Reflective blog on Cultural studies by Dr. Kalyani Vallath

Hello , Everybody very warmly welcome to my blog!!!!!

Here I am  writing about my such one wonderful and memorable experience of lecture by DR. Kalyani madam. So, here I am reflecting my learning which I learn from her lecture.Mam has special came to take Cultural studies and also talked about Net and SET exams.

• I remembered in last year we have also listened mam but it online not live. That time we also enjoyed.  This time luckily she come to Department for enhancing our knowledge. The topic with which she dealt, we had already studied it two times and we know about it. As cultural study was an umbrella term  and including all kind of theory, it is a large context or subject. But now after attending Mam's class I would sure that I came to more know about cultural studies.

• she touched upon topics like ;


• What is cultural studies?
• The Beginning of cultural studies
• About Pioneers
• Circuit of culture
• Major influences
• Cultural Intermediaries
• Popular culture studies
• Subculture studies
• public sphere
• Posthumanism
• Trauma Studies
• Queer studies

# What I meant by cultural studies???!
.
• If I talk about Cultural studies then in simple words we can say it studies about us human beings who are living on earth. It is interdisciplinary study, relates to the larger society,it has political dynamics of Mass media and everyday cultural practices. In a way it relate with a lay man to high class man . It deal with every person's life, way of living, culture, business. It talks that how culture transforms individual experiences,social realities and power relations,social theory, Philosophy, History, Linguistic and Media.In simple language it talks about everybody's life,their culture, what ,why and where they living,what they are wearing,their food,their rights. It doesn't discuss on any particular class of people.It doesn't mean that only elite or high class of people only have their culture but every single man has culture. If anywhere we goes and met there new people and their culture and we happily accepted or it touches our heart then it is Cultural studies. It gives space to us to not only stuck or remain with our culture but it give space to us.



# How would you explain lay man about Cultural studies????


 • If we have to explain lay man about Cultural studies then it is easy that there is culture or tradition where they are living, with which they are leaving.Mam has explained it well that she says our India is a great that it has different kind of culture in over all india. She gave one example of Aasam that in case maybe their have lot of slavery, poverty, in a case they don't have anything to eat and they cut and eat animals with their blood,then we can say that they are bad or we are good because they are doing it by their situation.

# Examples which we get cathchy from lecture:-


• So, first at all I want to say that she has taken many examples from our routine life ,from a middle class family. She is taking very much relevant and real or silly examples which we can easily understood.Here I like two examples of her own life one at Singapore and second at Aasam , both place she has to sacrifice for food.As we know that Cultural studie is also developing of updating with today's time. On more thing that whatever matter she is telling is directly connect with cultural studies. She don't talk only about high classes's culture but also middle class stream which which she is dealing.She has taken example of water bottle from which she is gone to drink but suddenly she look bottle as example and well discuss about political act . We learnt that how cultural studies connect with our Perspective, Tradition, society,our own experience and etc.

So, as the way mam has taught is superb. What an superb personality she is. She knows where to stop,where to repeat,where to give hard voice or sharp tone and with many  interesting marvellous expression she touch directly our heart. She has a talent to keep grab student's attention or to teach them even a boring some topics. She don't talk about only particular city, County but she talks about all our world.So,At end I surely can say that I enjoyed this full-day session and also gain alot of knowledge about cultural studies.

                 

Thank you!!!!......

Language Lab review

Hello , readers welcome to my academic page or blog.

