This is the title of the paper I submited in the National Conference on "Contextualizing the Present Kannada Theatre" held in the campus of Bangalore University on 27th March 2010, Saturday.
Here is the abstract:
"ROLE OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERFORMING ARTS"
Performing arts are those arts or skills that involve performance before audience in the form of Music, dance & drama.
Music
MUSIC is an art of arranging the sounds of voice or instruments or both in a pleasing sequence or combination.
It is said that, music is born much before any language could come into existence & is an integral part of human life from birth to death. It is a unique language by itself; the language of the sole.
Since the time of Samaveda, Music, as we all know, has developed itself into a complete art form with many of its genres or styles, the most prominent of them being the Classical music forms like Carnatic & Hindustani in India & Western classical in the rest of the world.
Carnatic music – the classical music of Southern India, is considered as one of the oldest & most scientific system of music in the World with its complex, perfectly systematized raga, tala & gamaka techniques, giving greater importance to creativity & enormous scope for solo performances.
Dance
Dance is an artistic form of nonverbal communication. In simple words, to move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps to the accompaniment of music.
Dance can embody or express ideas, emotions or tell a story. Dancing has evolved many styles. Every dance, no matter what style, has something in common. It not only involves flexibility and body movement, but also proper physics.
Dance has certainly been an important part of ceremony, rituals, celebrations and Entertainment since before the birth of the earliest human civilizations.
Archeology delivers traces of dance from prehistoric times such as the 9,000 year old Rock Shelters of
Bhimbetka paintings in India.
Many early forms of music and dance were created and performed together. This paired development has continued through the ages with dance & music forms all over the world.
In India, Bharata Muni's Natyashastra (literally "the text of dramaturgy") is one of the earlier texts. The text elaborates various hand-gestures or mudras and classifies movements of various limbs of the body, gait, and so on. Beginning from here, raised the various classical styles which are recognized today. Therefore, all Indian classical dances are to varying degrees rooted in the Natyashastra and share common features in the mudras, some body positions, and abhinaya.
The Indian classical music provides the accompaniment for the dance, and as percussion is such an integral part of the tradition, the dancers of nearly all the styles wear bells around their ankles to counterpoint and complement the percussion.
Drama
The genre of literature represented by works intended for the stage. It is an expressive process which is best understood through the idea of symbolization and its role in the discovery and communication of Meaning.
Both music & dance are an intimate & integral part of drama. Though the main theme of Natyashastra deals with drama, dance is also widely featured, and indeed the two concepts have ever since been linked in Indian culture.
There are particular ragas associated with a particular rasa. For instance, the ragas Kambhoji & Kalyani are related to Shrungara rasa & the ragas Mohana & Naata for Veera rasa.
The contribution of mass media like Newspaper, radio & T.V as well as print media in the development of performing arts is very well known. Some of the recordings of legendary musicians of yester years that are otherwise out of reach have been well preserved & propagated by radio. T.V, is able to create a cultural consciousness among the younger generation by telecasting various classical, semi-classical & folk dance & theater forms.
But apart from these there are other modes like electronic media, which can effectively be put to use for this purpose for spreading our performing arts globally.
“Electronic media are that utilize electronics or electromechanical energy for the end
User (audience) to access the content.
The primary electronic media sources familiar to the general public are better known as Video recordings, audio recordings, multimedia presentations, slide presentations, CD – ROM and Online Content.
Many hours of Music, dance & drama performances can be recorded & stored in Cds & DVDs. Portable devices like CD players, recorders. & ipods are also aiding in this regard.
Multimedia presentations, slide presentations etc are effective especially during lecture demonstrations to explain the theoretical concepts
The gadgets like microphones, amplifiers, speakers etc used in enhancing the quality of the performing arts are all the great contribution of electronics to the world of fine arts.
Today, through the developments in the field of electronics, people’s knowledge on the subjects like Acoustics & sound engineering are so great that the well developed theaters like Ranga Shankara in Bangalore make the best use of it.
The world of internet has enumerable wonderful things to offer to the development of performing arts-
There are several websites & search engines offering enormous inputs on the subject.
