Choose a concept weve discussed in class, and compare different approaches using two or more primary texts. What do you think changed and why? For example: caste [varna/jati] and its de

Introduction

I am looking for an analysis which demonstrates the following: Has some familiarity with the concepts and ideas discussed in class Has read primary texts carefully, noting specific passages or quotes that illustrate how the concept manifests Has interpreted the primary texts in light of one or more of the following historical contexts (or another context I accept as relevant to your topic): A textual/literary context, e.g., identifying continuities or changes in religious ideas displayed between oral compositions, recensions (redactions) of text, or interpolations in manuscripts of the same text. A philosophical context, e.g., tracing a shift in intellectual preferences from a text-focused approach to one that emphasizes personal experience and authority. A social context, e.g., showing how responses to political developments have shaped religious positions on caste or gender; or tracing a shift from Brahmanical dominance to inclusive/transgressive movements

The paper should not be a retelling of the primary texts.

The paper should not be a retelling of the primary texts. It should instead demonstrate that you have read the primary texts carefully, and interpreted them in light of one or more historical contexts.

For example:

Caste [varna/jati] and its depictions; gender norms; sacrifice and violence; ideas of dharma; conceptions of the soul; desire in devotional traditions

I am looking for analysis which demonstrates the following:

If you’re looking for analysis which demonstrates the following:

You’ve read primary texts carefully, noting specific passages or quotes that illustrate how the concept manifests. For example, if we’re discussing gender norms in South Asia, I will expect you to have read at least one work from each of the following periods: medieval period (1200-1400 CE), colonial period (1750-1900 CE), postcolonial nation-state period (1900 onward).

You interpret the primary texts in light of one or more of these historical contexts (or another context I accept as relevant to your topic).

Has some familiarity with the concepts and ideas discussed in class

You should have a basic understanding of the concept and its changes over time. For example, you can describe how caste is related to class in India today, or how gender norms were changing during colonial rule in Fiji. You can explain why caste remains relevant as an important social marker today and how it has changed over time.

You should also be able to identify primary texts that are relevant to your topic (for example: “The Great Temple at Benares,” by Mircea Eliade).

Has read primary texts carefully, noting specific passages or quotes that illustrate how the concept manifests

You should read primary texts carefully, noting specific passages or quotes that illustrate how the concept manifests. You should also be able to explain how the quote is relevant to your chosen concept. For example: caste [varna/jati] and its depictions; gender norms; sacrifice and violence; ideas of dharma; conceptions of the soul; desire in devotional traditions.

Has interpreted the primary texts in light of one or more of the following historical contexts (or another context I accept as relevant to your topic):

The textual/literary context, e.g., identifying continuities or changes in religious ideas displayed between oral compositions, recensions (redactions) of text, or interpolations in manuscripts of the same text.

Historical contexts—religion as it relates to politics, economics and social structure; historical events that have shaped religion; the rise and decline of particular religions over time

A textual/literary context, e.g., identifying continuities or changes in religious ideas displayed between oral compositions, recensions (redactions) of text, or interpolations in manuscripts of the same text.

A textual/literary context is a good place to start when analyzing a text. It can help you identify continuities and changes in religious ideas displayed between oral compositions, recensions (redactions) of text, or interpolations in manuscripts of the same text.

For example: caste [varna/jati] and its depictions; gender norms; sacrifice and violence; ideas of dharma; conceptions of the soul; desire in devotional traditions.

A philosophical context, e.g., tracing a shift in intellectual preferences from a text-focused approach to one that emphasizes personal experience and authority.

Once you have identified the author and his or her intellectual context, you can begin to analyze the text in light of these factors. For example, if an author wrote a work on morality that was influenced by Greek philosophy but also contained many Sanskrit words and phrases from earlier works on the same topic (a common occurrence), then your analysis might include comparing how these elements are used in different ways throughout several sections or chapters within this one book.

Another way you could use primary texts is by comparing them with each other—for example, looking at two different versions of an earlier work such as The Ramayana or Mahabharata and seeing what differences there are between them based on textual evidence alone; however this approach can also be difficult because sometimes even though authors may share similar names they were actually contemporaries who lived centuries apart!

A social context, e.g., showing how responses to political developments have shaped religious positions on caste or gender; or tracing a shift from Brahmanical dominance to inclusive/transgressive movements.

A social context, e.g., showing how responses to political developments have shaped religious positions on caste or gender; or tracing a shift from Brahmanical dominance to inclusive/transgressive movements.

Themes and issues that were not covered in class (and may include topics we did not discuss), such as:

How the caste system is portrayed within different texts. For example, how do these texts depict women? How do they portray men? What are some of the differences between what we learned about class structures in India and what we learned about gender roles?

Choose a concept we’ve discussed in class, and compare different approaches using two or more primary texts. What do you think changed and why? For example: caste [varna/jati] and its depictions; gender norms; sacrifice and violence; ideas of dharma; conceptions of the soul; desire in devotional traditions.

To explore a topic, you can use primary texts. For example, in class we discussed the concept of caste and its depictions in two or more primary texts. In this exercise, you’ll compare different approaches to show how they are related and how they differ. You can also explain why you think one approach changed while another did not change at all over time.

Explain how the different approaches are related and how they differ:

The caste system has been around for thousands of years; it’s an important part of Indian culture today but was originally created by kings who wanted their subjects to follow them because they knew what was best for everyone else! Nowadays many people don’t want anything to do with this kind of thinking because it imposes unfair limitations on people based solely on their birthright (caste). However some scholars believe that despite being outdated now there may still be value in studying these traditions so long as we realize what makes them great instead!

Conclusion

So what is it? There are multiple answers, but we can say that the caste system was an important historical development in India and beyond. As a result of its origins and evolution, caste has become an integral part of Indian society and culture. In this way, castes represent not only inequalities between groups (e.g., Brahmanical elites versus lower castes), but also ones within each group (e.g., monks versus nuns). This means that any discussions about caste should be considered in context with other aspects of Indian history–including politics and economics–as well as how these concepts have influenced international events like colonialism or imperialism.