•  I supposed to first go through Language Lab software in computer in lab of department as well as we have to  go through the Language lab software in NAMO E TAB which is provided by government of Gujarat. In all tablet there has a language lab and many more other useful software.so, here I am defining my ideas about both. This task is given by Dilip sir. Here is link of his blog.Click here


•  So first let's talk about Language Lab software in computer:- 

• So, according to me in this 21st century to work computer rather than Mobile is a little bit hard. The second thing was that the computer takes more time to open or work,it was a kind of boring thing to wait for it.  We also need remember some such kind of password or username for open this software.Moreover it works slowly,sometimes it gets hanged type so we have to work with too patience .In additional it introduces three kinds of level and also have 5-6 subcategory part in each one.So, in every part has it's own many lessons in it ,so in short we can say that it is very long ,lenghty subject to study. Somehow we dealt it with in group of 7. Whichever part we open first we get introduction page ,then some basic information then lesson to read for exercise and then it takes excercise. However it is good that it giving three options like VERIFY, SHOW ANSWER and RETRY.So, with the help of it ,if we are wrong then we can easily set our answer second time or we can see answers.

• Some points about this software:-

• It is time consuming or we can say boring

• We have to do it only on lab or we can only sit on chair for  long time

• We have to work with patience

• we can't take it anywhere or do in our comfortable zone

• yet it's fundamental skill is good as it provides speace to us also that we can record our voice then compare and analyse it with software which I don't find in mobile. I think it is advantage of it's.

• The grammar excercise and language is easy to learn.

• We have to keep our attention to it.

• We find many new words from it.

• At the end I would like to conclude that as Every coin has it's two sides good or bas as the same this software has also but still I say that it provides a lot of information or knowledge about how it works in ancient time or which kind of problems people have to face earlier.It also teach us that  as we are going with smart and brilliant technology whether we can handle this kind of tipical traditional idea or software. But one thing which I found that as we enters in it we feel more interested with it, we like to do more and more it. So , really I am satisfied and happy after learning it.



Now, furthermore let's talk about Namo e tab and it's Language Lab software.

• so,  first I was surprised after knowing that Namo e tab has providing this kind of facilities for us. I think many less students who uses this tablet don't know about this. I came to know about it after installing it. In comparing of computer it is easy to open , we don't need to remember anykind of password and it doesn't take more time. It is providing knowledge for Arts,commerce , science,others as well. In contemporary time if u asked anyone that which tool you prefer or choose for learning then everyone choose the mobile. In my words it is a biggest and best advantage that it providing in mobile so ,it is handy. We don't need to do in Language Lab. Moreover it improving our  LSRW as well as other many skills .

• Some good and bad points about mobile's language lab:- 

• It don't take much time .

• It works well , we don't bored by it

• We can access it anywhere, anytime . 

• It is handy so, we can work with it anytime, anywhere, we can do it with our comfortable mode. We don't need to stick on chair or to hold mouse of computer. 

• It covers more course or knowledge or we can say major presented skills rather than computer.

• It is giving us first preparation or previewing task, then summary or video with Transcript ; that if we are not interested in looking or listen then we can read it and at last there are 2-3 task to do.


 • It has disadvantage that in speaking skills, it don't give space to us , we supposed to only listen , we can't record then compare or analyse like the computer software is giving.

 • It doesn't necessary that we have to do it only at our study time because this mobile software we can use it at our home also, as it is not time consuming or working easily.


 • It maybe happens that if in mobile we are doing then notification of social media never let us to do whole course and we can't concentrate on this particular thing.
So, hereby I discuss some good points about both  Language Lab as per my views. I enjoyed in both learning and also gain good quality of knowledge which will be useful for my further future life. 

Thank you!!!!!!!!

Thinking activity on One Night @The Call Center.

Hello,

 Readers welcome to my blog!!
This blog is a part of thinking activity which is given by Prof. Dilip Barad.Here is link of his blog . Click here

 • Chetan Bhagat:- 

 • Chetan Bhagat is a indian and most favourite writer among youngest generation. His works is so populated by everyone. With reading his books or novel  we feel as he writes for us, or he understands our problems,or he is giving some such kind of our problems. As he is the student of Marketing and Management he very well known how to do Marketing or selling of books.He has a special talent or strength to observe, understand and then to write upon it.Within very short time he became well known writer and create a unique space in literature. Normally it happens that writer has so many time to observe his time's crisis or condition but Bhagat has a special talent to observe and then immediately act or write on it.
So, Now let's talk about some themes which are applying in his most famous novel ON@TCC.

