Project Brainstorm: Storybook Topics

In this post, I am going to be listing some possible topics for my Storybook Project.

Ravana and the Demons 

I am interested in this topic because I think human morality stories are interesting, and in my experience stories about demons often involve stories about human morality. I also think that the demons that have been presented in the Ramayana are fascinating, the fact that they all aren't strictly evil makes them more interesting characters. In most other epic literature, demons only represent the evil that people can do, and not the good that those same people can also do. Finally, the art of the Indian Demons is very interesting. They seem to have an "uncanny valley" effect, looking human and inhuman at the same time. They have human faces and limbs, but often have many extra faces and limbs, while also not having natural human skin tones. I think the creative imagery and unique personalities could really help inspire my storybook.

Image of Ravana, courtesy of Time

My research so far has included browsing the Rakshasa Wikipedia page, where I got a general overview of where the demons in Indian literature came from, and some of their basic characteristics. I have also read about them in the Public Domain Edition of the Ramayana, where I have gotten some more details from the actual stories they were featured in.

Gods and Goddesses 

I think the Indian Gods and Goddesses are interesting for the same reason I think the demons are. They have human personalities, and they are not strictly good or evil. For instance, Shiva is a God of Destruction, but uses his power to destroy demons, and has many benevolent forms. I think the interactions of the Gods and Goddesses are also similar to the interactions between the Roman/Greek Gods and Goddesses, whose stories I have always been interested in. Finally, they are often depicted in the same unique art style that the Demons are depicted in, giving me a lot of creative imagery to draw from in my writing.

The research I have done so far has been based on Wikipedia pages, particularly those of Shiva and Vishnu. These are just pages of basic information. I am hoping to become more familiar with them in our weekly reading, and I have read about one of Vishnu's Avatars, Rama, in the Ramayana.

Battles and Weapons

What I like most about this topic is how the tools and weapons characters use are extensions of their personality. Some weapons even go so far as to have personalities of their own. I also like how none of the battles seem petty or pointless, they often carry a lot of emotional weight for the characters involved. I don't think this topic alone can fill a whole storybook, but weapons with characterization and battles could make excellent contributions to the plot, providing characters, actions, and locations for a storybook focused on another topic.

Thus far, my research has included the Ramayana, and browsing the Wikipedia page of Astra's, which made it easy to see how some characters are connected through battles and weapons.  

Karma 

I initially thought the idea of Karma alone could not make a good story book. Then I read this storybook from a former student, and he opened my eyes to how Karma could make a good character, in addition to be a classic (if often unmentioned) storytelling element. In my high school world religions class, we were taught that Karma was nothing more than an ethical guideline, much like the 10 Commandments in the Bible, and didn't have any characterization beyond that. I am interested in taking on the challenge to make Karma, and other similar storytelling elements, a more active force in my writing.

My research so far has the Wikipedia page on Karma and my previous education in world religions. That also included learning about Karma in Buddhism, and the idea of dying and being reborn (or the Indian Caste System and some of the justifications Karma gives people).

Thanks for reading, let me know what you guys think.