Finally, we have come to the end of this semester. I am glad that I have been given a chance to create my own blog for the course of "Teaching the Language of Drama". This is a very new experience to me. Although at first I just treated it as part of my task to fulfill my lecturer's marking scheme, but now I have found that this blog actually has a lot more benefits to me.
By posting my reflections about the course in this blog, I have in fact learned a lot more knowledge which I might not gain in the lecture. When I read other coursemates' blog I gained more insight about the play we have learned in the lecture. I think that it is a very beneficial activity that our lecturer has designed for this course to enhance our understanding about drama.
Throughout the whole semester, we have learned five plays, Anitgone by Sophocles, Pygmalion by Bernard Shaw, Anike by Wong Phui Nam, King Lear by William Shakespeare, and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. We have learned the background and history of theater and various techniques that a playwright used in conveying their messages in a play. We have watched the movie of Pygmalion, Shakespeare's Wallah and Macbeth. We also have a chance to go to a real theater in KLPAC to watch a modern theater, 4.48 Psychosis. Not only that, we also have simulated teaching session that has given us a chance to learn all the teaching skills and techniques in teaching the language of drama. All these are very good learning experiences for all of us. I have gained new insights about human life from reading the play. I have learned how to examine a play from various aspects of its language. This course has also sparked my interest and enthusiasm for drama and theater.
Here I would like to thank my lecturer, Dr. Edwin, for all the effort that he has done for this course and for all the patience he has in teaching us.
I enjoy this course very much and I hope in the future I would still have the opportunity to know more about drama.

New experiences in simulated teaching

I have learned a lot of new things in the simulated teaching sessions in this course. Although my group hasn't presented for the while reading activity but I have learned a lot from the comments given by Dr. Edwin to my fellow course mates' presentations.
I can see most of my coursemates have actually put a lot of effort in preparing their simulated teaching, so do I. While we thought that we have actually done the best in our preparation of the worksheet and teaching materials, somehow there are always mistakes and imperfections in the eyes of our lecturer. When Dr. Edwin pointed out truck loads of mistakes that we made in our worksheet and also in our ways of conducting the lesson, and then I realized there are still a lot more space for us to improve ourselves in order for us to conduct a good lesson.
From the simulated teaching session, I am glad that we can learn from each other and get more and more idea from each other. I think all the worksheets I got from my coursemates will be a set of very good collections for my own reference in future. All the worksheets designed by different course mates would have different ideas and each has their strengths and weaknesses. Some have very creative exercises but may be too simple for advanced students. Some have too "ambitious" task that students may not be able to attempt it individually in a single lesson. So in this case, the teacher has to think of other way for the students to complete the task. Group work or pair work might be other good alternatives that the teacher can consider. From this experience, I have learned to be creative and flexible in teaching.
The using of technology is also very crucial in conducting a lesson. If we could make good use of the technology, this will make our lesson become more interesting and livelier. This also helps to catch students' attention and lighten the teacher's burden in explanation.
The way we speak and the language we used are also very important in making a good lesson. I appreciate that our lecturer actually corrected us when we were using the wrong words or making grammatical mistakes. Sometimes we were just so used to talk in a carefree way with our friends and no one actually bothers to correct our mistakes. But as a future English teacher, who will become a role model for younger generations, I think we really need to speak properly and accurately.
All in all, I think it is a very good experience for us to "foretaste" the experience of being a teacher. I think most of us have learned a very good lesson in this simulated teaching session and all these experiences will be very useful in our future teaching career.

