Blah

Okay. I have no idea to explain what is going on in my head, so Shannon told me to just post a blog and look at it tomorrow, then try to understand it. As a final project, I really want to combine modern and Khon. They are complete opposites, but modern is currently more popular than Khon, and people are currently losing interest in Khon. Such as, there are very few masters at mask making, partly because they either don't have heirs or they can not find anyone to become their apprentice because it is such a low paying job. These people base their lives off of this and because the general public has lost virtually all interest in the dance, these people lost their way of living. The traditional dances are still popular in Thailand, but they still aren't what they used to be thousands of years ago; a person could dance as a certain character their whole life. I guess I'm aiming for some type of appreciation thing. And the only reason why I switched from Thai dance to general dance was so that I could combine Khon and modern to make the final performance a lot easier on me. Shannon knows about modern and her teacher said that I could borrow any of her students for the performance, when Shannon told her about it, so she would be a good person to interview. I could also easily make a project if it's more general. I could even do little experiments about the popularity of the dances and how/why people have a preference. Plus, it's really interesting, too. Like, dances have been developed to express the emotions of people facing great suffering, show beliefs, etc. They can also be very spiritual. Not to mention, everyone usually dances atleast once a day. My main focus would most definitely be Khon because I love it and think it's so beautiful and it fits with anthropology well.

Essential & Foundation Questions

As of now, I am working on my essential and foundation questions. It's actually very difficult at the moment because I'm not entirely sure as to what I exactly want my project do be. It's all still a little vague. However, Shannon helped me a bit with some ideas of foundation/essential questions and I began to write down a few more. I'm not sure if any of them are very useful, but I'm starting to get a better idea of what I'll be aiming towards. So far, here are the questions that I have:

• Why are particular dance types more common than others?
• Why do different dances appeal only to certain people?
• What things do all dances have in common?
• Do particular dances regain popularity? Why? How much time passes between popularity spurts?
• Do dances express certain things relating to the times that they are popular?
• Why do they lose popularity?
• Through changing the dance or combining others, can it regain its appeal to the public?

So I guess I'm working toward maybe finding out why different styles of dance change and disappear so often, why some reemerge, etc. Something along those lines. =D

Essential Foundation Product

So far, the last catching up thing that I have to do is the essential and foundation questions, then deciding what I want my product to be. After talking to Shannon a lot about dance (specifically modern), I have possibly been thinking incorporating modern into the product so that maybe the choreography would be a little easier and possibly a little more creative, so that it wouldn't really matter much if I missed little details in the steps. Also, the costumes would most likely be a little easier to make because mixing it with modern would mean that the costumes couldn't be as heavy and clunky as they traditionally are, which would be a lot easier on the dancers. So, that's always a possibility. =D

Catching Up

Okay. I've done quite a bit of research, even though so many sites were blocked. I've got a pretty good understanding of Khon and the 'mechanics' of it. I'm waiting for the video I asked to borrow from this university in Ithaca, NY. Unfortunately, I requested about five, but the other ones weren't available. I asked the guy I was talking to if they would be available at a later date, but he has yet to respond to me. But I guess that's alright. I also requested a video and a CD from the library; I just have to remember to bring my card to class to check to see if they are available or not. If I don't pick them up by November 1st, they'll no longer be on hold. Then again, I don't think they're very popular things to check out.

But for now, work wise, I have to focus on the webliography and the foundation questions, now that I have a decent resource list. So yeah. Lovely. I have no idea what to do for an essential question. Gah. However, interesting enough, I'm pretty good on my final action. I know what I want to do and I basically know how to do it. My only issues are really the costumes and putting together the choreography of it, because I'm not real good at either, but I do know people who could help me. So that's good. =D

I'm excited about the performance. I think it will be great. Though, I'm not sure if I could get it done by 1st trimester of 12th grade, just incase I have grad project then. It's kind of going to be really difficult and I won't hold it in the summer because then the dancers would be far too hot in the extremely bulky costumes and masks that I have to make. -_- So, it's either going to be in early Spring (which I could never do for this year), or like....early-middle fall. That should work. ^_^

Unfortunate Problem

I must say, the most unfortunate thing about conducting research on the school computers is the 'parental' blocks. Just about everything that I click on is blocked. It's insane. I don't feel that there should be blocks on things like this because sometimes it's just an advertisement on the site and you're missing out on information that could be amazing. I think I would especially need YouTube because I would have to study their music, their dance techiques, and their costuming.