1]  Effect of Globalization:-


 • So,if we talk about Globalisation process then it is related to the whole world, whole world is connected with this such kind of process. Basically it connects the world. This particular process is very well reffered or connected with One night@the call centre. In novel the main six characters who working in Call centre. They have to work throithe night. They have to deal with foreigners, supposed to help with their simple kind of and minor problems. In novel there was one scene is about 10= 35; it means they have to behave with their as they are only 10 years,as we are talking with children.Yet they are not giving us respect or whatever they ask , this guys have to answer. Sometimes they ask some silly questions till we have to give answer.This is how they connecting the world and work as human resources. Here mainly it discuss mostly on America and India. Actually it is very well criticize by Varun ,he represents as a Anti -Americanist. It also force us to think on this kind of questions. As the Globalisation has touch or cross his limit in current time. So, The concept of Globalization is softly and beautifully described in the novel.They have to work under one Boss (Bakshi) and have to use sugarcoated language.

2] Narrative Structure of the Novel  and it's comparison with Life of Pie :- 


• Chetan Bhagat's Narrative style and structure is a little bit different. As in ON@TCC one lady is telling a story to Chetan Bhagat. First she tell and then ask Chetan to write second book without giving her name. So, in the novel it specify as UNRELIABLE NARRATIVE. Same as In "LIFE OF PIE" protagonist is telling full story to Writer. Then Chetan choose Shyam to narrate whole story.Both books includes Talk on God , But in Life of Pie ,here the director or writer thinks deeply and connect the God's call with some real logic. While in Bhagat's novel we can't find this kind of deeper depth.


3] Theme of Nationalism in the Novel :-


•  In novel, the Theme of Nationalism is also applying ,as I early mentioned about Americans that 10= 35. We have to treat as they are only ten. So, the character potrayed as a Anti Americanist.All are working in call center. They none of like this job . All are doing this job by so and so reason. In a way they are not living happy life because they evene can't sleep proper. And they are not making profit for India but from here they are making more powerful to America. Manier time on call it maybe happens that the customera of America they believe that India is a poor country or they also behave rudely with Call centre's people. Here varun rebels against them and at the end we can find one scene of "BUG" where this six characters of novel are use to scare to
Americans.One more thing is that when God's call comes then Varun ask the same question that why have you put America on Top or on Higher place; why the India is not like it ?? There we find a very good answer from God that America is not the happiest country or not super.  He gives reason that America is involved in many fights with many country they don't have any kind of peace.Compare to it our India is far better good. So, we can conclude that with very smartness Chetan Bhagat has presented the theme of Nationalism.

Thank you so much for reading my blog!!!!!!!🤗🙂

Thinking activity on Lead writing and Feature Writing.

Hello, My dear all friends!!! Very warmly welcome to my blog. So, this blog was a part of my Academic task on ELT -2. So, in this we supposed to work on Journalism (unit :- 2, paper no :-16).So, here I am going to talk about journalism as per my understanding and my experience.so, Here first at all let's see about Lead writing and Feature Writing.


#What is Lead writing????

• A lead is the first paragraph or several paragraphs of a story, be it a blog entry or a long article. Its mission is to catch readers' attention and draw them in. Getting them truly involved is the duty of the rest of the story; getting them to that point is the job of the lead.In journalism, the beginning sentences of a news story are everything. Called leads or “ledes,” they must convey essential information, set the tone and entice people to continue reading. If you’re interested in becoming an expert journalist, understanding how to write a lead is a key skill for your toolbox.
, if I am talk about my view then in the 21th century we all like to this kind of short information quickly and instant. Nobody are free or ready to read thoroughly full article or news. Even when we are going to read book if we read Abstract then we can come to know about the concept of the particular book.So, with this we can come to know about the subject or concept of the thing.

