A search for primitive voice in post-modern theatre

This thesis examines the influences of primitive vocal delivery on Post-Modern Theatre. Beginning with a review of the work of three directors: Jerzy Grotowski, Peter Brook, and Richard Schechner; the thesis moves to a case study of a 1991 production of Macbeth where primary research is documented. Focusing on the production of a language based on primitive culture, the theatrical community is furnished with a vocabulary of sound/communication that may be implemented for Macbeth\u27s Weird Sisters. Finally, the thesis directs the use of primitive vocal scoring, like musical transcription, toward a future outlook at similar projects

Oath formulas in the Poetic Edda

This study examines oaths in the ON Poetic Edda primarily from a linguistic and rhetorical standpoint with the aim of deducing syntactic-rhetorical formulas for oath swearing. As J. Grimm (1816) said and Hibbitts (1992) reiterated, poetic formulations in oral performance cultures may have had mnemonic functions and likely closely resembled real performance, which lends further validity and benefit to this project. This report begins with an examination of the relevant scholarly literature on oaths from Indo-European through ON. Four examples of oaths from the Poetic Edda are then presented, compared, and read with rhetorical and syntactic strategies to discover the formulas. A discussion section presents three evident conclusions on the structure of oath formulas: oaths are indeed formulaic, formula pieces can be optional but ordering does not change, and certain morpho-syntactic choices are intricately tied to the setting of oaths. Finally, directions for future research are suggested.Germanic Studie

Translating the Sacred Books of the East:Friedrich Max Müller and the Orient

The edition of the fifty massive volumes of the Sacred Books of the East (1879-1910) was one of the most ambitious and daring translation and editorial projects of late Victorian scholarship. Here the ‘religious’ East was systematically presented to a Western readership in English translations. The German-born philologist, orientalist, and religious scholar Friedrich Max Müller (1823-1900) persuaded Oxford University Press to embark on this venture, which was also financially supported by the India Office of the British Empire. The present chapter discusses the scope and significance of the series, while foregrounding translation issues. Scrutinizing Müller’s views of translation, the chapter examines the role of the SBE in framing and establishing the concept of ‘world religions’. The chapter highlights the effects of the comparative method and implied textualization of religion, through a discussion of Müller’s approach to the incongruity between ancient and modern languages, and briefly, the reception of the series

Patience and Forgiveness: The Meaning of Kṣānti (Pali: Khanti) in the Mahābhārata and the Pali Canon

This dissertation explores the meaning of the Sanskrit term kṣānti in the Mahābhārata and the Pali term khanti in the Pali Canon. There is considerable debate and confusion within the scholarly community as to what these terms mean, and scholars have chosen to translate the verbal root from which they derive using a wide range of terms: “ be patient,” “forgive,” “tolerate,” “endure,” “suffer,” “pardon,” “forbear,” “wait,” “allow,” “indulge,” and so on. Through a thorough and close examination of the Mahābhārata and the Pali Canon, this dissertation unveils the precise meanings of these terms in these texts. This dissertation will demonstrate that kṣānti had two distinct meanings in the Mahābhārata which were differentiated based on several factors - varṇa or caste, duration of practice, relationship with anger, classification as virtuous or dharma, and perception as a strength or weakness. On the other hand, khanti in the Pali canon, referred to a specific two-step psychological process – the negation of anger, followed by the cultivation of a positive feeling towards others, mettā. The dissertation then engages in a comparative analysis of the differing treatments of kṣānti and khanti in the Mahābhārata and Pali Canon, respectively, noting major differences, elements of intertextuality and hypothesizing their process of development. Through these findings, the dissertation will provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the ideas of patience and forgiveness in these early Indian narrative texts

The conception of human personality in the advaita vedanta and classical samkhy - a critical study -

Indian philosophers from the earliest times have strived to realize the true nature of man, in the perspective of his physical existence. A person is a persistent self conscious being as is evident in his reflections 'I am', ‘I exist' and so on, and is opposed to the objective world which is experienced by him. A person is a subject of reference. The classic definition of a 'person' is given by Boethius: 'person is an individual substance of rational nature. As individual, it is material, since matter supplies the principle of individuation. The soul is not person, only the composite is. Man alone is among the material beings 'person', he alone having a rational nature. He is the highest of the material beings endowed with particular dignity and rights'. (The Dictionary of Philosophy ed. by Dagobert D. Runes. Ph.D. London, Peter Owen - Vision Press. p. 229). The present endeavour is a critical study of the conception of human personality as has been formulated mainly in the classical Sāmkhya and Advaita-Vedānta systems of Indian Philosophy. Both these systems owe their origin to the Vedic and Upanisadic literature. In the classical stage Advaita-Vedānta and Sāmkhya developed into two parallel systems confronting each other. It is my aim to discuss how far these two systems agree or disagree regarding the conception of human personality and how far the respective system has succeeded in giving a plausible explanation of the empirical existence. In the Introductory Chapter (Chapter I), I have proposed the comparative and critical study of the general conception of human personality in Indian philosophy. Second Chapter deals with the conception of human personality in the Advaita-Vedānta system. As a pre-history to the emergence of the Advaita concept, the vedic and post-vedic conception of human personality has been discussed. This chapter subsequently deals with the developement of Advaita conception of human personality through the successive stages of Gaudapada’s Mandukya-Kārikā and Badavāyana’s Vedānta-Sutras - finally into the Advaita-Vedānta of Sāmkavāyana. Third chapter deals with the dualistic preachings that can be traced in the Vedic literature. It also deals withthe Sāmkhya views in the Caraka-Samhitā and in the Epics. Finally, I have discussed the Classical Sāmkhya conception of human personality (as in Isvarakrsna’s Sāmkhya Kārikā.; Yuktidlpika and in the Sāmkhya-Kārikā Last chapter is devoted to a comparative study of the classical Sāmkhya and the Advaita-Vedānta views -where I have tried mainly to bring out the points of agreement and disagreement regarding their ideas of the different aspects of human personality. I have arrived at the conclusion that the conception of human personality in these two systems has evolved from the same source though they followed two different lines of systematization. Thus, there is a great deal of affinity between them, yet they differ regarding the conception of the essential reality in man. It is regarded as the highest reality in both the systems. Both Sāmkhya and Advaita Vedanta posit a transcendental self, the essence of which is pure consciousness unadulterated by qualities and empirical relations - over and above the empirical self. While Advaita-Vedanta believes in the reality of the transcendental self only, Sagikhya believes in the reality of the transcendental self and the objective world. There are certain weak points in both the systems. The analysis shows that both Samkhya and Advaita Vedanta, in their attempt to rescue the empirical self from the bondage of personality - have succeed Wonly in blighting the prospects of liberation and almost depersonalising the person