As of current, I'm not entirely sure as to what I want my main topic to focus on, but I do know what I want my action to be, which is usually a lot harder, in my opinion. Plus, the action would take so much longer and you have to love it to stick with it. So yeah.


Progress:

• No sure topic
• No essential question
• Action found
• Resource list nearly finished
• Lost on how to find foundations of theatre (reason for movements, what are the specific ways to play an instrument to specify something, reasons for costuming/headdresses, etc.)

Update In Topic

My topic has completely changed. Currently, I really want to focus on traditional Thai dance, which can also be considered a form of theater or drama. I've always been really interested in it for a long time, but I didn't think it should be used for the project because I wanted to incorporate my chosen profession (archaeology) into it and the two topics don't really fit together. There are multiple types of styles in which the dances are performed. Some only pertain to folklore as their plot base, or some have a specific type of movement, one used to be only performed for royals, etc. I'd really like to put on a production in the style of Khon, which is a very traditional dance that protrays all or sections of the Ramakien, which is Thailand's version of an Indian epic called Ramayana. The dancers are completely silent. Their actions, thoughts, and speech are narrated by someone who stands on the side of the stage, who is usually with a chorus. The music that's played depicts different things such as walking, expressions, weather, etc. I think it's a very fascinating form of dance because it's so different than anything that I've ever seen, before. Even though a production would take some time, even a year or so, it wouldn't be too difficlt, just time consuming. The main thing would probably be costumes, for money, and the place for it to take place.

Completely Blocked

I am basically back to where I started. I've found so many interesting subjects that I'd love to go further into. However, I have absolutely no idea of what I could do for an action. I desperately do not want to do anything bland and boring. I want to have something that I wouldn't mind researching and doing.

As of now, I'm really fascinated with ancient rites of passage, such as the process undergone by boys trying to be men, and girls turning to women, Bolivian healers (and the witches' market in La Paz, Bolivia), and just about everything in Indian, Japanese, and Chinese history. I particularly love their architecture, art, traditional dress, and theatre (Thai theatre, also).

So, even though I have managed to narrow things done, I'm still really stuck. However, I do think that I want to focus on either India or China. The Mauryans in India have such beautiful sculptures and the time of the Three Kingdoms in China is a really interesting story.

My Sister

Severe progress has been made in narrowing a topic. I must say, my sister is an absolutely amazing person. I sent her my long, long, long, long, long, long, looooong list of topics and she sent me so many options and offered even more help. I think asking for her aid was most definitely a good idea; she's really gifted with this such as this. This is her most recent e-mail to me:

"The art of body piercing and body art.......i googled this topic and the romans pierced their nipples as a sign of manhood and many african tribes got huge peicings to not be very attractive to slave traders....this would be cool to all you could provide pictures and illustrations of both and contrast it with today

Art and the growth, importance and significance throuh the years pick a century to start with and work your way up.each huge artistic mvmt is a direct result of what was going on in the era...presentation could be finding (and if you like this idea we could discuss further) copies of major art peices and having a mock art gallery showing in one of your classes complete with sparkling cider and cheese like aunt sue's [my aunt is an artist]

The pagan origins of christian holidays is interesting Chris says that some viking group had a voodoo doctor that shrunk heads and would hang them on the trees thus we have ball ornaments ....Once you get together all your info on these holidays we would come up with a cool way to illustate it...

Burial practices are cool in them selves religions in general are very differnt even today like jews can not be enbalmed if you choose a variety pick a # incas, native americans, india, mayan, asian there is an unlimited # to chose from

Oh in my opinion stay away from the witchcraft it is taboo and you should work on a project that will interes your new internship and can be referred to later like in college never know when it can be recycled.

As for comparing the costumes for military i hav not done much reasearch but it will be hard to demonstrate to a class unless you just use pictures even then it is a little
dry.

Japan is a cool country and they have so many traditions that are still practiced today it is cool take a geisha, foot binding , even the way they cook and drink tea is an art...you could do a whole comparison on the japanese cultral and compare it with another asain cultural or american or even any other european cultural we do not hold on to our traditions like that....OH and the kimono and fans god we could go on and on...I have a lot of asia nmarkets down here... Origami you could wrk on some peices to display then teach the class how to make a crane then research cuz there is always somw kid out there trying to have people send them thousands of cranes send them to that kids (usually a cancer patient."

