India entered a period of mourning when it was reported that Indian playback singer Lata Mangeshkar passed on Sunday the 6th of February. A playback singer is a singer whose voice is recorded for use in films – the actor or actress essentially lip-sync the words, so that the singers voice can be dubbed over.Continue reading “Lata Mangeshkar and the Evolution of the Bollywood Song”
Author Archives: harpalkhambay
Race Relations in American Literature: 1850-2009
Relations between black people and white people has been a relevant and important topic, now more than ever. The issue has been discussed and critiqued in works of American fiction, beginning in the 1850’s with ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin.’ These novels, generally speaking, reflected peoples’ perceptions of race relations at the time of their publication, andContinue reading “Race Relations in American Literature: 1850-2009”
‘Claudius in ‘Hamlet’ is powerful and effective in his leadership, but not as a man’
Claudius has been dubbed as the central villain in ‘Hamlet,’ and considering it is his immoral actions that lead to Hamlet’s quest for revenge, one could easily agree that he is the archetypal villain. It is very easy to say that Claudius is the reason for the ‘moral poisoning,’ as Tawe notes, in Denmark, butContinue reading “‘Claudius in ‘Hamlet’ is powerful and effective in his leadership, but not as a man’”
Lohri: A Brief History
As Lohri was last week I bet lots of you have asked this question since: What is the festival really about? Well, like many festivals, Lohri draws on lots of different ideas and customs. The festival always falls on January 13th, which differs from other festivals that have an everchanging date, like Diwali. Lohri isContinue reading “Lohri: A Brief History”
‘West Side Story’: An Analysis
‘West Side Story’ is recognised as one of the most popular musicals of all time, and it is not surprising that it has its roots in Shakespeare given the tragedy and romance of the whole affair. Almost all the songs have been subsumed into popular culture, and are instantly recognisable. The story takes Shakespeare’s ideaContinue reading “‘West Side Story’: An Analysis”
Was the introduction of Jim Crow Laws by state governments the most important reason for the denial of civil and political equality for black Americans?
After Lincoln’s issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, a period of Reconstruction began in America from 1865, which attempted to integrate black Americans into society. After Lincoln’s assassination, the Reconstruction took a different turn, which gave way to the evolution of Black Codes and eventually Jim Crow Laws primarily within the Deep South. SuchContinue reading “Was the introduction of Jim Crow Laws by state governments the most important reason for the denial of civil and political equality for black Americans?”
The Corrupting Presence of Rebecca de Winter in ‘Rebecca’
Given the the title of du Maurier’s most famous work it is unsurprising that Rebecca dominates the entire plot, like some sort of Gothic spectre. Although she is dead, she manages to corrupt all characters, and the physical house of Manderley, while being corrupted herself. Rhododendrons are mentioned throughout the text, and they grow overContinue reading “The Corrupting Presence of Rebecca de Winter in ‘Rebecca’”
Dickens and the classic Victorian Christmas
Originally posted on Khambay's Words, Words, Words:
Dickens and the classic Victorian image of Christmas are inextricably linked, mostly because of ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Published in 1843, the book sold 6000 copies in five days, and became massively popular. First editions today sell for ten to fifteen thousand pounds. Dickens is often credited with…
‘1984’s’ Feminist Retelling: Some Thoughts
The prospect of a feminist re-telling of ‘Nineteen Eighty Four’ is incredibly exciting. Orwell’s estate have approved the release of Sandra Newman’s book ‘Julia’ for a June 2022 release, and, as the title suggests, the book will tell the same story but from Julia’s perspective. But what could this entail? Here are some random musings. Continue reading “‘1984’s’ Feminist Retelling: Some Thoughts”
‘Rebecca’ Chapter One: An Analysis
‘Rebecca’ was published in 1938 and is Daphne Du Maurier’s most influential novel. Throughout the novel, the unnamed narrator describes her life with her new husband, Mr de Winter, and begins to realise that he, and her marital home, are haunted by Mr de Winter’s previous wife. The novel opens with the iconic line: ‘lastContinue reading “‘Rebecca’ Chapter One: An Analysis”
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