Epic Narratives of South Asia

This class introduces students to the living epics that form core literary, religious, and cultural traditions within South Asia: the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. “Epic Epics” will begin by examining the earliest narration of the Ramayana (in its modern Amar Chitra Katha comic redaction) and then will proceed to investigate how these stories of tragedy, valor, and divinity were and are adapted by different communities as they became an intrinsic part of almost every area of this region. As the heroes (and heroines) of these epics are often linked with the people producing and/or narrating them, the manner in which these epics are articulated reveals the priorities of its authors. Drawing on literature, film, graphic novels, journalism, podcasts, art, and performance, this class will explore the continuous reworking of these epics from their inception to the present day. Special attention will be payed to the controversies surrounding politics, caste, and gender that arise in the texts.