I think that her suggestions were absolutely fabulous. So, she's going to be my main start in narrowing things down.

Superwoman

I have officially enlisted the aid of my sister to help figure out a topic based upon the ones that I've narrowed down to. She's absolutely fabulous at this sort of thing, so she's the perfect person to ask. She guaranteed me that she'll help me find a concrete topic in a few days. She's my hero. =D

10,000 Ideas

My quest for finding a lovely topic is becoming much easier to find with the book 10,000 Ideas. The things that they suggest are actually quite original and easily help me to think more about topics similar to the topics that they suggest. They've also suggested many original topics that I would have never even crossed my mind. Though, as an action, many of the topics may not work, which could be a problem. So far, I've managed to develop a list of topics that I've found:

· The pagan origins of Christian holidays
· Witchcraft during the Middle Ages
· Ancient Celtic burial practices
· Animal worship in primitive religions. Select several cultures for comparison
· The role of the shaman in primitive societies
· Incan religion
· Malinowski’s views of religion and magic
· The place of the shaman in primitive cultures
· Mysteries of the Mayan civilization. What are the unanswered questions in anthropological research?
· Hindu funeral and burial customs
· Mayan myths
· Similarities between Christian and Pagan rituals

Fashion-Type Topics:
· Compare and contrast military costumes of Egypt, Greece, Rome, Persia, and Babylonia
· Traditional dress and jewelry of India
· The clothing of war: ancient and modern
· Body coloring among early civilizations. Include materials and designs.
· The ancient oriental custom of foot binding


· The Japanese art of paper folding (origami)


Because most of these topics are quite simple, I was hoping to combine some on the list, or even find an outside topic in a section such as fashion, medicine, etc. and combine it with topics from my list.

Searching for Smaller Topics

I did talk to Ms. Kretchman (sp?) about my internship, things I should be doing there, etc. She did also attempt to help me with the project and figure out a topic. She provided me with very interesting questionis that could help me figure out. The other woman in the office, forgive me for I have forgotten her name, suggested something with preservation. However, I can not remember her exact words. For that, I guess maybe for an action, I could do something along the lines of build something similar to a certain time and place, then take actions to keep it standing for as long as possible. I do like the idea of the preservation of artifacts, buildings, etc., but I'm not too sure if it relates fully with what is in my head. However, it does give me an example of ideas. So, so far, I'm still quite lost.

Attempting to Narrow

I am currently attempting to narrow my archaeology subject to something that is much smaller and is easier to develop a project from. However, I am still having major problems with it. It's so ridiculously difficult to narrow such a vague topic down. -_- Ugh. There are slightly smaller sections such as architecture, written work, the civilizations themselves, art, etc. Though, they're just as vague.

First Assignment

After nearly a week, the first assignment. =]

I really haven't heard much at all about the graduation projects at school. However, I do work with a 12th grader from here. Upon talking about it, her first words to me were to pick something I will like and will always have options. She told me that her original plan was great, but when she tried, she couldn't do it, so she was eventually stuck doing something that she despised.

I don't really have very obvious interests, so I'm not entirely sure. Yeah, I know, I mean I'm okay at writing, but it's just not something I'd really like to pursue in my life, unless it results from the book a friend of mine and I are writing. Otherwise, no. I really like history, though. Anything before the late 1700's is where my fascination lies.

My main concern is not finding a decent enough topic that will not torture me for the next two years and will provide me with very steady work progress and wonderful results. However, that seems to be quite difficult.

Entirely Clueless -tear-

I am absolutely clueless as to what it is that I plan to do for the project. Narrowing all of my thoughts into categories, questions, etc. is much more difficult than originally thought. However, I do know that I want to do something on archaeology, or something historical. Maybe something with that, relating to photography, but probably not. Photography is something I enjoy, not something I want to ruin with making it as a project. Now onto torturing my lovely brain to manufacture ideas, eventhough it hates me right now. ^_^

things to do:

♠ Research topic

♠ Figure out atleast one decent topic

♠ Track down mother to get her to fill out lunch form

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