couldn’t put her finger on what she did wrong.

Broken heart symbol,

Author not listed, Source: Wikimedia

Author’s Note:

I watched the movie, Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley this week for my reading assignment. In the movie, more emphasis is placed on Sita’s purity being questioned. Rama was obsessed with what other people thought of him, and couldn’t stand other people questioning the loyalty of his wife. I tried to think about what this might look like in today’s society, so I told the story as if Rama and Sita were high school sweethearts.

Bibliography:

"Sita Sings the Blues" by Nina Paley (2008). Source: Youtube

Week 4 Another Ramayana Reading Diary B- Sita Sings the Blues

I am so confused by how this story ended! In the prose version of The Ramayana that I read for this class, the ending was completely different. In the book, Rama and Sita returned home and the story ended happy. However, in the animated movie, Rama rejects Sita AGAIN and sends her into the forest pregnant. So much for Rama being a virtuous man! Who would ever leave a woman when she's pregnant with their child (or children, in Sita's case)? This ending of the story makes me feel completely differently about Rama. Yet, somehow, Sita remains true in her love for him. It is Sita who is the truly virtuous human. In the movie version, Mother Earth swallows Sita back into her "womb" to prove that Sita has been pure the whole time. I loved how the movie started with Sita rubbing Rama's feet up in the stars, and ended with Rama serving Sita and rubbing her feet. I also loved the sarcasm hidden in the song the boys sang to their dad. Basically, in the end of the movie, Rama is made to look like a huge jerk who made a mistake and has mountains of respect for all of the wrong reasons. And honestly, I kind of love that angst-y tone against him.

I plan to do more research to figure out what the ending of the actual epic is. Since both of the versions I've read/watched are only modern interpretations, there could be some truth in both of the endings. It seems like in a story with so many characters, twists, and details, that a lot of information can get lost in translation. This movie has made me appreciate Sita even more than before! Not only is she virtuous, but she allows herself to be honored in front of everyone in the way that she knows she deserves. In the end of this movie, instead of choosing to end up with Rama, she chooses to let the world know the truth about her. Ultimately, the movie makes it appear that she is rewarded in the after-life.

I'm very impressed by the creator of this film, Nina Paley. Her creativity and subtle satire is smart and different from most other interpretations of this story. I enjoyed Sita Sings the Blues much more than I expected to enjoy a film assigned for a class!

Nina Paley,

2006, Source: Wikipedia

Week 4 Another Ramayana Reading Diary A- Sita Sings the Blues

Sita Sings the Blues is a very entertaining animation! There's so many different styles of cartoons throughout the movie so far, and there seems to be three stories happening at once. First, there is a modern type of character who is in a strained relationship with her boyfriend. The boyfriend moved to India, and has been acting different ever since.The woman still feels devotion to her boyfriend, but is obviously very sad. Next, there is a set of three Indian characters who appear to be retelling what they remember of the Ramayana. It's quite comical to hear their dialogue; they all remember different pieces of the story and slowly put it all together. Finally, Rama and Sita's characters are telling their stories as well. Intermittently, Sita sings blues songs by Annette Hanshaw. It's crazy how the animation makes the songs match what's happening in the story perfectly! I really like the blues songs, I might have to do some more research on the artist!

I'm kind of confused on how the modern story ties in with Rama and Sita's characters. There's a few similarities: both are separated from the one they love, both are reunited with the one they love, and both are given a "cold shoulder" by the one they love. However, I'm interested to see how the "modern version" of the story will end. I have a feeling it will end differently from Sita's story.

Movie poster for the film Sita Sings the Blues,

Date: 2008, Source: Wikimedia

The story of Rama and Sita is definitely abbreviated. The movie skips over how they met, and many of the specific demons Rama defeated. The movie also leaves out some details. For example, it doesn't explain why Ravana can't touch Sita. In the reading, however, it is explained that Ravana is under a curse and cannot touch a woman against her will or he will be destroyed. Although many of the details and smaller stories are left out, the movie does a really good job of giving a broad overview of the plot of this epic. Also, it does a good job of showing the story from Sita's point of view. The viewer really feels her misery when she is separated from Rama and is better able to understand her devotion to him.

I am anxious to see how all of these different stories happening will tie together. I will probably finish the whole movie in the next couple days!