Topic Brainstorm

1. Vasantasena, A Dancer (link): I have never hear of this story before but the word "dancer" in the title of this link caught my eye because it was something that I could relate to being a dancer for about 14 years. This story is like a love story with many ups and downs, and even plot twists. As I read the description of what this story was about, I came across the words "Shakespearean comedy." Therefore, I immediately thought of romantic comedies and how I can put a modern spin on this story. I could potentially retell this story along the lines of the plots of One Tree Hill or Gossip Girl. The thought of writing a love story is intriguing and since I enjoy watching romantic/romantic comedies, it would be cool to write a similar story of my own. 

2. Uloopi: The Naga Princess who Fell in Love with Arjuna (link): This story caught my eye because of the word "Naga" because Naga is actually the city where my dad grew up in and so when I saw that word, I was surprised and intrigued. This story seems like a romantic action-packed story with the love of Uloopi for Arjuna and the battle of Arjuna and Babhruvahana, his son. I have never heard or read this story before this class. I want to know why Uloopi befriends Arjuna's new family and almost takes care of them even when he does not love her anymore. As a woman, was she sad, mad, or angry at what happened? To retell this story, I do not think I would change it too much. I would stick to the same plot but tell it in my own words.

3. Gandhari: A Mother Blinded by Love (link): As I was reading the Reading Guide for this story, the genuine love and sacrifice of Gandhari to her husband and her first born son was intriguing and compelling. I want to know what Gandhari thought about having 100 sons - yes that was a blessing, but was she ever scared? I also want to know what was going on through her mind as she had to wait two years for her kids to be born. Was Gandhari anxious during the two year period and that what did she feel when she realizes her first born son "brays like a donkey?" Then Gandhari experiences a war and then the death of all her sons. Retelling this story could be difficult because it may be difficult or inappropriate to add some lighter scenes since it is such a real and serious story.

4. Project Idea: Love Stories (link): Love is something that we have all experienced whether it was a romantic kind of love or a family/best friend kind of love. I would like to learn and read more about the love stories and the different varieties they posses. I believe the retelling of love stories is so broad that putting one's own spin on it would be easy to do. From a comedic route (How I Met Your Mother) to something as unique as online dating sites, retelling love stories could be so much fun. I think I can learn something about love from reading these epics that could be put to use in my own life.

Vasantasena. Source: Wikimedia Commons