Un(Epic) Wonder Woman Assignment #3: (Un)Epic Encounters

Here's your next assignment!  Please upload studies by June 15, and give feedback by June 22.This is a multi-step assignment.  Make sure you take into consideration the time spent on and length of each step! Also, try to follow the steps in sequence:)

Step 1:

Think about your super heroine's persona as it has developed through the origin story and create a movement phrase that would perform her persona. Think about what her persona's "movement style" would be. Creat only a short movement sequence.

Step 2:

Image an "un-epic," "ordinary" "everyday" woman character. Who is she? What does she do? What is she like? (no need to do a whole story of her, but get an idea what kind of woman she is). How does she move? Create a movement sequence for her.

NOTE: When you create the movement sequences, think about and consciously use stylistic movement elements (such as elements from classical dance - hastas, abhinaya, rhythm?- , pedestrian movement, release, yoga, etc....) to distinguish the character's movement sequences.

Step 3:

Imagine an encounter between your super-heroine and the everyday woman. Sketch out what might occur during the encounter? How do they meet? How do they interact? How do they react to each other? What might they have to say to each other?

Step 4:

Based on this imagined encounter, make the two characters' movement phrases meet. Create one longer movement phrase, in which the two distinct phrases meet.

Ganga Cleanser of the Universe -Origin Story

In case you can't read the above caption: In the crowded busy city of Los Angeles, there was a little oasis for yoga lovers in the lovely retreat home of a yoga teacher named Nirmala.*

If you can't read the bubble above it says:  "Something Must be caught in there! Just a little more suction and..."

If you can't read the bubble it says "Pop!!!"

should read: "partitioning of land in 1947, splitting Hindus and Muslims into India and Pakistan"

should read "...into the sewer system"

If you can't read the above: "She awoke to find a tiny glowing pearl on her fingertip.   As she gazed at it, it grew and grew until it envelope her - transforming her into..."

If you can't read the "voice of god" it says "Behold Ganga! Cleanser of the Universe!"

should read "yoga students' bad thoughts..."

Sorry about the typos.  I'm still working to clean them up and may be able to post a cleaner version soon, but thought it more important to just get it up!

 Feedback:
1.  What do you think about the origin story of the cleanser of the universe?  Are there any holes in the plot, or things that I should modify to make it stronger? 

2.  I tried using collage images for some of the comic and some watercolor paintings for the other parts.  While these images are just ideas (perhaps it would all be animation eventually), I'm curious if you are particularly drawn to any of the images.  If so, please say which image/s and why. Also, how did you feel about the collage being used in some parts and the paintings in others?  How does the aesthetic of a collage or a painting add or detract from the comic book world?

