The Mind vs The Tongue in a round of Performance

"Movies rise and beat books down,
for we are easily aesthetically pleased.
Five days of text quickly delivered,
in but half an hour, with ease.
A stranger's vision mindlessly devoured,
why put in the effort to weave our own?
We abandon what so long kept us empowered
If only Hopkins had known."

Performance is my business. I read books every day of my life as far back as I could remember. The stories and details always remained vivid in my mind, partially due to their memorable story lines and intense character development. But this was mostly due to the grand symphonies of image, sound, and feeling I composed in my mind to color each and every flick of the author's pen.

Me at a college speech/literary interpretation competition.

Since my first speech and acting competition in seventh grade, I realized I had an incredible passion for bringing those organized marks on paper I so loved to life.

So why would I stand opposed to the performance of literature versus it's study? Society.

Hopkins laments that poems "bear the marks of having been meant for the whispered, not even whispered, merely mental performance"(letter to brother, hopkins), and obviously believed that they were actually "originally meant for either singing or reciting"(letter to brother, hopkins). He was upset by the fact that mental recitation had taken over in place of oral presentation. I believe our modern-day situation is quite opposite of the one Hopkins faced. As expressed in the poem above, I believe that performed literature has come to a point where it has replaced text. The most beautiful thing about poetry, in my opinion, is the fact that it requires creativity from both the reader as well as the writer.

A book can mean so many different things to each reader.

Although the poet wrote these words, they may mean something completely different to me. A poem is an endless source of inspiration that creates a variety of beautiful paintings on the canvas of each individual mind.

I used to play with the younger kids down the street until their moms came home from work. When they were too much for me to handle, I'd whip out watercolors and pieces of cardboard for everyone, and then read them a poem or tell them a story. Sometimes, I gave each of them their own poem to read. I'd write on their cardboard and instruct each child to decorate the poem by painting what they saw or where the story was taking place. Never did I get two paintings that were anything alike. Not only were the visuals different, but the emotions and feelings portrayed by these photos were different.

The same colors and words channeled through different minds can be so unique.

That's what we've lost through performance. The ability to mold and reinterpret words. When I'm reading a poem, I can stop to digest and muse. When I'm listening, I don't get that grace period. Whenever I listen to songs, I hate not having the lyrics in front of me, because I want to retrace the words, the emotions, and the images at my leisure. I absolutely love hearing a musical rendition, but it should not serve to replace textual study.

In a way, Hopkins and I both agree. Neither the mind nor the tongue should replace the other. We must develop a healthy relationship between performance and text in order to make the most out of literature. Personally, I prefer to read and interpret without influence before hearing a rendition or recitation of a poem. I believe Professor Bump must feel the same way, as it is no coincidence that his instructions urge us to "READ WITH [OUR] EYES AND THEN COMPARE TO A PERFORMANCE"(assignment, bump).

Having read and then listened to each of Hopkins' poems, I affirm my prior belief that benefits come from both forms of media. When first reading "The Windhover", "Brute beauty and valour and act, oh, air, pride, plume"(hopkins), was one of my favorite lines. In my mental performance it was highlighted, and I associated a beautiful image with it. Upon hearing the audio version,
"shéer plód makes plough down sillion
Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear,
Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermillion" sounded so musical and splendid. The rhythm I read it with in my head did not do the lines justice. I appreciated them more afterwards. There were still many parts that I read differently and liked better in my head, however.

I must say, however, that I much preferred my own performance of "Spring". The audio version was a bit too drawn out in my opinion. Maybe it's just my impatience speaking, though.

Either way, we must learn to balance forms of media and leave ourselves open to interpretation from multiple sources.

Conclusively, I'd like to visually depict the beauty of interpretation by discussing several artistic interpretations of the song "Your Guardian Angel" by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. This song meant a lot to me a year ago. It truly embodied the way I felt about someone very close to me. I felt as if the notes played straight from my soul, singing the most honest promise I'd ever made. I was obviously not alone, because there were several renditions of this song before the official music video very recently came out. Many songs are equally moving, but they do not have so many artistic renditions because the official music videos are instantly released and there is no longer space to fill.

Here are the lyrics:

"When I see your smile
Tears run down my face I can't replace
And now that I'm strong I have figured out
How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul
And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one

I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven

It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.
Seasons are changing
And waves are crashing
And stars are falling all for us
Days grow longer and nights grow shorter
I can show you I'll be the one

I will never let you fall (let you fall)
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all (through it all)
Even if saving you sends me to heaven

Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart
Please don't throw that away
Cuz I'm here for you
Please don't walk away and
Please tell me you'll stay, stay

Use me as you will
Pull my strings just for a thrill
And I know I'll be okay
Though my skies are turning gray

I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven."

Lyrics only, this sounds like a very sad song to me. As if the singer is tortured by the immense amount of love he holds for this person.

Adding sound, I come to realize that the singer is tortured, but that this torture brings him great relief, stability, and joy rather than torment.

Here is the original video/audio performance:

The visual performance is obviously lacking. Images could be so much more powerful.
The text alone was so powerful for some that individuals created videos of text only:


Others set the audio in a familiar situation. Here is a video comprised of clips from the famous movie "A Walk to Remember" and set to the tune of "Your Guardian Angel". This rendition gives the lyrics faces, and makes the song much more moving and memorable as the emotional power of the movie and the song are combined.


Others created their own footage and story. This clip twists the lyrics around and makes it seem as if the singer has actually passed away, yet still watches over his beloved. This is a beautiful rendition, in my opinion, and very comforting for those who may be going through something like this.