Authority, status, and caste markers in everyday village conversation : The example of Eastern Nepal

This study sets out to detect the various markers that express forms of caste and community belonging, and, more generally, hierarchies in the language used in ordinary social interactions in villages in the hills of eastern Nepal, and how the somewhat rigid codes of civility that govern village society and language have recently evolved. The study is carried out from a socio-anthropological perspective rather than a linguistic or a literary one.1Issue title: Authoritative Speech in the Himalayas. Pustak Ghimire is a researcher at Centre de Recherche en Ethnomusicologie Nanterre, France, on an Agence Nationale de la Recherche program ("Making invisible powers present in the Himalayas"). His Ph.D. dissertation (2010 Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris) dealt with hierarchies, conflicting values and recomposed identities in a locality in the hills of eastern Nepal. His current research focuses on rural violence, power-justice and social regulations, the impact of migration, modernity and globalization, inter-ethnic and inter-caste relations, and the mutations of religious feeling in Nepal. His forthcoming book, Contested Primacies, is to be published in 2016. He currently teaches Nepali culture, literature, and society at National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) Paris

In search of the culture of links : the use of myth and ritual in the work of Peter Brook

This thesis examines the use of elements of myth and ritual in the work of Peter Brook, focusing primarily on The Mahabharata ( 1986 ). The argument proposes that Brook uses myth and ritual as an integral part of his search for the culture of links .. This thesis examines the precise functioning of myth and ritual in Brook's theatre, and places his work in relation to the concepts of interculturalism and postmodernism. In so doing, The Mahabharata is seen as a valid and important step in Brook's search for the culture of links. Chapter One formulates broad-based concepts of myth and ritual, and examines their function in society and culture, as well as their role in theatre. Chapter Two offers a brief discussion of the use of elements of myth and ritual in Brook's productions, beginning with King Lear (1962), and ending with 0rghast (1971). The discussion illustrates the multiple functions which myth and ritual serve in Brook's work. Chapter Three examines the trend of interculturalism, placing Brook's work within this franlework. Attention is given to the moral and political issues implicit in interculturalism. The chapter highlights the need for intercultural theatre to be evaluated in terms of artistic criteria, rather than on anthropological or political grounds. Finally, there is a discussion of the work of other intercultural theatre practitioners. Chapter Four examines Brook's Mahabharata. A detailed discussion of the authenticity and visual presentation of Brook's interpretation shows how Brook mediates between the Indian epic and a Western audience An examination of the critical response offers insights into the dangers of insensitive cross-cultural contact.. Chapter Five offers a critical summary of the argument. Brook's search for the culture of links has led him to use elements of myths and rituals of non-Western cultures. In so doing, Brook seeks to bring their living quality to his work, and to forge links between the peoples and cultures of the world

History of the worship of Sri in North India to cir. A.D. 550.

This work aims at a full-length study of the history of Sri in N.India to the end of the Gupta rule. It consists of an introduction, five main chapters, a concluding chapter and an appendix. Chapter I discusses the abstractions, Sri and Laksmi as they are found in the Vedic literature and traces the gradual development into the form of a goddess embodying these abstract concepts. Chapter II is devoted to the study of the importance of the Srisukta in the evolution of the proper Sri-Laksmi concept, both in the religious and the iconographic sphere. Chapter III analyses some of the salient features of selected early divinities to determine the extent to which they anticipated Sri-Laksmi. Chapter IV considers the growing attachment of Sri Laksmi to Visnu and also discusses her association with various gods. Chapter V makes a critical study of the extant images of Sri both in her individual aspect and in association with Visnu. It also examines her iconographic resemblances to various other goddesses and the resultant syncretistic images. Chapter VI (Conclusion) presents a brief resume of the foregoing chapters and attempts an evaluation of Sri's standing in the Hindu world