Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues Part A

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues:

video - by Nina Paley

I really enjoyed the opening scene, with the anachronism of the record player. It was also really cool how the lotus petals where used as lilypads in the opening scene. 

After the intro, I'm rather confused --- why are there two people in San Fran with a cat? Oh this is such an accurate representation of how loud Tux is in the morning. The animation style is very different here. 

The way of using three different narrators is fascinating! Especially when they comically bicker about the details of the storytelling. 

They definitely start in the story in media res though. Rama has already met Sita and he his facing exile at this point. Animation style change, and now it's a musical number, an interesting way to switch narrative method. This is used to tell their time in the forest. 

The overlying theme of anachronism as Sita sings the blues is not lost on me. 

Their perspective on Rama is interesting (how evil really is he?)

    Ceylon = Lanka

    Rama's Bridge still exists (according to NASA)

HAHAHAHAHA Ravana's sister's argument for why Ravana should take Sita is hilarious. Everything about her is lotus. Of course Sita wants the beautiful golden deer. 

Since Vishnu was to be reincarnated as Rama, Shiva was selected to be reincarnated as Hanuman to help Rama.

Hanuman's Leap is done here alone, without any assistance from the bear king. 

I feel that there's a parallel between the stories, but I'm working on deducing it.

Ravana is shocked that Sita remains so chaste. It his here that he gives Sita his demand. Although, I suppose by ordering his rakshasas to prepare her for breakfast? Is Ravana a cannibal now?

These blues interjections are really interesting and I love how the dichotomy propels storytelling. 

HAHAHA the scene where Hanuman keeps his tail on fire, lights Lanka on fire, and then grows to fly back to Rama. By far, one of my favorite scenes in the Ramayana. No exception to this rendition. Although, in this rendition, it seems like Hanuman could have taken Sita. 

AHH the narrators addressed this. She could have gone with Hanuman and escaped safely. Instead, she wanted Rama to come,. rescue her, and defeat Ravana. 

ope there's the connection. the men are cold on arrival...

also I made the mistake of not reading the notes before I started... so the woman based in SF is a representation of the creator of this work... that is so profoundly sad

(Sita Sings the Blues - Nina Paley - image)