Like a moth to a flame

While I am reading a modern play, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, again I have found out a lot of animal imageries in the play. Perhaps human's behaviours sometimes do share some similar features like animals, thus many writers like to use animal imageries to portray certain behaviours of a characters. In A Streetcar Named Desire, I was impressed by the description of Blanche's entrance on the stage, in which Tennessee likened her uncertain manner and her clothing to a "moth". I think this must be foreshadowing something that is going to happen to Blanche later in the play. As this animal imagery has aroused my curiosity, I have found out more information about this insect from the Wikipedia. Unlike butterflies, most species of moth are active at night. They frequently appear to circle artificial lights. They are especially attracted to bright lights thus sometimes they are attracted to the flame of fire and harm themselves.
"Like a moth to a flame."
This phrase is a simple illustration of the phenomenon of the attraction that moths have to bright light. It means "irresistibly and dangerously attracted to something or someone." In the 17th century, Shakespeare also used this phenomenon to refer to someone who was apt to be tempted by something that would lead to their downfall in his famous play, The Merchant of Venice.
I think it is very suitable to use the phenomenon of moths being attracted to light to portray Blanche's character. She is attracted to male that could satisfy her sexual desire yet she does not know that this is actually a "flame" that will destroy her life. Her arrival at New Orleans symbolizes that she is drawn nearer to the "flame" that is going to lead to her downfall, that is, Stanley, who destroys Blanche's life to the fullest by raping her and then having her committed to an insane asylum.
Although moths are attracted to light at night but they could not stand the sunlight that is too strong and bright. This also accords well with Blanche's behaviour. Throughout the play, she avoids appearing in direct, bright light so that others would not notice her faded beauty. This shows that Blanche is not willing to face the reality of her age.

Comment on Rose Dayang's "The Role of the Fool in King Lear"

I think Rose has done a good job in her explanation about the role of the Fool in King Lear. She even notices when is the Fool disappears in the play and the significance of his disappearance!
I agree with Rose that the Fool plays the role of a moral instructor to Lear. Although his name is "Fool" but he is wiser than the king in the sense that he could see the "wolf in sheep clothing" while Lear is morally blinded by his own pride. The Fool warns Lear to beware of the two ungrateful daughters in a humorous way which also brings laughter to the audience. The role of the Fool also portrays clearly the theme of blindness and sight in the play.

"I stumbled when I saw."

"I stumbled when I saw."
Sound ironic?
Yes, indeed it is a very ironical phrase yet it is also a very insightful sentence in the play King Lear by William Shakespeare.
This phrase is uttered by Gloucester after his eyes were plucked out by Cornwall. Only after he has lost his eyes he realizes the tremendous mistake that he has made. Now, in his blindness he can "see" clearly how evil his illegitimate son Edmund is and has easily fooled him into believing that his loyal son Edgar is set on killing him. He has trusted blindly what he perceives as the truth without considering deeply beneath the surface.
The theme of sight and blindness can also be seen apparently through the other character, Lear. Although he is not blind, Lear fails to see the truth about his three daughters. His "disability to have insight" has led him to make terrible decision that has brought destructions to his own life.
Besides that, one main thing that I believe has hindered Lear and Gloucester to have a clear vision is their pride. Because of their pride, they never thought that they would make mistake thus they do not seek for or listen to others' advice.
"I stumbled when I saw."
This phrase should be a very good reminder for all of us. Isn't it a precise description about human life? The story of Gloucester and Lear does not simply occur on the stage for us to watch but it should be an impact for us in reality. The experience of Gloucester and Lear should be a very good lesson for us to learn. We should not perceive anything only on its face value. Instead of using our eyes to see, we should also make use of our mind, heart, knowledge and experience. Besides, we should not be overconfident on our own judgement. We should always consider other's advice to us.

Comment on Ly Wen's "Cuckoo as ungrateful children"

After reading Ly Wen's post about Cuckoo, I have a better understanding about the use of animal imagery in the play "King Lear". I never have any knowledge about birds' living and this makes me feel difficult when I encounter the bird imageries used in the play. I appreciate Ly Wen's effort in surfing on the net to find out more information about cuckoo and this should be a good example for me to put more effort on my study. After reading her post, I understand why the Fool calls Lear's daughters Goneril and Regan as "cuckoo" in I. iv. l 214-215. Goneril and Regan's ungratefulness to their father is exactly like how cuckoo dominates the nest of its foster parent and displaces the other nest mates. I found that it is very meaningful and interesting that human's behaviours can be described through animal imageries. Perhaps because human is also categorised as animals in terms of biology, human do have some similar features like other animals. I think that Shakespeare has successfully using animal imageries in his play to portray a clear picture on human behaviours.

