The mood for period drama struck some time last week and I satisfied it by watching the 1983 BBC miniseries version of Jane Eyre starring Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke. Independence is a pivotal theme in Jane Eyre and each reading/watching leads to thoughts on this. Bronte’s concern with this is clear right from the beginning but comes into sharp focus when Jane leaves Thornfield Hall after her marriage to Rochester is abruptly called off. She has to leave him because staying would be contrary to her code of ethics. She sets off into the world with only a few coins and no job. One can only imagine how bereft and alone she must feel at this point. (more…)
Archive for January, 2008
On East Coast Road and melancholy seas
2008
01.28
01.28
Last month, we took a drive down to East Coast Road. As a day trip. Yes, I am aware it sounds faintly ridiculous that we drove all the way from Bangalore to ECR and came back the same day but there were extenuating circumstances. It was one of those spur-of-the-moment urges to hit the road and keep driving. I had a longing for the sea. And there was nowhere we could leave our dog at such short notice. So we decided to pile into the car and drive towards Mahabalipuram and drive back when we were done with the drive and the road and the sea. (more…)
More on Gieve Patel and poetry
2008
01.20
01.20
Some of us had dinner with Gieve when he was in town and the discussion, predictably, revolved around poetry. Poetry is always difficult to talk about — so much of it is subjective and it’s difficult to exactly pinpoint what the elements of a good poem are. Some say sound; the words should resonate when read aloud. Others say meaning; whole universes of truth must be contained in a single line. Honesty, original imagery, innovative use of language…there are so many aspects to a good (a hopelessly banal word but it will have to do) poem. (more…)
Gieve Patel and poetry with young people
2008
01.20
01.20
Originally published in The Hindu.
“Poetry may be the most misunderstood of genres among the arts.” So says poet and plawright Gieve Patel in his introduction to Poetry with Young People (Sahitya Academi, Rs 100), an anthology introduced and edited by him. Featuring over a hundred poems written during Patel’s workshops at Rishi Valley School over the last decade, the anthology is emblematic of his success in demystifying this misunderstood art. (more…)
Hiatus
2008
01.10
01.10
The truth is I’m a little bored of blogging. I just don’t have the urge to say anything in this particular space any more. I thought reinvention would help but it hasn’t. Hopefully, this is temporary. So, until later.
UPDATE: Okay, that didn’t last long. About ten days.
