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Overcoming Invisibility

Overcoming Invisibility Abhirami Sankaran 2/3/2023 The Percy Jackson series follows a group of demigods as they complete quests and journey to various mythical realms. The series borrows heavily from various Greek epics and situates them within the modern world. In the series, one of the main characters is a girl called Annabeth Chase. She is a daughter of Athena (the discrepancy from mythology is explained in the series) who accompanies the protagonist Percy Jackson on most of his adventures. Throughout the series she carries around a Yankees cap which grants her invisibility, a gift from her mother. This cap carries symbolic significance. Annabeth first ran away from home at the age of 8. She survived with the help of some friends, one of which functionally died to get her to safety. Ever since she has been trying to prove herself. She wants to be taken seriously and in such an endeavor, she often hides aspects of herself. The cap is symbolic of this, it allows her greater tactically...
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Riptide

 Riptide Abhirami Sankaran 2/3/2023 Percy Jackson is a young adult books series that follows Percy Jackson, a kid from Brooklyn who happens to be a demigod son of Poseidon . The series borrows heavily from various Greek epics and embeds them firmly within the modern world. The titular carries a sword called Anaklusmos ("Riptide"). This weapon and the symbolism behind it is what I would like to assess in this reflection.  Through the story we find out that Riptide once belonged to Hercules and symbolized the betrayal he beset upon a character Zoe. Zoe, a former nymph of the garden of the Hesperides, once gave the sword to Hercules out of love. Yet he left her and she was banished from her home as a result (result of helping him with his quest). The sword that our hero holds is therefore emblematic of the issues many Greek heroes have. It represents how many of them valorize glory at the expense of humanity. As the books progress Percy fulfills a prophecy and uses a boon give...
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Gone Girl

Gone Girl Abhirami Sankaran 2/3/2023 Gone girl is a film about a dysfunctional couple. It follows Nick and Amy. The story begins with Amy's disappearance. All signs point to Nick. There is blood in the house, Amy’s journal detailing abuse, a slew of toys Nick bought, financial problems, a pregnancy, and a life insurance policy that would make Nick a millionaire in the event of Amy’s death. Then, halfway through the film, it is revealed that Amy staged this death. She is alive, though she intends to kill herself to complete the performance, and she plotted all this because Nick betrayed her. They’re whole marriage is based on performance and he dropped his part, and also cheated. This was her idea of revenge. As she states it he took her life and now she would take his.  Gone Girl was a very popular and lauded film (and book). It clearly spoke to something within the cultural consciousness. So I wonder if it has some symbolic value? Some analyses I have watched suggest that the film...
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Gaining an Understanding of Limited Perspective

Gaining an Understanding of Limited Perspective Abhirami Sankaran 2/3/2023 Recently I have come to understand that my breadth of experience is rather narrow. Whether that was caused by my upbringing, Covid-19, or personal actions (likely all three) I am not sure. I have, though largely unconsciously/unintentionally shielded myself from many viewpoints. I am not acquainted with many republicans personally, likely because of the state of politics, great polarity of the current environment, and the drastic opinions presented on social media. Yet I have come to realize that I viewed them as more abstract than people. It is quite embarrassing to admit such an attitude. To say that I have been largely blinded and perhaps a tad hasty in many of my assumptions. Truthfully I don't know if what I believe in could align to a friendship with such people (I have strong beliefs about bodily autonomy and such). But as circumstances have placed us, one of the other study abroad students from CNU ...
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Meditation in Movement

Meditation in Movement Abhirami Sankaran 2/3/2023 One topic we have discussed in our class is finding peace in journeys. Any lengthy journey requires a sort of meditation. To be one with our thoughts. I have found that, surprisingly, in a small way here in Glasgow. I am not accustomed to living in a city. Forty minutes here is considered within walking distance. While acclimating myself to my environment, I have started to make a conscious effort to not listen to music or videos while walking. The act of moving my body and allowing my mind to wander has been rather therapeutic and soothing. I had not thought that this was an aspect of life I lacked. Yet, as I have started this practice I have begun to think. To contemplate my life. Who I am, how I view the world. The sheer variety of new experiences have provided plenty of fuel for such matters.  I find that allowing myself to think, without any external stimulation, has improved my ability to differentiate my voice from others. To...
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Reality in Myth

Reality in Myth Abhirami Sankaran 2/3/2023 One topic we covered in class was the idea that myths speak of a truth beyond the facts. I find this idea both strange yet natural. That which we proclaim mythic is not truly about dragons or witches but rather people being people. The mistakes we make and the consequences, the love we forge and its fruits. When I consume myths I find them fascinating, I think this is rather evident in my numerous entries about the Greco-Roman pantheon. They are emotions personified. They take the real and weave it through the fantastical so that we can create distance from the characters, yet still understand them. This allows us to reflect on our actions. Jason died because he forsook Medea, though we are unlikely to be struck dead for unfaithfulness, we can reflect on his actions and learn. We understand that breaking vows can lead to disaster. We may never be stranded away from home like Odysseus but we can understand how trauma can often moor us in unfami...
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Medea: The Lack of Karmic Downfall

Medea: The Lack of Karmic Downfall Abhirami Sankaran 2/3/2023 One epic I find fascinating is that of Jason and Medea. Truly Medea is a fascinating character. She is one of the few women in Greek epics whose actions are largely villainous yet is never punished.  Likely the cause of this is that she breaks no morays of Greek society of her own volition. Her initial love of Jason is caused by Hera and her betrayal of her family is in service of this love. She plans and abets fratricide yet it is Jason who performs the act and this too was in service of her love. Later, after Jason betrays her, abandoning her in service of a princess, she kills her children. Yet, since she only committed this action as a result of Jason's betrayal, she is never truly punished. Despite all her crimes she is never concretely killed.  I wonder what the message behind this was meant to be? What was the symbolism and what was the audience supposed to take away? Was it that since her fate was tied by th...
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