SAS 300 - India Through the Ramayana/Honors

MySlice Info:

Term: Spring 2016
Class #: 47944
Section: M001
Credits: 3

Instructor:
Prof. Susan Wadley

Counts toward:
HNR Soc Sci, Course Global Non-Euro, Public Presentation

Location:

Course Description:

The Hindu epic the Ramayana, the story of the god Rama and his wife Sita and their travails in exile, is one of India's most beloved stories. It provides a lens onto Indian society, raising issues of class and caste, gender, politics, art, and belief. It is also a story with multiple tellings, from Sanskrit renditions to medieval vernacular versions to associated folk songs and stories, as well as modern plays and films. Thus the Ramayana provides a lens for Indian history, changing beliefs, social movements, and modern politics. Further, the Ramayana entered SE Asia where it continued to be an important force in religion and politics. We will examine various renditions, their historical contexts, and the social factors associated with each as we seek to understand the broader question of how narratives are developed and how they impact society.

Notes: