Film Screening - “Far from the Madding Crowd” by Thomas Hardy

Film Screening   - “Far from the Madding Crowd” by Thomas Hardy

          Far from the Madding Crowd is a 1998 drama television film adaptation of the Thomas Hardy novel of the same name Starring  Paloma Baeza as Bathsheba, Nathaniel Parker as Oak, Jonathan Firth as Sergent Troy and Nigel Terry as Mr. Boldwood. (Wikipedia)

Read the summary by clicking here - 1 to 33 - 34 to 57 

 

Clickhere to watch movie

Pre-viewing task:

1. Thomas Hardy – influenced by Romanticism and critic of Victorian society

2. Thomas Hardy - his novels concern tragic characters struggling against their passions and social circumstances

3. Characters are often set in the semi-fictional region of Wessex. 

4. Hardy’s Wessex

While viewing task:

1. Observe the characters and passion of Bathsheba, Troy and Boldwood. 

2. Oak differs from Sergeant Troy and Mr. Boldwood. 

3. Observe the plot construction in Film version and Novel. 

4. Observe the passion of Boldwood in film version and novel.

Post viewing task:

1. Which version of the novel is more appealing, Novel or film? Why? 

2. Compare the characters of film and characters of novel (your imagination during reading). 

3. Judge the character of Bathsheba. (Woman with free will, vanity, chicken hearted, waiting for true love, obsessed with beauty, confused about her love affairs)

4. Judge the character of Gabriel Oak. (Gold in mine, Observer of Bathsheba and her lovers, Silent lover, victim but hero, true lover, the only mature character)

5. Judge the character of Boldwood. (Passionate, victim of circumstances, pitiable, a good man with possession of love, lost his originality/morality in loving Bathsheba – or he has revealed his original personality in loving Bathsheba)

6. If you were director or screenplay writer, what sort of difference would you make it the making of movie?  (blog)

7. Who would be your choice of actors to play the role of characters? (blog)

Students have to answer any five questions. 

Give your answers in comment box. 

Bibliography

blog, Dilip Barad's. Dilip Barad's blog.  http://dilipbarad.blogspot.in/2013/09/worksheet-film-screening-harold-pinters.html.

Wikipedia. Far from the Madding Crowd (1967 film).  http://dilipbarad.blogspot.in/2013/09/worksheet-film-screening-harold-pinters.html.

7Cs of effective communication - BBA - 1

7Cs of effective communication:

1. Credibility – Builds trust

       This implies that the sender and the message gives importance to the receiver and it contains various factors like price, delivery date and other benefits from the receiver’s side. This approach also known as You-attitude. If the sender can establish his credibility, the receiver has no problem in accepting his statement.

2. Courtesy – Improves relationship:

         After the credibility, one should try to be courteous in expression. “Courtesy” expects the speaker/writer to be aware of the listener’s feeling. In business communication we not only pass on information but we also share and try to create a harmonious understanding for business to grow and develop. Courtesy is not only about using phrases like “please... thank you” but it is sincere and genuine expression that stems out of respect and care for others. In business communication everything starts and ends with courtesy.

Here is an example of incorrect way of speaking following by the correct style of speaking,

- “please sign here” said the counter girl quite surely (being impolite)

- “Sir/Madam, would you please sign here?” (being polite)

 For this it becomes essential that the ‘I-attitude’ be discarded in favour of the ‘you-attitude’.

3. Clarity – Makes comprehension easier:

       Clarity of ideas adds much to the meaning of the message. The first stage is clarity in the mind of the sender. The message should be simple for the receiver to understand and comprehend. The message at the letter must be clear at the first reading. People appreciate a letter that takes very little time to read and understand. It avoids misunderstanding and saves time. There should be a simple language and easy sentence construction, which can make the understanding of the message easy.

Clarity depends on four factors namely:

- Short and simple sentences

- Proper punctuation

- giving definite and concrete details

- Logical sequence of ideas

4. Correctness – Builds confidence:

         Correct use of grammar, message composition and appropriate words with adapting the right level of communication to suit the receiver’s level. Adapting the right tone for conveying the message is basic to the success of communication. When a sender is encoding the message, he should be aware with the knowledge and the level of receiver. A sender also should be aware with the educational background and the status of the decoder. For example, the general concept is that the women should be addressed for their physical appearance whereas men should be for their mental abilities. This is however, a stereotype and at the time of addressing or praising members of both sexes. In the business world all professions should be treated with respect.

Use of figures, facts, names, examples and vivid nouns add a special touch to expression.

