Arts and Aesthetics

Ardhanarisvara Introduction: In Indian theologies, prominently in Hinduism we find various deities in their vivid forms, each having either a metaphorical or an idealistic motive behind representation. There are myths in and around all the deities, about how they attained a certain form. Siva, one of the three main gods in Hinduism (among Brahma and Visnu), who is considered as the ‘destroyer’ to maintain the circle of creation (samsara); is also depicted in various forms. Ardhanarisvara is one such form, where he is depicted as an androgynous/ hermaphrodite, i.e. half-man and half-woman. The half-woman is considered to be his consort Sakti or Parvati. As Hinduism spread in the South Asian sub-continent, it adapted and included in its pantheon numerous folk and tribal deities and their mythologies and faiths. The forms of representation like the iconography of the images, also changed while adapting these folk cultures. Hence, we can see differences between an image o

Object as a Window to a Culture? Aishwarya Walvekar Introduction As centuries go by with time and a civilization and its culture is taken over by the other, syncretize with other or simply live alongside the other; we see various patterns of lifestyle and culture mainly through the remnants like the architecture, sculptures, edicts, texts, etc. An object is produced in a certain time to project one’s ideas and may or may not be in daily use. Each carries its own objectivity and subjectivity. But as we have travelled through the time and cannot go back into the time realms, all we are left with are objects from the past. The objects are reduced to mere things and their interpretations can vary. But more so than ever, rather than living with the abstraction of the past, they may provide us with some insights from our subjective knowledge. The science and technology has provided us with dating systems; so now we can at least know when the object belonged from. According to H

What does one mean by 'Theatre' and a  'Performance' ?                      Aishwarya Walvekar Abstract We listen that the words ‘theatre’, ‘drama’, ‘performance’ are used very loosely in the day to day life. Most probably without understanding their meanings. Every society, its culture has its own interpretation and connotation of these terms. In India, if somebody creates a ruckus in the middle of something, they are said to be ‘creating a drama’; when literally, the word to be used is ‘performance’. Here, audiences often say that ‘we are going to a theatre to watch a drama’; when actually it should be – ‘we are going to the auditorium to watch a play’. Well! That’s us. Now a days there is an increasing use of the word ‘performance’, which needs to be thought on. A music piece, dance, live art tradition and the list goes on are called performance. Also, due to the boom in technology and the mass media and entertainment arena opening wider,