•  In addition,that recently we had studied the "One night@the call center"written by Chetan Bhagat,very unique and well known writer. In his book I found his St of writing was a quite a different from other writers. So, in this book I find Prologue which he writes in beginning of his book and at the end he put Apilogue. I thought Prologue is a kind of thing which catches our interest in book and we are going to read full book.It includes many other things also but here I described as per my understanding.

• so,  now let's talk in briefly about Feature Writing.


#What is Feature Writing???
• so , it was a another way of writing which includes some other characteristics regarding Feature. Basically it needs a lot of research.

It's key function is to humanize,to add colour,to educate,to entertain and to illuminate. It will often be longer in size than a traditional news story. A feature writing is typically longer than a standard news story. It's written in a different style
typically with more detail and background based on more extensive research than would be required to simply report about news.

• Thank you so much for reading my blog !!!!

Thinking activity on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Hello ,Readers warmly welcome to all in my blog .so, this was a task given by  Dilipsir on a very famous Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie . Here we supposed to listen her 3 videos,her speech and we have to apply in our syllabus and suppose to write our view on her life as well as upon literature.


• About  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie:-

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (born 15 September 1977)is a Nigerian writer whose works range from novels to short stories to nonfiction.She was described in The Times Literary  Supplement as "the most prominent" of a "procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors [who] is succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature"

Now, let's talk about her videos :-

1) Talk on importance of Story / Literature:-

• In this particular video the speaker shows the importance of literature very well. Firstly she describes her childhood and from where she comes. Through the video we can find out that she was a very early reader as well as writer. She was very much attracted towards writing and literature. She belongs to middle class Nigerian Family. She has a black skin here she reffered chocolaty color of her body. Actually I can feel that what is the life and conditions of having black skin. In Africa there haven't any kind of race issue. In beginning she portrayed her childhood that how she grown up. Having a black skin ,we have to tolerate of superior people; it becoming a universal problem of this particular scenario.As a female writer with black skin to opens up her own self was a very good things. With this point I want to say that if there is this kind of Author and they are going to write upon it and it creates history or literature of that kind of grous or people.If there are this kind of writer only then we can read it anytime, anywhere and we can come to know about her struggles ; next generation should also have aware about it.As she says that she doesn't believe that kind of her people have space in literature she can't believe. I studied the "BLACK SKIN, WHITE MASK" by Frantz Fanon which also deal with mainly racism  where we can see how White or superior people ruled over Black or lowerclass people.As my point of view to having black skin and if we are writing anything then we have to face alot of difficulties and have to fight always for our rights.She also deal with Migration process and when she goes to America how she feel there and what problems she faced there? If I seriously say then I really like her ideas and views about this kind of people.




• In the second video she talks about some very interesting thing. She is referring here Feminism ,all called her as a faminine. Here the one most good thing was she directly touch upon our heart as she focuses on reality,she talks about the reality in which the womens are living,their issues, problems,which kind of place they are getting in our society or nation.She talks with feminine perspective but she said what was truth . As a feminist writer she is not only taking side of women. If I give a vary live example then even if in family there was a baby girl born then they distribute the "JALEBIES" and in case there was a boy then they will distribute the "PENDAS". There were many differences in growing or taking care of children.She refers her school's one incident where because of some reason she doesn't choose as Monitor. She said there were more population of Womens but in real they are not getting such kind of respect or some higher place in real life.In Business if the men and woman both have done same work still men paid more rather than women. So,we can't find similarities between them. Seriously Women do whatever but they can't take place of men ,this kind of old rigidity was also here.With very humorous way she speaks all what she want to against men's society.



•  In the last video she addresses the Students at Harward, Cambridge University. Where she gives some motivation and asked about writing. She says if our writing was not praising or recommended then also stuck with your ideas.If we are real and we have confidence on our writing then we should write and expose it to the world.So, at last I like to conclude that she was a very influential writer of Nigeria and she has a power in her speech to speak truth of whatever happens with her . As a black skin representator she presents herself very well.