For example,

1. “I will send the goods to the upper floor by noon” (but how)

- “The goods will be sent by the conveyer belt to the upper floor”

2. “The new manager seems pretty good in his work. Has an impressive track record” (exactly how impressive?)

- “Mr. Abhijit, the new manager, has been associated with the World Bank and Govt. Of India for the rehabilitation of earthquake affected victims.”

5. Consistency – Introduces stability

      The approach of communication should be consistent. There should not be many ups and downs that might lead to confusion in the mind of the receiver. If the sender desires that his message should be understood to the receiver, first he should send a message which can be easily comprehend by the receiver.

6. Concreteness – Reinforces confidence

     A sender should follow correctness, the same way there should be concreteness. The facts and figures should be specific. Abstractions or abstract statements can confuse the receiver. There should be factual details available for the receiver,

For example,

- “There has been a tremendous escalation in the sales figure.”

- “There has been an escalation in the sales figure by almost 50% as compared to last year.”

7. Conciseness – saves time

      Conciseness means expressing much in few words. In business writing it means keeping to the point, using few words as possible without sacrificing clarity or courtesy. It is not about being brief but it is making every word count. Time is money in business. Only relevant words and phrases are permitted in the conciseness.

The message to be communicated should be as brief and concise as possible. As far as possible, only simple and brief statement should be made. For example,

“Thank you for your hospitality in Hong Kong.”

“When will you submit your report?”

“Within the course of next week.”

“I will definitely try to submit by Wednesday”

        The power of the seven Cs cannot be undermined. All seven Cs are important collectively in effective communication. A communicator may speak or write fluently, but she or he also has to be factual, thoughtful, courteous, correct and complete in the communication that takes place. 

Reference book: - Business Communication. Sathya Swaroop Debasish & Bhagaban Das. PHI Learning Private Limited. New Delhi.

Questions for students:

1. Explain any five Cs of effective communication.

2. Explain the importance of 7Cs in the effective communication.

Themes in “A Cup of Tea” - Katherine Mansfield

Themes in “A Cup of Tea”

        In “A Cup of Tea” by Katherine Mansfield, there are three themes like jealousy and insecurity, Materialism and class and Feminism. In the theme of jealousy and insecurity, we can observe that Rosemary is jealous and insecure from Miss Smith. Materialism and class represents the difference between the status of Miss Smith and Rosemary. The theme of Feminism expresses the inner hidden emotion of Rosemary for Miss Smith.

1. Jealousy and Insecurity:

            Rosemary took Miss Smith to her house and promised her to serve her like her sister, but when Philip admired Miss Smith, Rosemary got jealous from Miss Smith. She started feeling insecurity from her. Rosemary thought if Philip will time and again admire Miss Smith then it may possible that Philip will start loving Miss Smith.

           Rosemary was interested in charity; she wanted to do charity with all her heart. She was interested in helping but her nature of getting jealous and feeling of insecurity has not allowed her to do the noble work of kindness. The writer has presented the general and very particular feeling of jealousy and insecurity.

2. Materialism and class:

           Rosemary was very rich, we can say that not only rich rather comfortably rich. The story starts in an antique shop, as a reader we can observe that Rosemary likes to buy things from London and expensive shops. When she came out from the shop she saw a poor girl who demanded a cup of tea from her. Rosemary was very shocked when she comes to know that Miss Smith was not having even a single penny.

          Rosemary was famous for her richness. She thought Miss Smith is good opportunity to get fame for being kind. For Rosemary, Miss Smith was not only a poor girl but she was an “opportunity”. Rosemary can be observed as the materialistic character. She was class conscious and she wanted to prove that she can help and take care of poor people. Her act of kindness was not from her heart but it was for fame.

3. Feminism:

         The story starts with the statement,

“Rosemary Fell was not exactly beautiful”

By this we can observe that when a female is not beautiful but rich, at that time the woman tries to hide her appearance with money. She tries to look beautiful by her mind and her heart. Rosemary also wants to be good and beautiful but when Philip played a game with her, she got disappointed. When Philip admired Miss Smith she really got jealous and told Miss Smith to leave the house.

         In this story we can consider both female characters as victims. Rosemary is the victim of male psyche and Miss Smith is the victim of female psyche. 

The Cherry Tree - BCA - 1

                                   “Is this what it feels to be God" 

 

        One day, when Rakesh was coming back to home from the Mussoorie bazaar eating cherries. They were a little sweet, a little sour; small, bright red cherries from the valley of Kashmir. By the time he reached the cottage there were only three cherries left. He ate two cherries and offered one to his grandfather. He kept the last seed in his mouth for some time, rolling it round and round on his tongue. He put the seed on his palm and his grandfather suggested him to plant the seed. Rakesh planted the seed.