3.  How might this goddess/superhero interrelate with your goddess/superhero?

4.  Any ideas for ways to dance or stage any of this into live performance?

5.  Any other thoughts?

Mataji --Modern Wonder Woman

Mataji --Modern Wonder Woman During the 21st Century there exists a (dis)ease that is multiplying in Epic proportions. Anxiety/Stress is the silent plague affecting every mortal on this planet Earth. The age of technology and electronic gadgets has erased the ability to focus and affected our ability to see clearly. We exist in a haze. Multi-tasking has morphed us humans into frenetic, flitty cyborg folk that drive in one gear and one gear only: Autopilot. Do not fear, Mataji is here. She is Mother incarnate. Always giving of her resources, a bountiful fountain whose waters never deplete. She offers of herself unconditionally in service to all. She can jump high but she cannot fly. She transports herself to the land of mortals where she uses the power of her gaze to transmit instantaneous peace of mind to those in distress. Mataji is saving the human race by Awakening a consciousness that has been lost. Her spirit was sent to Earth after an emergency meeting was held among the Gods in the Heavens. The earthly inhabitants were in dire straits. The technology age had boomed and exceeded any one’s expectations. Humanity was at risk now as people’s minds began to merge with their computer counterparts. A cerebral epidemic had cut through the mortals, one in which human mind and robot became so interconnected that everyone was “plugged in”. Soul was threatened because it had been slowly hardened by years of mental plaque. Everyone was highly charged and profoundly depleted. Mataji was born via invitro fertilization from a frozen egg via surrogate. Whom did the egg belong to? None other than Bhumi, Earth Mother herself. She had a sixth sense as to the direction humanity was headed in and new that her earthly biological clock was ticking. Why not use the perks of advanced medicine? She obtained the sperm from Surya, the Sun God, one of her best friends. He threw a celestial celebration on the day the surrogate, Radha was impregnated with their child: Sun Showers!!! Nine months later, the rainbow arched from the heavens to the earth as Mataji was born. She was radiant and glowing. As she opened her eyes for the first time, her third eye also opened. It appeared as a bindi on her forehead, between the brows. This child would grow up to work wonders. Like the Buddha and many before her who had attained enlightenment, this child’s life path was to restore peace of mind across humanity. Upon seeing her beautiful child, Bhumi did not have the heart to leave her to be raised by others, but she knew it had to be done. She left the child to a couple, Raja and Rani, who had been trying to conceive for years but were unable to get pregnant. After years of tests and trying, they finally decided to adopt. Both were high ups in Corporate America. Raja was CEO of Robots as Housekeepers, Inc. while Rani could have sat on his throne, she too was just as ambitious and had worked her way up the corporate ladder as head honcho of Cell Mobiles International. Her company was the creator of the latest trend: convertible sized cars in which people traveled virtually (through mental cyberspace) everywhere. It is an understatement to say that these two workaholics were never home. When they learned that there was a baby available to them for adoption though, they were elated. Even before meeting the child, they decided to name Mataji “Macarena”, a name that reflected their favorite Apple Computer and that dance that was popular back in the early 90s. The day for meeting the baby and bringing her home had arrived. Both Raja and Rani had managed to take only a half-day at their respective jobs. As they entered the hospital room, a light seemed to emanate from the bassinet. “Meet your baby” said the nurse (Bhumi in disguise handed her over as Radha watched on). Raja, in the midst of text messaging and Rani, on her headset finishing up some business for the day, dropped their mechanical devices and felt a warm tingling sensation that began in their toes and spread to the tops of their heads. A burning between the eyebrows ensued and then…. the adventures begin…

Saleye Origin Story

Here is a very rough draft of two aspects of the assignment:

1) I wrote out a rough draft of the origin story

2) I started developing the look of a comic--like version (only beginning and an image of her "signature move").

Both aspects rough drafts!

Story

Not too long ago on PLANET BOLLYWOOD, there was a girl by the name of Saleye. She was a quiet girl, living in her own world, while her family was a mainstream, busy, beautiful, successful Bollywood family. Their life was picture perfect: father and mother happily married, with the customary ups and downs to work through. They were living in a big suburban house, with too many rooms, furnished straight out of a catalog. Saleye was an only child, and was living in an own flat in the parents house. The relatives of the extended family were living in the surrounding houses. They had everything they needed, and more: living in luxury and harmony, with a healthy dose of solvable conflicts that were blown up to melodramatic episodes to spice up their lives.

The lives of their friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and colleagues were similar: predictable, uneventful, stable, fixed.

But Saleye was growing increasingly anxious. She did not trust the outward contentment and peace. She was bored of the melodrama, of the predictability of all of their lives. She was longing for something “real”- “real” life – not sugarcoated, melodramatic luxury problems: and she was longing to be looking for it on PLANET EARTH, because she heard that that is where one could still find “real life.”

In order to get to planet earth, she had to devise a plan. Since Planet Bollywood's main industry was entertainment, the way to get permission to travel was as part of the crew of one of the stars. She there decided to go out more frequently to hang out in the vicinity of one of the big stars of the planet, who can travel the neighboring planets like planet earth for public relations: The stars contribute to the fame of the planet and give the economy a boost.

After some time Saleye managed to sneak in with the entourage of the big star, RSK, but only as someone to iron his undershirts. It was not her preferred job description, but hey, if it got her traveling, why not.... they are, after all, about to leave on a trip. And as one of his entourage she got permission to travel to planet earth. Her family had no clue. So she  packed secretly to sneak out to the interplanetary airport...

All went smoothly, they are leaving Planet Bollywood. She looks out of the window of their interplanetary travelship and watches the lights of Planet Bollywood fade.

As they arrive on planet earth, the star and his whole entourage are stopped by immigration.

The star is the main focus of attention, but not because the officers are starstruck-- but because they don't recognize him and think he is a threat. They don't want to let him in.