Discussions & exchange of ideas are possible on the net through blogs, discussion forums, e-mails, mailing lists etc where people from any where in the world can participate. Sharing of materials have become possible through streaming audio & video content & uploads & downloads of files on the net.
The above developments have created awareness towards many western theatrical forms such as Absurdist Theatre, Symbolist Drama etc & these forms have been well adapted to fit into Indian context
Many play in foreign languages like Shakespeare’s work have been translated into Indian languages & vice versa... This indicates cultural exchange between different nations happening through these technological advancements & provides good scope for novelty & innovative ideas in the field.
Some latest Advancements
Today, with a computer with internet, we can listen to thousands of radio stations broadcasting 1000 genres of music, from classical to religious & from rock to folk.
Unllike standard broadcast radio, internet radio stations can be heard virtually anywhere.
We are able to watch 3,500 of most popular television channels Without any hardware installations like dish, receivers, cable, other equipment or monthly subscription fees. This digital innovation provides DVD-like picture quality, high definition transmission, and crystal clear audio output
The points enumerated above are just a few samples of what electronic media is currently offering to the development of performing arts & folk forms.
But the actual scope is much more and amazing looking at the inventions in store and its day-to-day growth. Effective utilization of these would greatly enhance the quality of our Performing Arts and, would no doubt take us to international standards.
___
All Glories to God.
Monday, May 03, 2010
THE REFLECTION
There was a king who was a great admirer of art. He encouraged artists
from all over his country and gave them valuable gifts.
One day an artist came and said to the king, "Oh King! Give me a blank
wall in your palace and let me paint a picture on it. It will be more
beautiful than anything you have ever seen before. I promise you shall
not be disappointed. "
Now, the king happened to be constructing a big hall at the rear end
of the palace. So he said, "All right you may work on one of the walls
in the new hall." So the artist was given the job and he was very
pleased indeed.
Just then, another young man said, "Oh King! Please allow me to work
on the opposite wall. I too am an artist." The king said, "What would
you like to make?"
The man said, "My Lord, I shall make exactly what that man will make
on the opposite wall. Moreover, I shall do so, without looking at his
work. I would even request you to have a thick curtain put up between
the two walls so that either of us cannot see the other."
Now, that was a tall statement. Everyone in the king's court,
including the king and the first artist were intrigued. But the King
loved surprises and he decided to give the young fellow a chance.
The following day a thick curtain was put into place and both the
artists got to work.
The first artist brought in a regular supply of paint, oil, water etc.
The second one would come with a cloth and a bucket of water every
day.
After a month the first artist told the king that his work was
complete and he would like to show it to the king. The king sent for
the second artist and asked him, "Young man, when would your work be
ready? I am coming to see the first wall this evening." The man said,
"My Lord, my wall is ready too!"
The king went to see the first artist's wall. He was very, very
impressed with the painting and gave a hefty sum as a reward to the
artist. He then asked for the curtain to be opened up. The same
painting was to be seen on the opposite wall too! Amazing! But true!
Each line, each minor detail was exactly as it was on the first wall.
But this man had not been seeing what was going on, on the other side
of the curtain. So how had he done it?
The king wanted to know the secret. He gave a double reward to the
fellow. Then he said, "Young man, I am indeed very happy with your
work. But you must tell me; how did you do it?"
The man said simply, "It's very easy! I just polished the wall every
day! It was a wall made of white marble! The fellow polished it till
it shone like a mirror. The reflection of the painting across the
room, showed up in it! "
That is what it means to polish yourself. For when we polish our
hearts and souls, we see God's reflection within.It is said that the
world is a reflection of you. Whatever you are, the world will seem to
be that too. If you are sad, jealous, dejected, angry, restless ...
That is what the world will seem to be! If you are happy, the world
will seem to be paradise.
You decide how you want your world to look.
All Glories to God.
from all over his country and gave them valuable gifts.
One day an artist came and said to the king, "Oh King! Give me a blank
wall in your palace and let me paint a picture on it. It will be more
beautiful than anything you have ever seen before. I promise you shall
not be disappointed. "
Now, the king happened to be constructing a big hall at the rear end
of the palace. So he said, "All right you may work on one of the walls
in the new hall." So the artist was given the job and he was very
pleased indeed.
Just then, another young man said, "Oh King! Please allow me to work
on the opposite wall. I too am an artist." The king said, "What would
you like to make?"
The man said, "My Lord, I shall make exactly what that man will make
on the opposite wall. Moreover, I shall do so, without looking at his
work. I would even request you to have a thick curtain put up between
the two walls so that either of us cannot see the other."
Now, that was a tall statement. Everyone in the king's court,
including the king and the first artist were intrigued. But the King
loved surprises and he decided to give the young fellow a chance.
The following day a thick curtain was put into place and both the
artists got to work.
The first artist brought in a regular supply of paint, oil, water etc.
The second one would come with a cloth and a bucket of water every
day.
After a month the first artist told the king that his work was
complete and he would like to show it to the king. The king sent for
the second artist and asked him, "Young man, when would your work be
ready? I am coming to see the first wall this evening." The man said,
"My Lord, my wall is ready too!"
The king went to see the first artist's wall. He was very, very
impressed with the painting and gave a hefty sum as a reward to the
artist. He then asked for the curtain to be opened up. The same
painting was to be seen on the opposite wall too! Amazing! But true!
Each line, each minor detail was exactly as it was on the first wall.
But this man had not been seeing what was going on, on the other side
of the curtain. So how had he done it?
The king wanted to know the secret. He gave a double reward to the
fellow. Then he said, "Young man, I am indeed very happy with your
work. But you must tell me; how did you do it?"
The man said simply, "It's very easy! I just polished the wall every
day! It was a wall made of white marble! The fellow polished it till
it shone like a mirror. The reflection of the painting across the
room, showed up in it! "
That is what it means to polish yourself. For when we polish our
hearts and souls, we see God's reflection within.It is said that the
world is a reflection of you. Whatever you are, the world will seem to
be that too. If you are sad, jealous, dejected, angry, restless ...
That is what the world will seem to be! If you are happy, the world
will seem to be paradise.
You decide how you want your world to look.
All Glories to God.
FAITH
An Atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his Class on the Problem
Science has
with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Christian Students to stand
and . . .* *
Professor :* *You are Christian, aren't you, son ?
Student :* *Yes, sir.
Professor :* *So, you Believe in GOD ?
Student :* *Absolutely, sir.
Professor :* *Is GOD Good ?
Student :* *Sure.
Professor :* *Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?
Student :* *Yes.
Professor :* *My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal
him.
Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill.
But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?* *
(Student was silent )* *
Professor :* *You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella.
Is GOD Good?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Is Satan good ?
Student :* *No.
Professor :* *Where does Satan come from ?
Student :* *From . . . GOD . . .
Professor :* *That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?* *
Student :* *Yes.* *
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything.
Correct?
Student :* *Yes.* *
Professor :* *So who created evil ?* *
(Student did not answer)* *
Professor :* *Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness?
All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor :* *So, who Created them ?
(Student had no answer)* *
Professor :* *Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe
the World around you.
Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD?
Student :* *No, sir.
Professor :* *Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?
Student :* *No , sir.
Professor :* *Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD?
Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?
Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor :* *Yet you still Believe in HIM?
Student :* *Yes.
Professor :* *According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol,
Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student :* *Nothing. I only have my Faith.
Professor :* *Yes, Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.
Student :* *Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
Professor :* *Yes.* *
Student :* *And is there such a thing as Cold?
Professor :* *Yes.
Student :* *No, sir. There isn't.* *
(The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events )* *
Student :* *Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega
Heat, White Heat,
a Little Heat or No Heat.
But we don't have anything called Cold.
We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any
further after that.
There is no such thing as Cold.
Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.
We cannot Measure Cold.
Heat is Energy.
Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.* *
(There was Pin-Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )* *
Student :* *What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as
Darkness?* *
Professor :* *Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?
Student :* *You're wrong again, sir. *
*Darkness is the Absence of Something*
*You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light . . . *
*But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and it's called
Darkness, isn't it? *
*In reality, Darkness isn't. *
*If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?
Professor :* *So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
Student :* *Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
Professor :* *Flawed ? Can you explain how?
Student :* *Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality. *
*You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD.
*
*You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can
measure. *
*Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought.*
*It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully
understood either one. *
*To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that
Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing.
Death is Not the Opposite of Life: just the Absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your Students that they evolved from a
Monkey?
Professor :* *If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes,
of course, I do.
Student :* *Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?* *
(The Professor shook his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the
Argument was going )* *
Student :* *Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work
and
Cannot even prove that this Process is an On-Going Endeavour,
Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir?
Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?* *
(The Class was in Uproar )* *
Student :* *Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the Professor's
Brain?
(The Class broke out into Laughter )* *
Student :* *Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's Brain,
Felt it, touched or Smelt it? . . .* *
No one appears to have done so.
So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable
Protocol,
Science says that You have No Brain, sir.
With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir?* *
(The Room was Silent. The Professor stared at the Student, his face
unfathomable)* *
Professor :* *I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
Student :* *That is it sir . . . Exactly !* *
The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.
That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.
Some says that the student was Albert Einstein & for someone else its Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
But this is an intresting & informative conversation no matter who said it.
May God bless you with lots of Faith.
All Glories to God.
Science has
with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Christian Students to stand
and . . .* *
Professor :* *You are Christian, aren't you, son ?
Student :* *Yes, sir.
Professor :* *So, you Believe in GOD ?
Student :* *Absolutely, sir.
Professor :* *Is GOD Good ?
Student :* *Sure.
Professor :* *Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?
Student :* *Yes.
Professor :* *My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal
him.
Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill.
But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?* *
(Student was silent )* *
Professor :* *You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella.
Is GOD Good?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Is Satan good ?
Student :* *No.
Professor :* *Where does Satan come from ?
Student :* *From . . . GOD . . .
Professor :* *That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?* *
Student :* *Yes.* *
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything.
Correct?
Student :* *Yes.* *
Professor :* *So who created evil ?* *
(Student did not answer)* *
Professor :* *Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness?
All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor :* *So, who Created them ?
(Student had no answer)* *
Professor :* *Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe
the World around you.
Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD?
Student :* *No, sir.
Professor :* *Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?
Student :* *No , sir.
Professor :* *Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD?
Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?
Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor :* *Yet you still Believe in HIM?
Student :* *Yes.
Professor :* *According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol,
Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student :* *Nothing. I only have my Faith.
Professor :* *Yes, Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.
Student :* *Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
Professor :* *Yes.* *
Student :* *And is there such a thing as Cold?
Professor :* *Yes.
Student :* *No, sir. There isn't.* *
(The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events )* *
Student :* *Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega
Heat, White Heat,
a Little Heat or No Heat.
But we don't have anything called Cold.
We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any
further after that.
There is no such thing as Cold.
Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.
We cannot Measure Cold.
Heat is Energy.
Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.* *
(There was Pin-Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )* *
Student :* *What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as
Darkness?* *
Professor :* *Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?
Student :* *You're wrong again, sir. *
*Darkness is the Absence of Something*
*You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light . . . *
*But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and it's called
Darkness, isn't it? *
*In reality, Darkness isn't. *
*If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?
Professor :* *So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
Student :* *Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
Professor :* *Flawed ? Can you explain how?
Student :* *Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality. *
*You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD.
*
*You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can
measure. *
*Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought.*
*It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully
understood either one. *
*To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that
Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing.
Death is Not the Opposite of Life: just the Absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your Students that they evolved from a
Monkey?
Professor :* *If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes,
of course, I do.
Student :* *Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?* *
(The Professor shook his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the
Argument was going )* *
Student :* *Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work
and
Cannot even prove that this Process is an On-Going Endeavour,
Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir?
Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?* *
(The Class was in Uproar )* *
Student :* *Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the Professor's
Brain?
(The Class broke out into Laughter )* *
Student :* *Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's Brain,
Felt it, touched or Smelt it? . . .* *
No one appears to have done so.
So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable
Protocol,
Science says that You have No Brain, sir.
With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir?* *
(The Room was Silent. The Professor stared at the Student, his face
unfathomable)* *
Professor :* *I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
Student :* *That is it sir . . . Exactly !* *
The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.
That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.
Some says that the student was Albert Einstein & for someone else its Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
But this is an intresting & informative conversation no matter who said it.
May God bless you with lots of Faith.
All Glories to God.
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