Lastly, many people chose to cover the audio track itself. This version has no vocals, but I think it is amazing.


This version has a full vocal cover (and there were dozens to choose from!)


Now imagine all the interpretations we would never have seen!

Celebrating Basant

I was weary from a day and a half of intense preparation, yet an energizing burst of adrenaline began to pump through my body as I approached the anxious crowd a few feet away.

I was performing at Basant, the traditional Pakistani kite flying festival. At first glance, our performance did not seem Pakistani or traditional at all, but I find that there is a unique beauty in being able to sway our hips in traditional movements to American hip-hop beats. In essence, this dance defined us. And by us, I mean all the second-generation Asian American kids who'd organized or attended the event. I was proud to showcase our unique vision to an applicable audience.



Performing at Basant Bahaar, I'm in the white bottoms.

That's all Basant really was to me at the time. An opportunity to perform and just let a little bit of stress out. My parents had always described the intensity of Basant, or Kite Flying Day, back home in Asia. Every family member climbed onto their roof, gaily dressed, and let their kites loose in the seemingly endless sky. From their rooftops, neighbors battled each other, diving and ducking with their kites, attempting to cut each other's kites in half while simultaneously cutting their fingers with the glass string they so skillfully maneuvered.



A typical Basant sky at dusk. Competitions often continue past two days.

Coupled with the depiction of Basant the novel "The Kite Runner" by Khalid Hosseini presented, I had pretty high hopes for the event. "The Kite Runner" deals with the honor and pride associated with this yearly event. The main character strives to "run" or catch a fallen kite (the individual who collects the last one to fall is most prestigious) in order to prove himself to his father. Honor, achievement, and face are all very central to many Muslim societies. As my parents have always told me, "regardless of whether or not you have money or land, you must always have dignity." I was quite excited and hoped to call my parents at the end of the day and proudly let them know I had cut a kite.



The Kite Runner was a great read, and I look forward to seeing the recently released movie.

The Basant at UT consisted of a few lazy string-kite flyers and older women purchasing clothing and jewelry from make-shift bazaars as UT's Pakistani Student Association hosted several performances on stage.



Khusse (shoes) and Chuuriya (Bangles) are sold in every color and make at bazaars. They're easy to carry, necessary to buy often, and great to just look through.

To me, the spirit or feel of the celebration did not do its Asian counterpart justice. What I later realized was that those alien to our culture truly experienced a little bit of Asia. Ryan Edwards took several shots at the event, and although these images were nothing out of the ordinary for me, I saw them in a new light through an outsider's lens.



One of Ryan's photos, and a very common sight for me, but perhaps not for most.

Part of the performances was a fashion show in which we exhibited a multitude of outfits in different styles. I was surprised when a friend later commented that he didn't even know Indo-Pak clothes came in different styles. Indeed, the field of design in South Asia has proved to be as breathtaking as it is lucrative.



There are many, many fashion shows held in South Asia advertising designer clothing.

Here is a quick guide on a few of the different types of clothing. Keep in mind that this draws from my experience in which my religion and culture have all been mashed together into one identity. The lines are continually blurred.

For Women:

The Salwar Kameez:
the most basic form of clothing. This design has probably been warped and twisted the most creating all kinds of looks from simple to wedding-worthy.



Salwar Kameez have been modernized and become sleeveless. The pants are also often fitted (much like skinny jeans).

The Saari:
traditionally only worn by women after marriage, it has now become popular. Saaris are very difficult to walk in and it takes a lot of practice and composure to do so properly. Thus, it is a symbol of womanhood.



Saaris are the epitome of beauty and elegance, this modern version omits the piece worn over the chest.

The Lengha Choli:
often seen in movies, the lengha choli is a dress/skirt bottom with a midriff revealing top. In Pakistan, it is often seen with a top that covers the midriff.



The Lengha choli is not wrapped, but pre-stitched unlike the Saari, and often worn by brides.

For Men:

The Kurta:
much like the salwar kameez, the most basic outfit for men. Very commonly worn, in cotton.



Kurtas come in many colors, with pajamas and scarves.

The Sherwani:
a fancier outfit, usually worn when women wear saaris. Much like a suit, the style makes a man's chest appear firmer and shoulders wider.



Sherwanis don't have much to do with swords aside from the fact that they both look cool.

Dhotis:
dhotis are very traditional. They consist of no strings, simply cloth which is tied in some magical manner so that it does not fall off. Not many people feel comfortable walking around in it!



Dhotis are like sarongs, and as seen above, I guess some people like to wear them with button-downs!

That's a quick crash course on what a typical South Asian might wear to an event such as Basant. Now that we're caught up on the experience, what exactly is the history of the event? Basant began in Punjab, a region of India/Pakistan known for it's colorful music and dancing. The celebration occurs at the beginning of Spring each year, and superstition has it that flowers blossom following the ceremony. Kite fighting has always prevailed in the area as a less morbid way to end family feuds and rivalries. The festival spread and soon became commonly celebrated. The reason there was most likely no kite fighting at UT (other than bloody, infected hands and fingers encouraging the spread of disease), was because these bloody rituals are often seen as barbaric.



Bloody fingers after a day of kite flying. Imagine deep paper cuts. It's not fun!

It's not until you really sit down and think about it that you realize how much information you have to share with those around you. I've always taken my culture as common knowledge, yet just as I have much to learn about others, I have realized I have much to teach.



We are each others best sources for knowledge outside the books.