Saleye gets nervous. She is not even supposed to be there, and now she is stuck in this situation!!!

When the officer comes to her to question her, her heart is beating, her hands are shaking (but she can hide it), she feels as though sweat is running down her back. To mask it all, she decides to follow the melodramatic conventions she grew up with and is overly nice. She a huge smile and is her most charming self, to not arouse suspicion.

As he questions her about her passport and permission to enter planet earth (even though he has her complete papers in his hand), she suddenly is taken over by reflexes. Before she realizes, her reflexes to take over. She cannot control it, but finds herself looking him straight in the eyes, lifts her arms to frame her eyes and moves her neck and eyes right to left- she loudly says: CHUMMA!¹

The officer's expression suddenly changes to open and friendly. She returns her papers and says “enjoy your stay on planet earth”!
Confused about the sudden change in attitude Saleye takes her papers. Quickly she takes her belongings and swiftly proceeds into the world of planet earth.

But she remains to be confused.... what just happened? What caused his change of attitude?

And what were those reflexes that suddenly took over?

To be continued....

___________________________

1Tamil for “Just like that”-- not to be confused with Hindi “Kiss”

Visual Draft:

Feedback Questions:

1) How do you think the story works as an origin story for the character. What potential for development of the character does it set up, or limit?
(2) Can you make connections to the character in Assignment 1?
(3) Can you follow the story? What parts seem to obvious, too confusing? Which aspects do you think have potential?
(4) How do you like the visual rendering? Does it have potential? Is it worth developing further?

Super Ruwaxi's Origin Story

-->
Here's a super rough draft of an origin story for my character.  I wrote it in short story form and intend to transform it into a comic book form soon.  The writing will probably transform substantially in the process.  I'd like to use more of the over-the-top melodramatic humor of the comic book, and am hoping to draw some structural parallels with Superman's origin story (http://supermanthrutheages.com/origin/), though the premises are so different that I'm not sure it'll be possible.  I also need to transform Wu Ruwaxi into a semi-reasonable Chinese girl's name.

The Origin of Super Ruwaxi

-->

Once upon a time in the Middle Kingdom™, a gated community nestled in a bedroom suburb nestled in the urban sprawl of the City of Angels, there lived a girl on the brink of womanhood, Wu Ruwaxi.  Ruwaxi was the only living child of a hard-working Asian immigrant family, as her elder brother had died during childbirth.  Though she was not a boy and thus could not carry on the family name, she was the perfect filial child: loving, dutiful, obedient, and the embodiment of the Asian-American dream.

But Ruwaxi lived a double life.  By day she studied assiduously at her elite prep school: mastering calculus derivatives and doing Euclidian proofs, writing perfect 8-legged essays analyzing the English literary canon, and formulating economic theories to explain key policy moves in recent Sino-US relations.

At night, however, Ruwaxi put her books aside, as well as the modest, unfashionable clothes that her mother had lovingly stitched for her.  Binding her already small breasts, she would don combat boots, a wife-beater, camouflage pants, and sundry other items from the army surplus store.  Stealthily, she would slip out of the gates of the Great Wall of the Middle Kingdom™ and drive to the Promised Land, a club in Deep South Central LA where heavy beats and hip-hop prevailed.  There she would dance.

And when she danced she was fierce, unbound, and in her power.  Grounded, syncopated, percussive, and terribly musical (thanks to her extensive concert piano training), she could dance b-girl head-spins around the best of them.

One night at the Promised Land, a slight yet muscular young man called Fedora Boy, aka the Fed, approached her while she was dancing.  He wore a fedora with a bright red feather and had the whisper of a mustache: classic Asian boy wanna-be pick-up artist.  “Hey baby,” he said, and started grinding against her.

Alarmed, Ruwaxi shrunk in her skin.  “You’re a bad girl, aren’t you?” he said.  And he moved in.

Thrusting his pelvis against her, he continued, “I like to role-play.  Why don't we go back to my place, and we’ll see what we can do with that leather belt of yours?  And don’t worry, your parents will like me.  I’m in med school.  We can say we met in the library.”