Thank you.......

Thinking activity on Arundhati Roy :-

Hello , Everybody welcome to my blog!
This blog was about Indian Author Arundhati Roy, about her life and her two most famous novels.So, here we have to share and write our own views upon her .So, here I am going to share my ideas according to my understanding.

 •  Suzanna Arundhati Roy (24 November,1961) was an Indian Author, activits,worked also in movie .she was a very good writer of that time. She was such an one of best female writer. In her Novel she recalls her childhood and also writes on the contemporary time's political as well as Social or Economic condition of her aroundings.She well touch upon the idea like 'Caste system', political issues,"The concept of UNTOUCHEBALE".It was very hard to go against government or to write about politics and it was by women.She also writes upon some political leaders with sone kind of metaphors and she makes satire.she was writing for simple people and the reality of life .She also writes on the Marxism and communist party .He get Man Booker prize for fiction for the novel " The God of small things" in 1977.For this novel she get wordly fame.

Arundhati Roy's Two major famous work :-
1] . "The God of small things"
2]. " The Ministry of Utmost Happiness"

1]" The God of Small things".

•  The God of Small Things is the debut novel of Indian writer Arundhati Roy. It is a story about the childhood experiences of fraternal twins whose lives are destroyed by the "Love Laws" that lay down "who should be loved, and how. And how much." The book explores how the small things affect people's behavior and their lives. It won the Booker Prize in 1997.The story set in Ayemenem town in Kerala.The story revolves around the Rahel and Estha - twins of Ammu. Ammu marries with man after she realize that he was alcoholic and give divorce to him . Then she gives birth to this twins and get back to live at Ayemenem.Ammu's brother Chacko who comes from England after divorce with the Margaret.Here I am not going talk much about summary. Here I find that Ammu belongs to wealthy and rich family and Arundhati Roy here discuss about class and caste system. There was a man maned velutha who was a Dalit and working in their pickle factory,be belongs to lower class ,but Ammu and his children falls in love with him which was a biggest sin of that time. Roy write about Indira Gandhi's Green revolution. After the 23 years twins met and reunited after seperating in childhood. These both twins have some extra attraction towards eachother.So, at the end we can say that as a woman writer she collects very fresh and  good issues of her life and time.

2] The Ministry of Utmost Happiness:- 

•   The Ministry of Utmost Happiness is the second novel by Indian writer Arundhati Roy, published in 2017, twenty years after her debut, The God of Small Things. It has been translated into 50 languages, including Urdu and Hindi.The novel weaves together stories of people navigating some of the darkest and most violent episodes of modern Indian history, from land reform that dispossessed poor farmers to the 2002 Godhra train burning and Kashmir insurgency. Roy's characters run the gamut of Indian society and include an intersex woman (hijra), a rebellious architect, and her landlord who is a supervisor in the intelligence service.The narrative spans across decades and locations, but primarily takes place in Delhi and Kashmir. Here ,she puts one Major issue of all around the world which was to be Hijra . Not belong to male or female.From very ancient time we are facing this kind of Hijra community who have to suffer alot and they don't have respect in society,they have to fight for their rights. This was a common issue which takes place in all world.She reffered here many politician with indirectly and with metaphors and she has done satire on politics. Secondly she focuses on some social and political issue of some States of India.

 •  Arundhati Roy's perspective towards life :- 
when I read the life of Arundhati I am shocked and impressed also. In her novel she recalls her childhood and to write upon all issues which happened with her in her childhood as well as at young age. She was very brave woman as she portrayed the real picture of country without any kind of fear of anyone.Her style of writing was very innovative and she directly put her point on which she want to speak.So, according to me she has a very broad and superb perspective to accept the situation and people and also to write upon it.



Thank you....😀🤗