        One morning in the garden he saw a well rooted twig and he told his grandfather,

“Dada, come and look, the cherry tree has come up!”

Rakesh started watering the plant; he gave it a sprinkling and circled it with pebbles. He looked at the tree every morning but it did not seem to be growing very fast. So he stopped looking at it – except quickly, out of the corner of his eye.

       After the rainy season Rakesh was upset because goat has eaten away all the leaves of the cherry tree only the main stem and two thin branches remained. Towards the end of the rainy season, new leaves appeared on the tree.

After few months, a woman cutting the grass cut the cherry tree in two parts. Rakesh has sadly said that,

‘May be it will die now,’

But the cherry tree was not ready to die and it started growing again. Rakesh was now eight years old and cherry tree was five years old. Rakesh’s love for the tree can be observed by his caring behaviour towards tree. Even when there was rain, Rakesh would sometimes water the tree. He wanted it to know that he was there. Rakesh also has taken care of the leaves and the tree from various insects like, caterpillar, mantis and many more.

       The cherry tree was special for Rakesh just because he has planted it and taken care of it like God takes care of his children. From just one small seed, there was a big tree now. He ran his hand along the trunk of the tree and put his finger to the tip of a leaf. ‘I wonder,’ he whispered.       

‘Is this what it feels to be God?’

God also takes care of his children and helps them to come out of the problems of life. The tree was about to die three times, first because of goat, second time a woman has cut it into two parts and the third time insects came on the tree an started eating leaves. But because of Rakesh’s love for the tree and care, the tree has not died but it grew taller and taller.

Questions for students:

1. Describe the love of Rakesh for cherry tree.

2. "Nothing is lucky if you put it away, if you want luck you must put it to some use" - Explain.

3. Give your views on - "Is this what it feels to be God?"

 

Oral Presentation skills - 4 - BCA - 3

Oral Presentation skills

4. Key Elements of Presentation

1.     Audience analysis

2.     Researching the topic

1 Audience analysis: to know the audience is the most important part of the presentation. Presentation should be connected with the interest, knowledge and motives of the audience. A presenter should consider why this audience will want or need the information a presenter present, whether audience will like it or dislike it.

Who are the members in the audience?

- What age range dose the audience represent?
- Are the males, females or both in audience?
-  How educated are they?
- What are their occupations?
- What is their religious and political connection?
- To what professionals, community or social groups do they belong?


What do they need to know?

            A presenter should try to discover how informed and knowledgeable our audience is about the topic. Audience will quickly tune out a speaker who is telling them things they already know. Presenting complex information to people who do not know the basics is just as fatal.

What do they expect?

           People tend to hear what they expect to hear. When a presenter is presenting his/her message, there should be a clear statement about the topic and its point of view. Audience can misinterpret the message.  A presenter can provide new information and something that they haven’t heard before.

2. Researching the topic:

            As a presenter one must be knowledgeable about the topic. Knowledge comes through gathering the supporting materials. The source of knowledge is depended upon the topic.
Some principal sources of information are as follows:

1. Personal experience:

           Evidence form firsthand experience usually speaks the audience’s attention and enhances credibility. By presenting personal experiences a presenter can convince audience.

2. Information available in the organization:
  
           The presentation may include material on specifics such as costs, products or service delivered, and data from personal records. All these information is available in computerized database.

3. Library information:

            Books are available in the individual libraries as well through interlibrary loans. Periodicals are also a rich source with articles and catalogues in such sources as “Reader’s guide to periodical literature”, “Business periodical index” and “Technology index”.

4. Other external sources:

           Numerous private and public agencies are sources of information. It includes departments of agriculture, commerce, and labour as well as many other governments.

5. Interviews:

           Personal interviews with experts and or others who have firsthand experience with the topic can enhance presenter’s credibility.

6. Questionnaires

          The research hypothesis must be stated accurately. All the questions must be stated and designed properly. A presenter can take help of experienced people or experts.

Reference book: - Business Communication. Sathya Swaroop Debasish & Bhagaban Das. PHI Learning Private Limited. New Delhi.


 Questions for students:

1. Explain in brief : 1. Audience analysis 2. Researching the topic.
2. Discuss any two questions of 'Audience analysis'.
3. Explain any five sub-points of 'Researching the topic'.

Students have to answer any two questions. 
Give your answers in the comment box.