Ruwaxi seethed.  She had been plotting an escape, mentally calculating the time it would take for her to run to the door and jump into her car, while the Fed was jabbering and grinding away.  But a hot flame of righteous anger engulfed her body.  Aggressive and erratic, her dance transformed, slipping skillfully away from the Fed’s pelvic thrusts, which fell predictably on the downbeat.  Her muscles popping and clenching, feet beating the floor in angry cross-rhythms, she danced faster and faster, while sweat poured from her brow and armpits, until a red fog and pungent odor filled the room...

As the fog and stench cleared away, Ruwaxi was shocked to find that the Fed was no longer Fedora Boy.  He was...Fedora Girl.  Sleeves hanging loosely around his lithe, lily-white arms, green mango breasts pressing against his T-shirt, he looked down at his lovely body in horror.  Then he looked up to see the steely, cold-fire gaze of Ruwaxi...and scurried out the door, clutching his breasts painfully as he ran.  The crowd watched as he ran, a sea of confused and surprised faces.

That night at home, Ruwaxi considered the evening’s events in disbelief.  “Perhaps I made it up,” she thought.  “How could that creep suddenly turn into a girl?”  She searched through her books and on the internet, reading theories of gender performativity, scientific studies on intersex people, anthropological fieldwork on dance-induced altered states of consciousness, to see if there was any rational explanation.  As happened often with her, book-worm that she was, she nodded off over her books, her bedside light still blaring on full.

While she was sleeping, she had a vision of a beautiful woman: sensual, fish-eyed, and copper-skinned with an hour-glass figure, dripping in jewels and dancing Kaisiki Vritti, the celestial dance of the apsaras.  “Who are you?” Ruwaxi asked, breathless with admiration. 

“Why, don’t you recognize yourself?” answered the beautiful woman.  “I am Urvashi.  Like you, I’m a damn good dancer, terribly sexy, too smart for my own good, and have the power to change people’s genders when they piss me off.  Why, I turned Arjuna himself into a female court dancer when he refused to sleep with me.”

As she listened Ruwaxi felt heat spreading in her loins, for she was finding this mysterious woman, so feminine and yet so compellingly crass, rather attractive.  “But wait,” she said.  “What do mean, ‘recognize myself’?  And why are our names so similar?  Wu Ruwaxi and Urvashi?”

Urvashi cocked an eyebrow in disbelief.  “What must I have done in my later lives to become this stupid?”

Ruwaxi said slowly, “But wait...no.  I don’t even believe in reincarnation.  I’m an atheist!  And you’re...Indian, right?”

Urvashi said impatiently, “Girl, if a human being can reincarnate as a dog, do you think we can’t switch races?  Yes, you were Indian in a past life.  Why do you think you have such a good sense of rhythm?”

She continued, “Anyway, as you can tell, we clearly have some unresolved karmic shit to work out.  I fought our fight – for a woman to be a public dancer, to own her sensuality, to not be legally tied to any man – during my time.  But now the issues are different.  You were put on this earth to fight the battle for Truth, Gender Justice, and Freedom of Sexual Expression.  And you might think it’s an ironic twist of fate that you were born into this conservative East Asian family, but that’s where your work is most needed.  It’s time to break down the house of oppression. 

--> And your most powerful tools are your righteous rage and the womanly stench of your body odor.  Yes, you’re Super Ruwaxi, the Hairy-Arm Pitted Feminist.  Never shave your pits or you’ll lose your power.”

Here are a few mock comic book covers:

And some pages in progress:

page 2.  thought bubble reads: "Maybe Ba would be more comfortable if I brought him his slippers..."

page 3

page 4 (those are confucius and shakespeare)

  FEEDBACK QUESTIONS:
(1) How do you feel about the "dream" device?  (Part of me hates it because it's such a "cheap" trick in fiction, but it might be fitting for an Amar Chitra Katha take-off, given the prevalence of visions and miracles in Hindu mythology.)
(2) Do you think this origin story resolves some of the problems in intersecting Urvashi, the Hairy Arm-pitted Feminist, and the Good Little Confucian Girl?  Specify how it does or doesn't.
(3) What connections, aesthetic and otherwise, do you see between this story and my Super Urvashi trailer?  How might you imagine the two intersecting in performance if at all?
(4) Any parts of the story you particularly like?  That you find confusing or less compelling?  Any unanswered questions or parts that need to be developed further?
(5) Any ideas about visuals?  Which comic book cover do you prefer and why?