Comment on Chelsea's "Anike-Finished!!!"

Although Dr Edwin has finished discussed the play "Anike" with us, but I don't have much impression about the play because most of the story is basically no much difference with "Antigone". I wondered how the playwright Wong Phui Nam could get the copyright of the play. Only after reading Chelsea's post I know what the differences between these two plays and how Wong Phui Nam made it in its own right. I was paying too much attention to the plot of the story until I missed some of the crucial details that made it a unique play that stands on its own right. I agree with Chelsea that reading "Anike" and "Antigone" were totally of different mood. Reading "Antigone" emerged the feeling of sorrow that we could feel the intensity of the play. Whereas reading "Anike" is more "relax". Like Chelsea, I also appreciate the creativity of Wong Phui Nam in integrating the Malay Legend of Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat into the play by which he successfully portrays the play full of local feeling and colour.

Comment on Elizabeth's "PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL"

I agree with Elizabeth's statement that Creon has misused his power and authority as a ruler based on his selfish motives of pride rather than accepting the will of the gods. This reminds me of a similar character in the Holy Bible, which is the king Saul recorded in the book of Sammuel in the Old Testament. As I read his story, I found that he has the same tragic flaw that Creon has, that is pride. Because of his pride, he did not obey the command of God thus leading to his downfall. Eventually, he was forsaken by God and was killed in a battle.
This also reminds me of one verse in the New Testament written by Apostle Paul which I think is a very good advice for Saul, Creon and also for us.
"I know also how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to hunger, both to abound and to lack." (Philippians 4:12) No matter in what status we are, we must know how to behave ourselves. Not to complaint when we are in a low position and not to be proud when we are in a high position.

Comment on Amelia's "Ovid's Metamorphoses Pymalion and George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion"

The common subject in these two versions of "Pygmalion" is love. Both protagonists in these two stories have fallen in love with their own "invention". Like what Amelia has said in her post, the only difference is that Eliza is a human being unlike a lifeless sculpture. She has her own feelings and thoughts. She has freedom in making choices for her own future. She can put on her effort in pursuing her dreams. She has the right whether to love or to be loved.
Reading Amelia's post has given me an insight about love. I belief that everyone has a dream to find out an "ideal lover" which matches them the most. Some may list down sets of criteria to find out who is the ideal lover in their life. Rich, good looking, caring, responsible, capable, honest, lovely, humorous... But the irony is that, no human being is perfect in this world. No matter how good a person is, there must be some weaknesses. There is no ideal lover in this world except you "create" one for your own because only you yourself know what suits you the most. Higgins had no interest in woman at all before he has successfully transformed a flower girl into a lady. I actually doubt with Higgins' love for Eliza. (No wonder Eliza doubts too.) He doesn't love Eliza because of who she is but because she is his ideal "invention"! In fact, the person that he loves the most is he himself. "Love" does not equal to "like". One may "like" someone because of his or her good qualities but this may not be "love". "Love" includes sacrifice. If Higgins really loves Eliza, he must be willing to change his attitude. However, Higgins not only not willing to change himself but he ought to change Eliza to suit him. I consider this is a very selfish action. Changing oneself is a kind of sacrifice. If one claims that he loves someone but is not willing to change for this person, this is not a real love!

Finally...we got the chance to watch the theater!

Finally, with a joyful spirit, we reached KLPAC! After the experience of a "tragedy" of being lost in the way to KLPAC last two weeks, yesterday Amelia, Elizabeth and I went to the theater again. This time, we have asked so many people about the direction to the place and we even "hired" a driver to accompany us to the theater. I would like to thank my friend, Patrick, who also enjoyed the drama very much, for sending us to the theater.

