Om Ganesha pendant
by V.E. on December 28th, 2009
filed under beauty, recap/review
I don’t usually review pieces of jewelry, but I paid for this pendant with my own money, had it shipped all the way from India (signed confirmation of delivery and everything), and I’m really pleased with it, so I’ll make an exception for the Om Ganesha pendant with Fine Cut Twin Garnets from Exotic India. (If you’d like to browse Exotic India’s website, click here.)
As an eclectic pagan who has a fascination with certain deities, Ganesha included, I wanted something that was pretty (shiny!), but not too obvious of my devotion. The pendant is sterling silver with two garnets, one each on the lower left hand and upper right hand sections. (Click the link for an extreme close up and to buy; 25% off until December 31 and free worldwide shipping, though you’ll have to sign for the package once it reaches you.) The lower right hand section is the profile of an elephant head and trunk, the symbol for Ganesha.
It’s just an inch tall and 0.6 inches wide, so it’s small enough not to be gaudy. My tastes run to silver because I just think it’s prettier than gold (though I do like rose gold and white gold) and that’s good for me because it’s less expensive than gold, too. This piece clocks in at $20, though I got it on sale for $15 with free shipping. As you can see, I splurged for the 16″ necklace as well ($8 more, not required), with which I’m also pleased. Read below for a little bit about Om and the Hindu deity Ganesha.
“Om (also ‘Aum’) is commonly pronounced as a long or over-long nasalized close-mid back rounded vowel, though there are other enunciations pronounced in received traditions. It is placed at the beginning of most Hindu texts as a sacred exclamation to be uttered at the beginning and end of a reading of the Vedas or previously to any prayer or mantra. The Mandukya Upanishad is entirely devoted to the explanation of the syllable. The syllable is taken to consist of three phonemes, a, u and m, variously symbolizing the Three Vedas or the Hindu Trimurti or three stages in life (birth, life and death). Though ostensibly in some traditions it is polysyllabic and vocalized as a triphthong, the Omkara is held to move through and contain all vowels possible in human speech. One important version has five components, flowing from h through a, u, oo to m.” If you’d like to learn more about Om, read here.
“Although he is known by many other attributes, Ganesha’s elephant head makes him easy to identify. Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles, patron of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom. He is honored at the beginning of rituals and ceremonies and invoked as Patron of Letters during writing sessions. Several texts relate mythological anecdotes associated with his birth and exploits and explain his distinct iconography.” If you’d like to learn more about Ganesha, read here.
12 Moments 09: #9
by V.E. on December 28th, 2009
filed under 12 moments
This entry is part of 12 Moments in Anime 2009.
#9 is my ability to work anime into any situation, including school.
Let me explain. I’m finishing an MFA in creative writing this semester and last June was my last official residency at the school. At the residency, students took two tracks: publishing and education. I didn’t manage to work anime into the publishing section, but the education section called for a sample syllabus of a class we’d like to teach. I chose to teach about fanfiction and used a Gundam Wing fic as an example of one of the types of fics. (I later had to use another example because no one knew what I was talking about, but the genesis of the idea came from anime, so I’m counting it.)
THIS IS JUST A SAMPLE, not a real syllabus, though I might teach it if I get enough interest.
— — — — — — — —
Writing Fanfiction
Workshop Syllabus
Instructor: V.E. Duncan
Email: provided on real syllabus
Phone: provided on real syllabus
Description
Writing Fanfiction will meet 6 times, once per week for 6 weeks, in July and August 2010 from 7:00-8:45 PM at the La Canada Flintridge Library. We’ll explore multiple aspects of fanfiction, including terminology, keeping your characters in character, coming up with plot ideas, what not to do, and beta readers. The last week will be a reading of participants’ work with thoughts and suggestions from other participants and the instructor.
Materials
Bring a folder, notepad, and a pen or pencil. Also, have in mind your favorite book, book series, anime, cartoon, television show, or movie. Bring a copy (picture, synopsis, or whatever) to share with us if you like.
I will provide relevant handouts during each class and give a writing assignment due at the beginning of the next class. There will be some time before each lesson for discussion of the homework, and I’ll stay after each class for story-specific questions if necessary.
Day 1: Let’s all get on the same page
• Basic terms: fanfiction, canon, fandom, “shipping”, OC (original character), Mary Sue, OOC (out of character), AU (alternate universe), PWP (plot? what plot?), and others.
• Anime/manga specific terms: yaoi, yuri, het, fan service, etc. Also, other fandom-specific terminology.
• Fanfiction format: disclaimer, warnings, etc.
• Useful links for fanfiction, recommended reading for writers.
Day 2: What not to do
• Authors who don’t like their work/characters used in fanfiction.
• Mary Sue/Marty Stu characters.
• Don’t forget about proper spelling and grammar!
• The importance of having a beta reader.
Day 3: Choosing a fandom and characters
• The canon; choose something you know!
• Characters within your canon.
• Character cluster diagram exercise.
Day 4: OOC and setting
• Keeping your characters in character (or not).
• AU: the differences between (benefits/detriments of) canon setting and alternate universe.
• “Pulling the reader into the setting” exercise.
Day 5: Plot? What plot?
• Freeform writing.
• Strategies for brainstorming.
• Rough draft exercise.
Day 6: Participant readings
• Critiquing other fanfiction stories (if you want to).
• Reading other fanfics (and canon, of course!) to make yours better.
A Note
As the instructor, I reserve the right to change the syllabus to better fit the participants’ needs and learning pace if necessary.
