Shadow Puppetry: The Ramayana

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What is it about the Ramayana that makes it well-suited for shadow puppetry? The purpose of this investigation is to know in which ways the practice of shadow puppetry is conducive to the performance of ancient legends. Ramayana is performed with Shadow Show; Shadow Show play is also known as shadow puppetry this is an ancient practice in which people express and show their stories to entertain people. This type of theatre uses flat articulated figures that create the impression of humans moving. This practice is very used and it is one of the most typical practices in the Asian countries. This practice has been chosen because of the different materials and illusions they use to make the play possible. This investigation will focus on the …show more content…
Ramayana means “ to walk or to travel” . It is a text that tells the incarnation of Rama. This story comes from the Sanskrit "History of Rama" that uses poetic language, it is an allegorical narrative and reciting story based on a religious act. The Ramayana was written by Valmiki a legendary wise man. Valmiki was a king's son but at the few months of born he was abandoned, a group of thieves found him and he formed part of this family; he took care of his family by stealing from the …show more content…
This puppets are controlled by the “Dalang” (puppeteer), who moves the puppets in front of a screen with a lamp at the back in order to create the shadow silhouette on the screen. This play has been presented as a shadow puppet practice because of its simplicity; which includes scenography and characters, Also it is a story that has only one narrator, this makes an easier way for the narrator to present it by speaking at the back of the scenario, while the dalang is acting with the puppets. There are four main characters, Rama, Ravana, Hanuman and Sita, plus the scenography at the back such as the trees that are always there, the army and the houses. In India, the Ramayana is often performed in public; the cast travel the whole country to perform this play at night, it usually lasts all night and it is presented in very special occasions (when celebrating the story, remembering the ancient time and celebrating religious

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