This is the first time for four of us to watch a drama. The moment we entered the theater, the first thing that startled me is the setting of the stage. It was almost like the Greek Theater! Although it was a small theater which can only fit around 100 audiences but it really resembles the theaters of ancient Greek. The audiences surrounded three sides of the circular playing area. When we were watching the play, I realized that this kind of stage setting is very effective in the sense that the audience can hear the actors' voice very clear as if they are talking next to you. I really can feel the emotions and the atmosphere of the play.
The drama we watched was 4.48 Psychosis. According to the studies of psychology, 4.48am is the time when most of the people having their will in the most weak condition. And, surveys also found out that many people committed suicide at 4.48am. This drama is about a woman who is struggling in depression with thoughts of confusion and insecurity. This is the last play written by a famous playwright Sarah Kane.
There were only three actors in this play and they had performed their characters very well. Their facial expression, gestures, actions, and voice projection have impressed me a lot. I even could feel the tense situation in the play when the woman was struggling and reasoning whether to kill herself. I think this was the experience of "catharsis".
The other element that impressed me was the lighting technique. They can control the light very accurately and it was the lighting that contributed a lot in creating a mysterious atmosphere of the drama.
This was really a very nice experience for me. Sure we have taken a lot of photos at the place. We even met the director of the drama, Gavin Yap, and managed to take a photo with him!
After this wonderful experience, I have a better understanding about what had been taught by Dr. Edwin concerning the theater. I think I am falling in love with drama now!

From the left: I, Amelia, Gavin Yap & Elizabeth.

O... What a Tragedy!

I've never imagined that "tragedy" could happen in my life!!
The story is like this...
Yesterday, Amelia, Elizabeth and I have decided to watch a play in KLPAC named "The System Of Cikgu Tuko". After booking the ticket, we were so excited to watch the drama. Although we did not know the directions to the theater, but we were so excited to go to the place. We downloaded map from the internet, asked friends about the directions to the theater and we even departed 2 hours earlier before the drama starts. However, our "fate" of being lost in the KL town was "irremediable". Since the first time we missed one entrance, this had "foreshadowed" what was going to happen next. We were totally lost and drove rounds and rounds in the KL area for 2 hours!!
Finally, we reached KLPAC at 9pm. We were so happy and we thought that we were just late about half an hour and we would just miss the beginning of the drama. However, the "tragedy" did not end here. As we reached, we quickly looked for the person in charge of selling the tickets. Then he told us that the drama is going to end in 15 minutes!! From the highest and happiest mood, we fell into the deepest hell of disappointment. What a "reversal of fortune" we had experienced!

The movie of Pymalion

After viewing the movie of Pygmalion, I have a clearer idea about the play written by Bernard Shaw. Both watching the movie and reading the play have given me different experiences of understanding the story. From the first time I read the play, I have fallen in love with it. The language used, the plot of the story, the description of the characters and the sense of humour hidden in the conversation between the characters...All these have given me insight into human behaviour. I feel so glad to have been given an opportunity to watch the movie of this comedy. This time, I not only perceive it as a comedy that implies human behaviour, but it is also a romance that portrays the love that surpasses social status. When I read the play, I did not have much impression on this matter and I could not feel the love between Higgins and Eliza. The movie has done a good job in portraying the theme of love because it shows us the scenes that we cannot read from the play like the process of Higgins training Eliza on the language and manners. From the play, all these are just "told" but in the movie, all these details are "shown". This actually gives the audience a clearer idea of how their relationship developed and progressed.
The movie has actually followed almost hundred percent of the play but just a slight change in the ending. However I believe that this changing of ending has indeed given a great impact to most of the audience who also have read through the whole play. In the play, Bernard Shaw did not actually end the story but left it to the reader's imagination. The director of the movie has actually made a brave decision on changing the ending of the play to a happy one in which Eliza eventually goes back to Higgins. And I believe that this give an effect of surprise to most of the audience. But I think most of the audience would prefer this ending rather than the ending of Eliza being married to Freddy.

Pygmalion

This week, we have started reading on another play "Pygmalion".
"Pygmalion". What is "Pygmalion"? When I search this word on-line, I found out that "Pygmalion" is a legendary figure found in a Roman narrative poem, Ovid's Metamorphoses. Pygmalion is the name of a sculptor. He has carved a woman out of ivory and this statue is so realistic that he falls in love with it. So he prays to Venus and offers presents to the statue. Eventually, he is shown mercy by Venus and the statue is brought to life.
Thus, from the title of the play "Pygmalion" itself, it foreshadows the story of the play. It must be a story based on Ovid's tale of "Pygmalion". Indeed, it is!
The play "Pygmalion" by George Bernard Shaw is a story about Henry Higgins, a professor of phonetics, makes a bet with his friend, Colonel Pickering, that he can successfully pass off an ordinary flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, as a lady by teaching her how to speak upper class accent and training her behaviour. This is exactly like how Pygmalion is carving a woman, Higgins is also "carving" Eliza. Undoubtedly, as the story develops, Higgins gradually falls in love with Eliza, just like how Pygmalion falls in love with the statue he carved.
However, Higgins' story is not a myth like Pygmalion. He is not as lucky as Pygmalion because he has no "Venus" to realize his desire. At the end of the story, Eliza rejects Higgins' propose and declares that she will marry Freddy, a young and poor gentleman.

Human's pride VS God's wisdom. Who wins???

Finally, we have come to the end of the play Antigone by Sophocles. After reading and discussing this play with Dr. Edwin in in the class, I have a better understanding on this play. What I have learned from this play is: Pride is the source of foolishness which leads to the defeat in life.
The character that impressed me the most in this drama is Creon. Being an antagonist in this drama, who also fits all the criteria of a tragic hero, he has experienced a very great downfall from a high status of a glorious king at the beginning of the play to a man which is in despair and has lost everything at the end.
What leads to this downfall? It's his pride. He is too proud and self-righteous to an extent he challenges God! He has done wrong in the very beginning of the drama of being proclaim the new edict of not burying the dead Polyneices. As a king, he should know that this is something against God's law. But being a king, make him feels the supremacy of the highest status among the Thebes, perhaps he has forgotten that he is just a human being that lives under the government of the universal law governed by the Almighty.
Antigone's action and her defense for herself should be a kind of reminder for him to abandon the edict. But he sentenced her to death and had never changed. His beloved son, Haemon, came to beseech him. But he disqualified his son's judgment because he despised his son's youth so he had never changed. He was told that all the citizens was disapproving his action. But he thought that being the superior ruler of the kingdom will never be governed by another's judgment so he had never change. Tiresias, the seer, came to advise him. But he disrespected him as an old man so he had never changed.
What make him so stubborn, never listen to other's advice and never want to give up the edict? PRIDE! See how pride has leaded him to all these foolish acts! See how pride has destroyed Creon!
At last, although he has realized his fault, but it's too late. Since he had never listened to any other mankind's advice, God shows him the fate of being disobedient and challenging God's law. With the great strike from his losing of his beloved son and wife, he is now realizing that he is just a human being which will never win God.
Creon's story has given me a great insight about life. No matter how intelligent or how "wise" one may think he or she is, no matter how one struggling to go against God, eventually,
God shall win and He is the only winner.

Wisdom VS Foolishness

In Wednesday's lesson, I was very impressed by Dr. Edwin's discussion on the differences between the words wisdom, foolishness, shrewd and intelligent. "Foolishness" which means the act that is not sensible and will get oneself into trouble is definitely different from the other three words. But what's the difference between "wisdom", "intelligent" and "shrewd"? All these three words also have the similar meaning, that is, able to make sensible decision and judgement but the difference is the motive behind the action. "Intelligence" is the bridge between "wisdom" and "shrewd". A shrewd person is able to make good decisions because he understands a situation well. He knows when to do the right thing so that he himself would not get into trouble but the motive maybe a selfish one. A shrewd person might be intelligent but he might not be wise. A wise person is not only able to make good decisions but also sensible judgements based on his knowledge and experience for the advantage of others.
In the drama Antigone, her action in burying her brother is seemed as a foolish one from Ismene's perspective. Yes. Indeed it is a foolish action because she had got herself into great trouble and even has to sacrifice her own life. But it is a noble deed that pleases the gods. Antigone is definitely not a shrewd person according to this context, but she is wise in making such a decision.

To be, or not to be

"To be, or not to be"
This is a very remarkable soliloquy said by Hamlet in William Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. I was very impressed by this phrase as Dr Edwin introduced this famous soliloquy to us today.
The argument in this soliloquy is about making decision between life or death, whether to go on living or to die. For some people, they might think that death is the end. After death, everything is going to be nothing. All the sufferings, burdens (as the word fardels in the play suggested) will come to an end as one die. I think this is most probably why so many people nowadays have the tendency in committing suicide. However, who has the assurance to say that death is the end of everything? Who has ever experienced death, then resurrected and come back to tell us what is happening after death? Perhaps death is not the ending of everything but instead it is actually the beginning of everything! As many religious has suggested, there is life after death and death is never the ending but rather, it is the time for people to actually face the consequences of our doings during this age, whether good or bad.
"Thus conscience doth make cowards of us all," This is true. When we think of what is going to happen after death, we may not have the courage to really end our life as we all do not know what is the "true colour" of death.
This soliloquy has indeed given me impact about life. No matter how suffer life is going to be, I'd choose not to give up. To end own's life certainly needs a lot of courage but to keep going on with life actually needs much more courage. Instead of having so much strength to make a decision to commit suicide, why not just transfer this strength to face all the challenges in life?

Ballet

Out of so many dance forms in the world, Ballet is the one that I like the most. I am greatly impressed by the beauty of the body movements of the performers. I like to watch the performance of Ballet on stage. It usually combines dance, mime, acting and music(usually orchestra, which I enjoy very much). This combination makes the show perfect in terms of its visual and audio effect.

Ballet is best known for its unique features and techniques, such as pointe work, turn-out, and high extensions. I think most of the audiences are deeply attracted by its graceful, flowing, and precise movements. Their movements are so light. The ethereal qualities of their movements make the dance full of imagination as if the dancers are flying in the sky and go against the gravity.

It has been originated since late 14oos and is still famous until nowadays.

What is Makyong

After reading the dramatic monologue of Mak Su in the drama of Ramli Ibrahim, In the Name of Love, I was reminded that there are many precious traditional practices have been neglected by the younger generations and Makyong is one of them. When I was reading this monologue, I myself also did not know what Makyong is. As I surfed internet to search for further information about Makyong, I found out that it is actually a very artistic dance form that worths to be inherited generations to generations.

Makyong is an ancient dance-theater form that combines the elements of ritual, stylized dance and acting, vocal and instrumental music, story, song, formal as well as improvised spoken text. It is believed to have originated in Kelantan, Malaysia, several centuries ago, long before the Islamization of the country. It is performed mainly for the purposes of court entertainment and for ritual practices such as healing practices. The most important dance in Makyong is Mengadap Rebab which is divided into five sections: sitting, kneeling, squatting, standing and walking.

Makyong has been preserved until the present day thanks largely to the oral transmissions, which requires long years of training. However, this important tradition is undergoing steady decline, due to reduced dramatic and musical collections and a shortage of performers. In addition, in today's society, few young people are willing to commit to this tradition. Makyong was so popular and greatly welcome by many people in the past as what Mak Su said in the drama. She feels so regret that this tradition is banned due to the new law in Kelantan and the Makyong performers are forced to move to other state. It is so unfortunate that this tradition is being neglected and gradually become unknown to many people especially the younger generation.

A good start

Last week, Dr Edwin asked us to create our own journal to reflect on what is taught in the EDU3217 "Teaching the Language of Drama" class. This idea is a totally new experience for me as I have never created my own blog. I think this is a good start for me to actually keep a journal and to improve my writing.
To teach the language of drama is certainly another new thing for me to learn in this semester. As I have never watched any drama or play, I felt that this must be a very hard time for me to go through this course. But anyway, I hope that after this semester, I would at least have some background knowledge about drama. What I need to do is just to try my best in understanding what is being taught during the lectures.